Beware: Safety Zombies!

A few months ago, the time had come. For the first time in years, physically at an (international) conference. It was a big event with a number of well-known speakers and participants from all over the world, including a number of large companies. Despite some pleasant surprises, it was also another confirmation of how conservative our profession can be. (*)

Now it is always the case that at a conference there are always only a few presentations that appeal to you. In most cases, I attend them anyway in the hope of meeting interesting people or to meet and speak to certain colleagues again. The latter was again the case this time, alas the agenda had little to offer me personally. Unfortunately, however, I have to say that this time I noticed how the attitude of certain peers evoked negative energy. Instead of inspiring me and giving me energy to practice my profession better, I got a feeling of ‘why are we actually bothering...'.

One of the people I hang out with during the two days characterized these people as ‘safety zombies.’ A very fitting description in my opinion, because just as ‘real’ zombies change others into zombies, also ‘safety zombies’ tend to drag others along in their state of mental apathy. Another visitor to the conference sent me a message a week later asking if we could talk. She was still affected by it and actually a bit depressed. How unfortunate it is, that instead of being charged professionally, we have a ‘hangover’.

The first step in addressing problems is recognizing them. How do we recognize such energy drains? What characterizes ‘safety zombies’? Shooting from the hip, I would mention the following:

To begin with, they are firmly convinced of their own right. This manifests itself in all sorts of ways. In most cases, they are experienced professionals. A typical statement is, “I've been in the business for decades and I've never experienced that...”. Or: “In my 30 years as a safety advisor, I have helped hundreds of companies to...”. Their experience is actually the only validation needed for everything.

You often see the attitude that practice is everything and (safety) science has nothing useful to add. The same applies to most other disciplines. Safety is best approached transdisciplinary, but for ‘safety zombies’ this does not go beyond medics, HR, engineers, behavioural psychologists or occupational hygienists. That historians, anthropologists, linguists, or sociologists have something to add is too absurd for words.

They also get stuck into facts. At least, in what they regard as facts. That these facts may be based on anecdotes (invariably they have stories about someone they know and who...) and cannot simply be generalized is irrelevant. 'Safety zombies' are also satisfied with simple, seemingly conclusive models and answers. Accidents are therefore caused by human error. If you start talking about constructing causes or facts, you are accused of dabbling in theory instead of describing what is actually happening.

Their reality consists for the most part of management systems, procedures, methods, lists, indicators, measurements and the like. That’s also how they approach safety. Changing behaviour and awareness are high on the list. They believe in straightforward approaches and stick to them, even if you ask critical questions. No, you really always have to hold the handrail. And reverse park. Because safe. They may acknowledge that safety depends on situations and context, but usually that does not change their approach.

Finally, they are often very emotional about their work. If an accident happens, they take it personally. They often see it as their shortcoming. These things shouldn’t have happened “on their watch”. They should have done more. That is perhaps the most tragic with ‘safety zombies’. They want to do well and show major involvement, but they themselves do not realize that they are perhaps overdoing it by patronizing people it with their rules and systems.

Now we might be able to recognize them. The question remains how to deal with it. I do not have a conclusive answer to that. Unlike ‘real’ zombies, I believe that ‘safety zombies’ can be brought out of their trance. However, that takes a long time, because just like ordinary zombies, ‘safety zombies’ can go on for years. But if you have a long breath, remain friendly and professional, make sure you don’t get infected, find common ground and keep asking critical questions, then it may eventually work out with some of them.

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(*) Postscript: You might read this blog as a litany of how traditional safety does not embrace so-called new views. That is NOT the intention. We find practitioners of every persuasion having closed minds and being stuck in their respective echo chambers. You only need to change a few words and most of this critique would for example suit movements that won’t accept the value of risk assessments or refuse engineers having a say in safety (**). But perhaps the discussion is then more about babies and bathwater .

(**) However, engineers should shut up about culture . Just saying.

Want to read some more about Safety Professionals or culture? Why not check out one of my books: https://www.mindtherisk.com/the-book