Managing Complexity in Workplace Safety

In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with Bob Edwards, a Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) coach, who has a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Advanced Safety Engineering Management. Bob is also the co-author of ‘Bob's Guide to Operational Learning’ and a member of The Hop Hub, a consortium that guides people on their HOP journey.

HOP considers how humans and organizations interact to accomplish work. It's a thought process that allows us to build more error-tolerant systems and teaches us that expecting perfection from workers, processes or procedures is not realistic.

In this thought-provoking interview, Bob helps safety professionals explore the complex nature of work and learn how to gain a deeper understanding of their operations.

He explains why modern work is so complex with a multitude of constantly adapting interconnecting interactions and reminds us that humans aren’t just reliable machines.

Bob suggests leadership doesn’t usually appreciate this complexity as they focus on high-level metrics and urges HSE professionals to be more open about the actual context underlying these numbers.

He reveals the limitations of simplification, the 5 Whys, making predictions and trying to fix everything. And highlights the virtues of listening, curiosity, respectful relationships, psychological safety and learning from success (as well as failure).

HOP is often accused of lacking accountability, and Bob addresses this challenge and explains how HOP will actually increase co-worker responsibility and commitment.

Using many real-life examples of the benefits of operational learning, Bob teaches us that understanding complexity coupled with collaboration, empathy and mutual respect can create more reliable and resilient workplace safety.

Find out more about Bob’s work and HOP:

Human and Organizational Performance | HOP Hub

To contact Bob directly:

hop_coach@outlook.com

The book Bob co-authored:

Amazon.com: Bob's Guide to Operational Learning: How to Think Like a Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) Coach: 9798579532077: Edwards, Bob, Baker, Andrea: Books

Authors recommended by Bob:

Amazon.com: Todd Conklin: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, Kindle

Home - Sidney Dekker

Erikhollnagel.com

Edgar Schein - Wikipedia

Bob Edwards on LinkedIn:

Bob Edwards | LinkedIn

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