Expert Blog
A Real Case of Implementing "Curatorship" and Combating System Stagnation
The article presents a practical case study of implementing the 'Curatorship' project, developed to prevent the stagnation of the production safety system and manager burnout. Using real examples, the author shows how appointing experts from the Safety Directorate as mentors helps develop managers' leadership qualities. The material reveals key mentoring mechanics that made it possible to reduce workplace injuries by 27% and increase safety culture indicators by 30%.
Cross-Inspections: An Effective Tool for a "Fresh Perspective"
The article discusses cross-inspections in the field of occupational health and safety and industrial safety—a methodology in which inspections are conducted by specialists from other departments. Such an approach helps overcome the 'eye-blurring effect,' as external experts objectively identify violations that are routine for the regular team. Implementing this system allows for the timely elimination of hidden risks, the sharing of best practices, and the reduction of injuries at the enterprise.
Hazard Blindness: An Invisible Threat and Ways to Combat It
In the work of occupational health and safety and industrial safety specialists, routine can cause “eye fatigue” — a dulling of attention due to which dangerous deviations begin to be perceived as the norm. The article analyzes the risks of this effect on the effectiveness of the occupational health and safety management system and workplace inspections. The material describes systemic prevention methods that make it possible, through rotation, objective control tools, and employee training, to maintain the sharpness of professional perception.
Workplace Safety Without Financial Penalties
Traditional financial penalties for violations of occupational health and safety rules often lead to the formation of a culture of silence and the concealment of risky situations. This article examines alternative approaches and specific tools for implementing a safety system without fines and reprimands. The author explains how transitioning from punishments to a culture of trust, transparency, and employee engagement helps eliminate systemic causes of violations and prevent injuries.
Exercise for Practicing the Identification of Accident Causes: Immediate, Underlying, and Root
The publication presents a practical exercise for determining the immediate, underlying, and root causes of an accident using a case study as an example. Based on a story about a female employee being injured on stairs, it is proposed to analyze the combination of factors that led to the incident. At the end of the material, the author provides their own version of the analysis for checking and comparing the results obtained.
The Image of an HSE Specialist: Between Strictness and Care
The article reveals the essence of the profession of an occupational health and safety specialist as a bridge between safety standards and the team, where authority is built on trust, competence, and care, rather than bureaucracy. The author explains what qualities such an expert possesses, capable of changing attitudes toward safety and building a dialogue with employees at any level. The material helps to understand how to grow professionally without turning into a "paper dragon" and how to preserve one's resources in emotionally demanding work.
Identifying Injury Risks in Rail Transport Using Video Surveillance
At the company JSC "Apatit", the analysis of footage from video surveillance cameras made it possible to identify critical violations of occupational health and safety requirements during the operation of rail transport. Based on the results of internal investigations, organizational and technical measures were developed, including conducting tests of a video analytics system with computer vision. The article examines practical examples of hazardous situations and describes the operating principle of an automatic equipment interlock system when a person is in a danger zone.
Immediate, Underlying, and Root Causes of an Accident?
The article explains the three-level classification of workplace accident causes — immediate, basic, and root — and explains why incident investigations should not be limited to recording obvious facts. The author shows how identifying deep systemic violations in occupational health and safety management helps eliminate the root causes of incidents instead of a formal search for culprits. Understanding the difference between these levels allows implementing sustainable corrective actions, improving risk management processes, and forming an effective safety culture.
Environment and Construction. EcoZOS
Environmental Conclusion of Conformity (EKOZOS) is a mandatory document for obtaining permission to commission a number of capital construction or reconstruction facilities. The article examines the regulatory control of the procedure, the list of obligated facilities, and the package of documents required for processing. The material describes a step-by-step algorithm of interaction with Rosprirodnadzor — from notifying the agency 7 days before the start of work and coordinating the inspection schedule to passing the final inspection.
Why Use a Structured Approach in Accident Investigation?
The effectiveness of workplace accident investigations directly depends on a methodology that allows moving from superficial analysis to true root causes. The article examines a structured approach that eliminates subjectivity and replaces finding fault with the systematic improvement of the occupational health and safety system. You will learn how applying established methods helps identify systemic flaws, implement effective preventive measures, and strengthen safety culture.
Cognitive Biases in Risk Assessment: How an AI Assistant Helps See Hazards Objectively
Traditional risk assessment methods in enterprises often fail to prevent injuries due to cognitive biases and template thinking of specialists. An experiment showed that an AI assistant trained on injury statistics and investigation materials is capable of objectively analyzing occupational health and safety instructions and proposing specific actions instead of formal phrases. The use of such technologies helps compensate for the peculiarities of human thinking by providing accurate data to focus on real risks.
The "5 Whys" Method: A Simple Tool for Finding the Root Causes of Incidents
The "5 Whys" technique, developed by Sakichi Toyoda, allows during workplace incidents to move away from superficial factors and determine the true cause of a failure in a system or process. By sequentially asking the question "Why?", it is possible to reach the root of the problem, not to look for culprits, but to prevent a recurrence of the situation. The article demonstrates the algorithm for applying this tool using a practical example and explains its role in forming a systematic approach to safety.