Welcome to the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast with your host, Todd Conklin. In this episode, Todd dives into the ongoing discussion about the potential addition of a sixth principle to the long-standing five principles of Human and Organizational Performance (HOP). The conversation explores whether "Control Saves Lives" should be considered a new principle or if it remains a practice, and how this impacts organizational safety strategies. Joined by Brent Sutton and Jeff Lyth, Todd navigates the complexities of principles versus practices, the evolution of HOP, and the importance of having guiding principles that shape organizational behavior. The episode also touches on the historical context of these principles and the necessity for organizations to adapt to an ever-changing, complex world. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion that challenges conventional wisdom and seeks to refine the way we think about safety and risk management in the workplace.

Hey, everybody! In this eye-opening episode of the Pre-Accident Podcast Safety Moment, we delve into a profound concept: "The map is not the territory." This idea, originating from Alfred Korzybski, highlights the crucial difference between models of reality and reality itself. We explore how procedures, like maps, serve as important guides but cannot fully encompass the dynamic nature of actual work. Workers must adapt in real-time, using procedures as stabilizing documents while making necessary adjustments to handle variations in the work environment. Tune in to understand why it's essential to recognize that GPS is not driving, and procedures are not the work—they are merely models. Learn something new, be kind, and most importantly, stay safe!

Hey everyone, Todd Conklin here from the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast. As we transition into the beautiful autumn season in New Mexico, where the air is filled with the delightful scents of roasting chilies and pinon pine, I've been reflecting on the concept of super high risk with super low reward. In this episode, we delve into the intriguing idea of "picking up pennies in front of a steamroller," a metaphor often used in investments to describe gathering low value in front of advancing high risk. How does this apply to our daily operations and risk assessments? Join me as I explore the balance between risk and reward, and how transparency in complex systems can help us make better decisions. We'll discuss the importance of recognizing low-value activities that carry high risks and how organizations can evaluate whether these risks are worth the rewards. This episode encourages you to think critically about your work processes and to constantly develop your risk assessment skills. So, take a moment to reflect on your own "thinking place," understand that mental work can be exhausting, and let's dive into this fascinating topic together. Stay safe, be kind, and keep learning!

In this episode of "Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment," Todd Conklin delves into the intricate and often debated concept of truth. He explores how different perspectives can lead to varying interpretations of what is considered true, using a relatable anecdote about airport security lines to illustrate his point. Through this thought-provoking discussion, Todd challenges listeners to reflect on how personal experiences shape our understanding of truth. He emphasizes that multiple truths can coexist, even when they appear contradictory. This brief yet profound safety moment encourages us to be open-minded, kind, and considerate of others' perspectives. Join Todd for this enlightening episode and remember to stay curious, compassionate, and safe in all your endeavors.

In this episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast, Todd dives deep into the intriguing world of risk perception. He explores the philosophical and practical differences between viewing risk through the lens of the individual versus the organization. Todd discusses the timeless debate between the foxes, who know many things and embrace nuance, and the hedgehogs, who know one big thing and focus intensely on it. Join Todd as he examines how these differing cognitive styles impact our understanding and management of risk. He delves into the importance of balancing these perspectives to foster a risk-informed and competent workforce, drawing insights from psychology, engineering, and even Greek philosophy. This thought-provoking episode challenges the conventional views on risk and encourages listeners to rethink their approach to uncertainty in the workplace.

Welcome to the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast Safety Moment with Todd. In this episode, Todd delves into the well-known phrase "practice makes perfect" and offers a fresh perspective on its true meaning. While many of us have heard and used this phrase countless times, Todd explains why we don't practice to achieve perfection but rather to navigate a world full of imperfections. He highlights the importance of building capacity to handle high-risk, high-consequence situations through practice and simulation. Join Todd as he emphasizes the significance of practicing in an imperfect world to be prepared for variations and unforeseen challenges. This short and sweet safety moment encourages us to learn, have fun, and be kind and safe in our daily lives.

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast with Todd Conklin! In this episode, Todd shares his recent travel adventures and dives into a crucial discussion about the distinction between prevention and recovery in the realm of safety management. Fresh from a trip to Europe, Todd reflects on the challenges of managing safety in organizations, especially after catastrophic events. He emphasizes the importance of shifting the focus from merely preventing accidents to enhancing the capacity for recovery when things go wrong. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how leaders can better understand and manage the aftermath of serious incidents, ensuring that their organizations become more resilient and capable of handling unexpected failures. Todd also teases a potential future discussion with Eric Holnagle on the nuanced concepts of safety and safely, promising a deep dive into this fascinating topic. Join Todd as he unpacks these critical ideas, offering practical advice and thought-provoking perspectives to help organizations navigate the complexities of safety management. Don't miss this episode if you're looking to enhance your understanding of safety, leadership, and organizational culture. Tune in, learn something new, and be part of the conversation!

Get Caught Trying to Make the World Better! Best Safety Podcast, Safety Program, Safety Storytelling, Investigations, Human Performance, Safety Differently, Operational Excellence, Resilience Engineering, Safety and Resilience Incentives... Give this a listen. Thanks for listening and tell your friends. See you on Audible...all my books are up on there. One of them is read by a British dude - it is like a Harry Potter book! Have a great day as well.

