It’s so amusing to see Safety repeat and repeat a mistruth and make it a truth (https://safetyrisk.net/belief-by-repetition-the-hop-method/ ). Look at any definition of what a principle is and it is clearly defined as a ‘fundamental truth’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle). Moreso, any principle must emerge from a clearly articulated ethic where virtues, values and principles are well anchored to a foundational methodology (philosophy). None of this exists in HOP.

But Safety likes HOP because its traditional safety packaged in rhetoric of S2. Just get out those Jenga blocks and offer worship to James Reason and Swiss-Cheese (https://safetyrisk.net/the-jenga-blocks-are-swiss-cheese/). I wonder how re-hashing a fifty-year-old semiotic is a ‘new view’?

So, in order to assist understanding, I created a table to illustrate the difference between a slogan, virtue/vice and a hidden principle:

Yet, I am sure this won’t change the constant repetition of Safety, that these slogans are ‘principles’. Such is the power of Propaganda in slogans (https://safetyrisk.net/how-will-your-safety-propaganda-stand-up-in-court/ ).

This is what happens in Safety when ethics and moral philosophy are missing. It’s just repeat what some academic said because Safety adores its own echo chamber. Similarly, repeat the word ‘professional’ as if Safety is just like a profession. This is where acting professionally doesn’t matter because there is no ethic of personhood to anchor to. This is why demonising and brutalism of persons is so easy to invoke in the name of zero (https://www.humandymensions.com/product/zero-the-great-safety-delusion/ ). And don’t forget, demonise anyone who questions the cult.

We see the same in the AIHS Code of Ethics and the BoK Chapter on Ethics that says nothing about power, care, zero or helping. Indeed, the code of Ethics maintains the nonsense that safety is objective and impartial! (https://safetyrisk.net/how-can-safety-cause-moral-injury-and-harm/). A sure recipe to foster moral harm for safety people (https://safetyrisk.net/the-moral-harm-of-safety-work/).

And, if you question safety, you’re just a non-compliant complainer. How convenient to close off an avenue for critical thinking and build a fortress.

This is how indoctrination through the use of language invents myths and rituals that Safety holds sacred. We are exploring many of these ‘safety beliefs’ in our current workshop series (https://safetyrisk.net/the-semiotics-of-safety-beliefs-free-workshop-july/).

You can see evidence of safety beliefs here:

Myth is created by semiotic and, through semiotic is made to be myth.

This doesn’t mean something is made fact or true but, through semiotics, is made semiotically true. This is how meaning is attributed to the risk matrix, injury counting and safety favourites like Heinrich’s pyramid, the Bradley Curve and swiss-cheese.

If you want to understand the real meaning of myth you can start here:

https://safetyrisk.net/understanding-mythology-myth-mythosphere-and-science-a-podcast/ or here:

https://safetyrisk.net/myth-objectivity-and-the-subjectivity-of-language-in-safety/