see what people are saying about the book 'Risk Mankes Sense'
Hi Rob,
Received your wonderful book and can't put it down. I have been training Safety Reps and Safety Advisors for a number of years and a constant discussion is vision (zero harm) vs reality and walking the line somewhere between the two. Another discussion I often have is the nature of a 'sensible' person and the fallacy of 'common sense'. As of today I am recommending 'Risk Makes Sense' to all my students.
Regards,
Rowena Bathgate
OH&S Trainer
Murray House Resource Centre
Pinjarra, WA
Hi Rob
Thanks for the book.
This book challenges our assumptions around risk management, provides a context where we can make sense and meaning of our own experience, community expectations and the limitations of over reliance on either regulation or 'common sense'. Risk creates life beyond mere existence and this book prompts us to realise that risk management is about the way we think about how we live.
Matt Casey
Professional Standards Officer
Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn
Hi Rob
This is one of those books you read and you hope that it becomes a beacon for paradigmatic change. It exposes gaping holes in the present building and construction health and safety psyche not by focussing on them but by asking questions which naturally generate reflection about the way things are.
Risk is axiomatic to growth and development - the era of traditional practice informing the way we work with new technology, human and physical resources and ideas has been subordinated by the need to move more quickly and efficiently and thus risk becomes a sine qua non to ground-breaking practice. We must adapt or perish - and with that set boundaries so that risk is firstly embraced and then strategised - for not to do so simply has it present as the 'elephant in the room'. Risk is not in itself the issue, it is the decisions made by operatives in their attempts to somehow remove it or obviate it. I learned how to ride a bicycle by engaging risk head-on;
when I lifted my feet from the ground and experienced balance, not as an intellectual construct but as a moment-by-moment capability, I knew all at once that I had to move forward to 'get' balance, and I had to 'get' balance to move forward.
The book is rich with anecdotes which clearly illustrate Dr Long's thesis - that risk makes sense, in a compelling, relatable, and often amusing way. I found it difficult to read and then not ponder upon Dr Long's discourse which combines the weight of highly plausible academic theory, eloquent use of juxtaposition, and sheer readability. The question I am left with is how I might be a part of conscientising an industry which is predicated on the way things have always been done and 'common sense' - which is attributed to everyone and which does not seem to have an owner anywhere.
Grant Daly
Senior Manager
Sustainability, Indigenous Engagement & Careers Strategy
Master Builders Association of NSW
Hi Rob
I recently purchased your book and was delighted that you took the time to write in it. Thank you for sending the follow up email and links.
At the present I am reading as much as I can in the eventual hope that I can persuade management to listen and read and..... Your articles and information will also assist me as a grandparent of three lively explorers.
PS I enjoyed your reference to Red Rock gorge- many years ago my three boys spent many hours there.
Regards
Chris Smith
LEAD
I want to THANK everyone for the professional comments and openness. I especially like to say thanks for Dr. Long for his GREAT book and postings. It is these types of discussions that make us ALL BETTER at what we do as we all learn to look at things through a different set of eyes!
Bryan Haywood
Founder & President of SAFTENG.net
Adjunct Instructor at University of Cincinnati
At last someone has shone a light through bureaucratic fog and commercial/political backside protection. This book is carefully crafted, well researched and gives a new insight into an issue which desperately needs it. It reveals truth which lots of us suspected was there but could not identify. I hope that policy makers get a chance to reflect upon the ideas presented in this book and things start to change. I am sick of the double-speak which flows around these issues.
Stuarte Kerdel
Principal
Leadership Dymensions
This is a no BS book on human behaviors. It is now clear to me, why so many safety professionals, companies and regulators are way off the mark. In fact, there are numerous case studies to validate just how we tick as humans. Easy to read and a MUST read if your serious about managing risk. Enjoy.
Garry Mansfield
HSE Manager
Kell and Rigby
In my view this book is a substantial addition to the body of knowledge about Risk and OHS. Written from a psychologicalperspective it puts into print many of the things I have figured out for myself through many years of OHS practice. It reinforces and goes further on many things my mentor Geoff McDonald has taught me over the years. Geoff comes from a mechanical engineering and psychological perspective.
Early in the book Long explores the various myths that surround Risk and OHS, these myths influence our beliefs about how personal damage occurrences (Accidents) occur and our perceptions of those involved. He questions the fervent belief some have about Zero Harm approaches, I am with Robert on this.
There is mention of the stupidity of over complex and long S.W.P., examples are given of where people crave risk. It is suggested removing all risk by complicated safety approaches may not always be a good thing. There is discussion on language and culture as it applies to risk.
The deficiencies of the L.T.I.F.R. are mentioned. The Can-Do mentality as a contributor to risk in Australia gets a touch up. The K.U.T.A.(Kick Up The Arse) approach gets a special mention.
The section on learning covers some of the ground I covered in my Adult & Workplace Education tertiary education but goes further. Given the difficulties of overly long induction sessions and death by Power-Point I found the induction scorecard interesting.
I found the section on Cognitive Dissonance a bit heavy going but still valuable.
Having researched leadership widely myself I found valuable material I had not come across before in the leadership section.
I would have no hesitation recommending this book to OHS / Risk Management professionals.
George Robotham
Thanks for the book “Risk Makes Sense” that you sent to Nanette for me, love it, believed I was on the right path but had visions of branches leading off, now it is completely straight thanks to you, a lot to comprehend but the journey continues, thanks again for putting reality to the way I believed things should progress, it’s amazing the number of people that cannot realise a better way forward, still stuck in there dogmatic ways of not understanding people. Rob keep up the excellent good work, will catch up one day to further the journey. Cheers
Phil Butler
"This book starts with a philosophical vantage point that immediately resonated with me, "To live is to experience risk, to learn is to positively engage risk". For topic material that can be so academic and 'dry' the author did a great job of examining practical immediately useful risk management techniques and expose common myths associated with the subject. I Liked it a lot.
Ben Judge
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HILTON Industrial Vacuums & Engineering
* powerful vacuums for difficult jobs *
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Hi Robert, I bought your Risk Makes Sense book and it has changed my career direction, I am thrilled I bought it.
Natalie Chinner OHS Manager
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Hi Rob. Received your book at long last (snail mail is a pain) and am thoroughly enjoying the new/rational perspectives de-bunking the various occupational risk myths. See our “Because we Care” logo at the bottom of my signature below – our attempt to establish a “mindful culture” at our project sites. Early days and unfortunately limited/bounded by my “Lone Ranger” effort at this stage but your book could not have come at a more opportune time as it helps me to crystallise my thoughts as to what do we actually mean when we use “culture” and “intervention” and “mindfulness”. I have not even scratched the surface of what is in your book (dipping in-and-out of chapters) but I can already see that we need to sharpen up on our objectives/thinking.
My post-graduate studies in Knowledge Management dealt with the use of Communities of Practice/Learning and hence I’m very receptive to the views in your book. At the same time though I’m deeply ensconced in the world of mining and occupational risk (safety) and I can see a hard road ahead to change the prevailing industry mind-set that you accurately describe.
I’ve been researching the role that an increased level of knowledge management could/should have on our ability to better manage project risk – NASA has done great work in this regard with their Knowledge-based Project Risk Management program – and your book is certainly very helpful in positioning the various cognitive biases that influence our risk decision-making. Thank you for the kind note that you added in the cover – I certainly share the view that risk awareness (not averseness) is a sine qua non for learning and better decision-making.
Quinton van Eeden PMI-RMP SHERQ Officer, TWP Projects, South Africa