Join Todd Conklin on the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast for an insightful discussion with the fabulous Martha Acosta. This episode delves into Martha's fascination with the liberal arts and her recent seminar on "2001: A Space Odyssey." They explore Kubrick's central theme of evolution and its relevance to leadership and organizational development. Martha shares her journey of writing a book focused on building safety capacity within organizations. She emphasizes the critical role of leadership in creating and shaping meaning within a system. Through engaging case studies, such as the Columbia disaster and the Chilean mining disaster, Martha illustrates how leadership practices can significantly impact an organization's ability to recover from failures. The conversation touches on the paradoxical nature of leadership, the importance of developing external perspectives, and the systemic nature of soft skills like influence and psychological safety. Martha introduces the CHIP tool (Consequences, Habits, Identity, Power) as a method to uncover underlying issues in organizational behavior. Tune in to discover how leaders can develop emotional resilience, create capacity, and foster environments where innovation and safety thrive. Whether you're a formal leader or an informal influencer, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to enhance their leadership capabilities.

Welcome to the Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment with your host, Todd Conklin. In this episode, Todd explores the concept of signal strength and its impact on workplace safety. Using the example of crossing a street and encountering poorly timed crosswalk signals, he illustrates how weak signals can indicate underlying issues in a system. Todd emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing these weak signals to enhance safety. He encourages leaders and managers to listen to their workers and diagnose problems before they escalate into significant events. By improving signal strength, we can create stronger, safer systems. Tune in to learn how to spot weak signals and make your organization safer. Remember, your role is to listen, identify, and act to ensure a secure working environment. Have fun, stay curious, and be safe!

In this engaging episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast, host Todd Conklin teams up with leadership expert Jennifer Long for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership and capacity in today's complex organizational environments. Together, they explore how leaders can build confidence and capacity within their teams to foster innovation and resilience. Jennifer shares insights from her recent leadership development program, while Todd delves into the importance of monitoring capacity rather than just measuring it. They discuss the balance between efficiency and thoroughness, and how leaders can shift their focus from simply solving problems to understanding and analyzing them deeply. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on how modern leadership can adapt to ever-changing challenges, the significance of creating safe-to-fail environments, and the critical role of curiosity and learning in effective management.

Welcome to the Pre-Accident Podcast Safety Moment! In this episode, we delve into the age-old debate of free will versus predeterminism, exploring how individual behavior is influenced by organizational systems, processes, and culture. Our host challenges the notion of free choice in the workplace, arguing that context plays a significant role in shaping our decisions. From the clothes we wear to the products we use, many of our choices are influenced by the environment around us. Join us as we discuss the powerful impact of context on workplace safety and the importance of understanding these influences. Learn something new, have fun, and stay safe!

So we lost a good friend this weekend, and I wanted to take a moment and just celebrate the life of Jim Howe.  This is just a little special podcast. I hope you take a minute and listen to it just because Jim Howe is somebody really special that if you don't know, I wish you did know him. And if you do know him, you totally know why I had to say a few words. Jim's a remarkable force. I guess maybe it's more accurate to say Jim was a remarkable force. That's hard. But Jim, I think, carried more than his fair share of the weight of moving safety into more contemporary thinking. And he did it in such interesting ways. You know, he was on all these international standards committees, and he helped write a lot of the international standards for safety and for investigatory work and for certification and audits and assessments. And he did that because he knew it would matter, because he knew in essence that was his legacy, is if you want to change a bureaucratic function, you have to change the bureaucratic function. And his belief was, because he told it to me many times, that his voice in the room was often the only voice that was speaking for looking at these problems differently than we have before. And Jim was amazing at that. Jim spent years in safety. I know for certain he was at the United Auto Workers as the assistant director of safety, and he was at UAW for 20 years, maybe even a little longer. And he ended up at that assistant director spot, and he really led a lot of the more significant efforts that UAW did throughout North America. He's done many, many, many serious critical investigations, fatality investigations. And he was quite amazing at that work, which you have to just be thoughtful that that's an area that I'm not sure how much you want to be amazing at, but he was. He was incredibly good at it. But what I think he liked even more was going out and doing site visits because he did hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of site visits. And I think he liked most of all talking to the people. At least that's certainly my impression. I've known Jim for a lot of years, certainly more than 10 years. And I have lots of stories about Jim and funny things that happened and how easy it was to get him to laugh and how much he enjoyed the laughter. But I think what most comes to my mind is how thoughtful Jim was about the people and how much he cared about the people and how much he cared about providing, really, an opportunity for the world to be a better place. So, you know, I talk all the time about what is meaningful work. Well, the answer is good work done well for the right reasons. And if I had to pick somebody that exemplified that, it would be Jim. Good work, done well, for the right reasons. Jim's remarkable, and he will be missed. And after a four-year struggle with prostate cancer, he lost it gallantly this weekend. And our thoughts are with him and certainly with his family, but even more importantly, with everybody he touched. changed throughout the globe, but certainly specifically throughout North America. Jim, we'll miss you, my friend. It was good to know you. You made the light of the world a little bit brighter, and that's amazing. So to our friend Jim Howe, what a great life you lived, and what a significant contribution you gave, not just to us who do this work, work but to everybody who has to work jim we'll miss you.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast, hosted by Todd Conklin. In this enlightening discussion, Todd is joined by Jenna Miranda and James Wan, two extraordinary professionals making significant strides in the field of pediatric healthcare. Jenna Merandi, a medication safety officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital, shares her journey in reducing adverse drug events and implementing proactive safety measures. Learn about the innovative approaches and collaborative efforts that have helped her team break through safety plateaus and improve patient outcomes. James Won, a human factors expert from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, delves into the importance of designing systems that fit human capabilities. Discover how pediatric hospitals are leading the way in embracing human factors and proactive safety, setting a benchmark for healthcare innovation. This episode is a deep dive into the evolving landscape of healthcare safety, the challenges of measuring proactive efforts, and the fearless, patient-first mentality driving these advancements. Don't miss this engaging conversation that highlights the power of proactive safety and the impact of collaboration across industries.

