 Information OverloadIf you are like me you spend a good portion of your day scouring the news, data feeds, and other sources trying to process what is happening concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things many are searching for signs of when things might return to normal, although I suspect that they will not, at least not completely. |  Maintaining Save Operations during the COVID-19 PandemicWhat could or should organizations do to maintain safe operations of their facility or plant during possible loss of safety-critical roles or tasks resulting from self-isolation or policy changes such as travel bans, meeting cancellations, and remote work. What if safety-critical tasks could not be completed? What if critical maintenance was delayed? What if active process changes (MOCs) could not be completed in a timely manner? |  Antifragile – the solution to aleatory uncertaintyNassim Nicholas Taleb, in his book "Antifrigile" proposes a solution for companies who are faced with the aleatory dragon. The solution is not robustness or resiliency but instead is something that is the opposite to fragility; something that gains from disorder. |
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 Total Safety ManagementWhen it comes to safety efforts the evolution towards using safety management systems (SMS) has become standard practice for some industries and now a matter of priority for others. However, building on the success of TQM, the concept of Total Safety Management (TSM) is being considered. A methodology for companies to use to improve their safety outcomes through the application of systematic and proactive approaches. |  The Dilution of ComplianceDilution can be defined as "the process or action of making something less strong or valuable." Over the years I have experienced this effect at work when it comes to compliance systems in support of quality, safety, environmental, and regulatory objectives. |  The way compliance is implemented is getting in the way of effectivenessWhen it comes to implementing compliance systems many take a phased: component first-approach. This comes from years of prescriptive obligations and a focus on implementing "shall statements" in order to pass certifications and audits. However, to support performance and outcome-based obligations another approach is needed. That's why we recommend a phased: system-first approach based on the Lean Startup Model by Eric Ries. This approach provides the means for organizations to achieve an operational compliance system faster and get results sooner. |
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 The Regulatory TsunamiIn recent years many in the compliance industry have observed a shift in regulation from prescriptive to performance and outcome-based designs. What we are seeing is only the beginning of a trickle down effect emerging from regulatory reform over the last few decades across the world and across regulatory jurisdictions. |  Rasmussen's Risk Management FrameworkRasmussen's Risk Management Framework (also known as Rasmussen's ladder) provides useful insights when it comes to understanding risk across social-technical boundaries to achieve safety objectives along with other risk objectives. Rasmussen's originally developed his approach as part of a proactive risk management strategy, however, its primary application has been as an accident analysis tool (ACCIMAPS) for complex socio-technical systems. |  System DynamicsThe term "System Dynamics" was coined by Jay Forester at MIT in 1961. The aim was to explore dynamic responses to changes made either within or outside of a system to explain the past and predict the future. This makes System Dynamics useful for better understanding and improving sociology-technical problems in the domain of quality, safety, environmental, and regulatory programs and systems. |
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