Learning From Experience

Augmented Workers: The Human-AI Synergy in Ensuring Process Safety

We stand at the precipice of a new era in industrial safety and efficiency. The workforce is evolving into a dynamic fusion of humans and Artificial Intelligence (AI) working together to ensure safer and more effective processes. This concept, commonly referred to as “augmented workers,” presents a future that’s not restricted to the pages of …

Forging Resilience: Hard-Won Lessons from High-Reliability Organizations

In an environment marked by unpredictability and rapid change, resilience has become a key feature for any organization. High-Reliability Organizations (HROs) are prime examples of entities that operate in conditions where there is zero tolerance for failure, and the cost of error could be catastrophic. Their unique positioning provides a distinctive lens into the art …

Gamification of Safety Training: Learning Lessons from Unexpected Places

As the world continues to evolve and digitize, so too must our methods of education and training. This truth is nowhere more critical than in the realm of safety, where effective training can quite literally be the difference between life and death. Traditional methods, while solid, can benefit from the integration of more engaging, interactive, …

The Role of AI in Accident Investigation and Learning

In the swiftly progressing modern era, technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives. This penetration extends into enhancing safety measures and reducing workplace incidents with the integration of forward-thinking solutions such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). This powerful technology provides exciting opportunities to refine the accident investigation process and transform the learning experience. This …

Micro-Learning in Macro Disasters: Extracting Subtle Lessons from Major Events

In the wake of a major disaster, headlines often focus on the broader, overarching lessons to be learned. However, hidden beneath these macroscopic learnings are the subtler, but equally important, micro-lessons. These are the small-scale insights, often overlooked, that can provide an invaluable perspective for safety enhancement. They help organizations to extract pertinent but often …

Crowdsourcing Safety: Harnessing Collective Experience for Process Improvement

We live in an era of collective intelligence and digitization, where the wisdom of the crowd is being leveraged to solve complex issues. This democratization of ideas has now permeated the field of safety management, shaping its narrative like never before. Crowdsourcing, or the practice of engaging a ‘crowd’ or group for a common goal, …

Learning from Near Misses: Unpacking the Value of the ‘What If’

The pursuit of maintaining and enhancing safety in industrial environments necessitates an understanding of not just the major incidents, but also the minor, seemingly inconsequential ones. Often, these overlooked situations contain within them a trove of information that could potentially preempt major safety issues. Referred to as ‘near misses’, these events stand as silent heralds …

Safety Retrospectives: The Power of Regular Reflection in Process Safety

Process safety remains a top priority in industries worldwide. In this regard, one underestimated tool is the safety retrospective. By systematically reviewing past events, practices, and near misses, organizations can extract invaluable insights. By turning the mirror back on their own processes, they can identify latent issues and prevent serious incidents in the future. Safety …

Anatomy of Catastrophe: A Deep Dive into Lesser Known Industrial Disasters

Industrial disasters have a profound impact on both human lives and the environment. While some disasters have gained significant attention and study, there are many lesser-known incidents that hold valuable lessons for risk management and process safety. This article delves into the anatomy of these lesser-known industrial disasters, exploring their causes, consequences, and the lessons …

Bio-Mimicry in Process Safety: Unusual Lessons from the Natural World

Bio-mimicry, also known as biomimetics, is a fascinating field that draws inspiration from nature to solve complex problems and improve various aspects of human life. While often associated with engineering and design, bio-mimicry also offers valuable insights for process safety in industries. This article explores how lessons from the natural world can be applied to …