The Archetypes of Human Work: 1. The Messy Reality

This is the first in a series of posts on The Archetypes of Human Work, on The Messy Reality archetype.

The Varieties of Human Work

The analysis of work cannot be limited to work as prescribed in procedures etc (le travail prescrit), nor to the observation of work actually done (le travail réalisé). Similarly, it cannot be limited to work as we imagine it, nor work as people talk about it. Only by considering all four of these varieties of human work can we hope to understand what’s going on.

Human Factors at The Fringe: Every Brilliant Thing

You’re six years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s done something stupid. She finds…

Never/Zero Thinking

There has been much talk in recent years about ‘never events’ and ‘zero harm’, similar to talk in the safety community about ‘zero accidents’. It sounds obvious: no one would want an accident. And we all wish that serious harm would not result from accidents. But as expressed and implemented top-down, never/zero is problematic for many reasons. In this post, I shall outline just a few, as I see them.

‘Human error’ in the Headlines: Press Reporting on Virgin Galactic

Again, a familiar smoke pattern has emerged from the ashes of a high-profile accident. The…

Is ‘Human Error’ the Handicap of Human Factors? A Discussion Among Human Factors Specialists

Following most major accidents, one phrase is almost guaranteed to headline in the popular press:…

Mind your Mindset: Safety-I and Safety-II

During the last few years, different ways of thinking about safety have challenged prevailing worldviews…

Life After ‘Human Error’ – Velocity Europe 2014

This is a keynote address from Velocity Europe 2014 in Barcelona on 17 November. I…

Occupational Overuse Syndrome – Human Error Variant (OOS-HEV)

Occupational Overuse Syndrome – Human Error Variant (OOS-HEV) is a condition involving the overuse of the…

SAFETY is our Primary Goal!

OVER BLACK WE HEAR THE DULL SOUNDS OF INDUSTRY; A MUFFLED MASS OF MACHINES, GEARS, STEAM.…