How we approach risk and safety

A little about us

We formed Clarity to help organisations better understand the human element in risk.

To support this, you will often find a “Further Reading” and “Actions You Can Take” towards the end of our posts.

If you would like to know a little more, have a look around our website: https://clarityenabled.com/

A little about you

We work with organisations that have already Invested substantially in their safety systems, but are still grappling with:

  • Repeat incidents.
  • Incidents not being reported.
  • Resistance to safety processes.
  • A ‘tick and flick’ approach to compliance (i.e. complete the form just to get it done).
  • A disconnect between the team performing the work task and personnel in management and safety management roles.
  • A growing disconnect between safe work procedures and how work is actually performed.

Often a serious incident prompts a customer to contact us.

Safety systems are important.

But they don’t help you understand the underlying issues and why people do what they do.

How we help you approach risk and safety

(c) Dr Rob Long

Understanding and influencing how people perform their work, make decisions and perceive risk is a key challenge for leadership in risk.

Our services and programs are designed to help your leaders and teams develop:

  • Skills to build engagement, trust, ownership and ownership of risk.
  • A better understanding of why people make the decisions and choose the course of action that they do.
  • Why some of the issues mentioned above occur (refer dot points above), and strategies we can put in place to improve.

Our approach is founded in the social psychology of risk.

We distill decades of evidenced based research into practical content and tools you can apply in the workplace immediately.

Why we encourage this approach

Your work team are you best safety management strategy.

They often have an in-depth understanding of hazards on the job.

We rely on them to implement risk controls.

They have a good sense of the underlying issues – what’s not working well and the mood of the site.

They will tell you - if they trust you.

If you engage effectively and know what to listen for.

If you understand how your culture treats someone if they do raise an issue.

Action you can take

Keep reading – over the coming months we are will post content on the following themes:

  • Understanding Risk.
  • Understanding People and Decision Making.
  • Understanding Culture.
  • Bringing It All Together – How to Better Manage Risk.

Our training and support services are designed to provide your team with knowledge, skills and practical tools to improve engagement, trust, ownership and facilitate regular discussion of underlying issues (https://clarityenabled.com/training/).

Further reading

  • Carrillo, Rosa Antonia (2020). The Relationship Factor in Safety Leadership. Taylor and Francis.
  • Long R, and Long J (2012). Risk Make Sense. Scotoma Press. Available for free download: https://www.humandymensions.com/product-category/books/
  • Plous, S (1993). The Psychology of Judgement and Decision Making. McGraw Hill.
  • Slovic, P (2000). The Perception of Risk. Earthscan Publications.

Want to know more?

For more information on how to start your training