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Welcome to the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast! Join our host and special guests, Jay Allen and Jennifer Long, as they dive into the upcoming meeting in Santa Fe from September 10th to 12th. This episode is filled with excitement as we discuss the venue, the Drury Inn Plaza Hotel, and its unique history. Our main focus is on the critical topic of accountability in safety practices. Jennifer Long sheds light on implementing accountability strategically and culturally within organizations. We also touch upon the intriguing connection between mental health and safety, particularly in high-risk industries like construction. Get a sneak peek into the workshop layout, designed to build language and fluency in managing reliable and resilient operations. Whether you're a beginner or bringing along decision-makers, this conference offers valuable insights for everyone. Plus, discover the culinary delights and biking opportunities that Santa Fe has to offer during the Wine and Chili festival. Don't miss out on this enriching experience! For more information and to secure your spot, visit safetyfm.io. Join us in Santa Fe for an event that's sure to enhance your understanding of safety and accountability. Learn, enjoy, and stay safe!

Welcome to another episode of Todd Conklin's Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment. In this brief yet insightful segment, Todd shares two essential tips for the summer season. First, he emphasizes the importance of staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Dehydration is a common issue, and ensuring you consume enough water can significantly impact your well-being. Second, Todd delves into the concept of imperfect knowledge. When faced with situations where you lack complete understanding or information, he advises seeking out differing opinions and perspectives. This approach helps to bridge knowledge gaps and fosters continuous learning. Tune in to discover how embracing diverse viewpoints can lead to better problem-solving and organizational growth. Remember to stay curious, have fun, and prioritize safety.

Welcome to the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast, hosted by Todd Conklin. In this episode, Todd sits down with Asher Balkin from The Ohio State University's Cognitive Systems Engineering Lab. Asher is a brilliant researcher known for his work in resilience engineering and his ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible manner. Join Todd and Asher as they delve into the challenges and opportunities in the field of resilience engineering. They discuss the difficulties in making advanced research widely accessible and the importance of translating complex ideas for broader audiences. Asher shares insights into the lab's efforts to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application, particularly in industries with high exposure to failure such as healthcare, IT, and aviation. Learn about the lab's innovative approaches to education, including short courses designed to make resilience concepts more attainable for professionals. The conversation also touches on the importance of building strong partnerships between academia and industry to foster a more resilient and adaptable world. Don't miss this engaging and enlightening discussion that promises to leave you with a deeper understanding of resilience engineering and its critical role in today's ever-changing environment.

Hey, everybody. Todd Conklin here with a Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment. Can you tell it's summer? Today, we're diving into a crucial topic that's been coming up a lot lately: the significance of the green light on your progress chart. One of the things that I think is so important to understand is that you should fear the green, embrace the yellow, and understand the red. The green light doesn’t really tell you anything, and fatalities and catastrophic failures often live in the green light. So, as leaders, it’s essential to question what's happening when everything seems fine. Catastrophic failure doesn’t live in the yellow light because you’re already examining it. It sure doesn’t live in the red light because the red light gets a lot of attention and resources. But the green light? It’s often overlooked because it’s not “squeaky.” That is your safety moment for today. Short and sweet. Learn something new every single day. Have as much fun as you possibly can. Be good to each other. Be kind to each other. And for goodness’ sakes, be safe.

Join Todd Conklin on this enlightening episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast as he sits down with retired Rear Admiral John Meyer of the United States Navy. Dive into a fascinating discussion about Admiral Meyer’s innovative approach to safety, his unique journey, and the transformative steps taken within naval aviation to enhance safety protocols. From the creation of a simulation center for aircraft movement on flight decks to a paradigm shift in leadership thinking, this episode offers valuable insights into managing safety in complex environments. Learn how Admiral Meyer's dedication and forward-thinking have led to significant improvements and what advice he has for current and future leaders. Don't miss this compelling conversation that blends philosophy, practical solutions, and leadership wisdom, all aimed at making the workplace safer for those who serve. Tune in to discover how small changes can lead to monumental impacts in safety and operations.