It’s long overdue, according to Dr. Sidney Dekker, who in 2014 wrote an essay on “The ‘Failed State’ of Safety.” Yes, says Corrie Pitzer, who is giving a talk, “Safety at a Dead End” at the American Society of Safety Professionals’ annual conference this June.
Recently a Hawaiian civil defense employee sent an emergency alert that a ballistic missile threat was headed for Hawaii, and that residents should seek shelter. It was a mistake, a human error. Panic ensued and it took 38 minutes to correct the error.
Changes in safety and health approaches are needed both in and outside of government. Many established beliefs and assumptions concerning government operations currently are being re-evaluated and questioned. This reset presents an opportunity.
HOP is a risk-based operating philosophy which recognizes that error is part of the human condition and that organizational processes and systems greatly influence employee actions and the likelihood of success.
Dr. Krause is a pioneer in organizational safety and a thought leader in the development of new methods for organizational performance improvement. Kristen Bell is an expert in human and organizational performance with a background in research, innovation, and business management.