This book is extraordinary and debunks a lot of what everyone thought was good safety management. It validates that exhaustive, highly controlled and complex safety systems are ineffective.
"Do Safety Differently"proposes a transformative approach to how organisations manage safety, moving away from traditional compliance-based models to a more human-centric and resilience-focused perspective. Dekker argues that the conventional approach to safety, which often relies on compliance with rules and regulations, paperwork, and punishment for non-compliance, is not only ineffective but can also lead to a decrease in overall safety. This is because such approaches fail to account for the complexity of human systems and the unpredictability of accidents.
The main finding of the book centres on the idea that safety should not be about the elimination of risk through prescriptive measures but rather about the creation of an environment where people have the capacity to respond to, adapt to, and recover from adverse events. Dekker introduces the concept of Safety II, a paradigm shift that focuses on why things go right, rather than why they go wrong, and seeks to understand how everyday actions contribute to safety.
Dekker and Conklin emphasise the importance of engaging front-line workers in the safety process, valuing their expertise and insights into the realities of the work environment. By doing so, organisations can identify and mitigate potential hazards more effectively, improve communication and trust within teams, and foster a culture where safety is a shared responsibility.
The book also critiques the reliance on lagging indicators (such as accident rates) to measure safety and advocates for the use of leading indicators (such as employee engagement in safety practices) that can provide a more accurate and proactive understanding of safety performance.
In summary, "Do Safety Differently" presents a compelling case for rethinking traditional safety management practices. It argues for a more nuanced, human-centric approach that recognizes the complexity of work and the importance of resilience and adaptability in achieving safety.
Buttress buildOS has taken a “safer now” approach to safety. We have always thought the way the construction industry does safety - a top down, command and control and zero tolerance and is somewhat ineffective and typifies the way the construction industry fails to innovate or increase productivity.
The top down chest-beating approach fails at all levels and arguably leads to a at-times toxic culture in construction but in small businesses and on small building sites it’s a non-event; the resources and the power dynamic where the head contractor wields a lot of power and control over the site simply don’t exist. A different approach is required. Buttress is bringing a different approach to site safety with our “safer now” philosophy.