We see the world and situations through the many biases (filters) developed through years of the way the world has been framed at us. In safety, the training, curriculum, discourse, language and semiosis is framed through the filter and lens of objects. Even psychosocial harm is called a ’hazard’. The safety worldview then interprets situations through its engineering, behaviourist, discourse and performance filters so that its focus is on objects. The most important thing for safety is NOT the process but rather the outcome, zero. In this way, injury rates are made the definition of safety success.

In SPoR, we have absolutely no interest in objects, hazards, performance or safety injury rates. SPoR has a worldview that sees the world through its filters that focus on persons, learning, social community and ethical practice.

The comparison of the two worldviews is represented semiotically in Figure 1. Situational Awareness Filters.

Figure 1. Situational Awareness Filters.

The difference between the way each sees a situation is determined by the lens/filter that it looks through. In the case of safety, the language and discourse is always framed by a perception of objects. This is how the safety curriculum is structured so that policing regulation becomes the method safety uses to achieve low injury rates.

In SPoR, we have absolutely no interest in jury rates but rather see the world of work as the place of relationships, personhood and ethical practice. In SPoR, safety is not determined by injury rates but rather by how persons are treated ethically.

The discipline of Safety and the discipline of Social Psychology of Risk (SPoR) have two completely different worldviews. One frames the world through the lens of objects and the other through the lens of personhood. One spends most of its time counting and reporting numerics and the other looks at how the workplace humanises persons in the process of tackling risk.

For SPoR, all situations are essentially social relationships. For Safety, situations are events where people must not be harmed.

For SPoR, the focus is on Workspace, Headspace and Groupspace. For Safety, the focus is on Workspace.

If you are ready for a challenge and ready to step outside the mythical security of safety or the delusions of zero, there is much to learn and much of it is for free.

You can download free books here: https://www.humandymensions.com/shop/

You can do the free Introduction to SPoR here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/4233556

You can email for coaching here: admin@spor.com.au

You can watch free videos here: https://vimeo.com/cllr

Or you can come to the SPoR Convention in September: https://spor.com.au/spor-convention-2025/

All of these avenues of learning are available to you if you want to learn and improve your skills in situational awareness.

And, all of what you will learn will help re-frame your worldview and improve your situational awareness. It is all practical, positive and doable. It’s up to you if you are ready for that leap of faith.