#Human factor
Error governance and diluting the human factor over operations. Installing barriers offsetting cognitive illusions or lethargy. Features ergonomic error-proofing (Poka-yoke) wiping away the desire to cut corners.
Why "No!" Doesn't Save: A Scientific Look at the Effectiveness of Prohibitory Signs
The article examines the differences between prohibition and mandatory signs in industrial safety from the perspective of the psychology and physiology of perception. The author explains why strict prohibitions can provoke psychological resistance among workers, while mandatory signs reduce cognitive load and shape safe behavior. The material helps to understand how a proper combination of both approaches allows building an effective occupational health and safety system at an enterprise.
The Impact of Training on Personnel Performance
The article examines the impact of stress on erroneous decision-making by workers in emergency situations and the role of the human factor in industrial accidents. The author analyzes the mechanisms of brain function at critical moments and relies on research data confirming that regular practical training reduces stress levels and increases the psychological resilience of personnel. The material shows the importance of moving from formal inspections to workplace skill development using the exam...
Resistance to Influence: A Psychological Phenomenon
The article by safety culture trainer Roman Portnyagin is dedicated to the phenomenon of psychological reactance, due to which employees may reject even logical arguments during a behavioral safety audit. The material explains why people experience internal protest when they feel a threat to their freedom of choice during attempts to influence them. The author examines psychological principles of communication that allow reducing the employee's defensive reactions and making the dialogue about s...
DRA Tool: A Skill or a Long Process?
Roman Portnyagin, a safety culture trainer at Norilsk Nickel, breaks down the "Dynamic Risk Assessment" (DRA) tool and explains why industrial safety should not be perceived as a process that interferes with work. Using the example of everyday hazard assessment when crossing the road, the author shows how continuous practice turns risk management from rules into an automatic skill. The article reveals which training, incentive, and recognition tools help motivate employees to apply "DRA" for the...
How to Implement Innovations with Minimal Resistance to Change?
The article is devoted to the company's experience in implementing innovations, automating processes, and digitizing documents without resistance from employees. Using the field of occupational health and safety as an example, the author explains how creating a cross-functional working group of middle managers and opinion leaders helped build unified standards and make the transition to new formats comfortable for the team.
How Stress Destroys HSE Culture (and What to Do About It)
Studies show that 58% of workplace incidents occur due to employee burnout, leading to loss of concentration and errors. The article examines the experience of creating a psychologically comfortable office environment to reduce stress in the team. The text explains why comprehensive care for employees serves as the foundation for strengthening safety culture and business development.
How to Help Workers Distinguish Hazards from Risks?
The article explains the difference between a hazard as a potential source of harm and a risk as the probability of an event occurring and its consequences. To help workers who confuse these concepts, the author offers two methods — explaining the differences using the example of a lion and discussing hazard and risk using a picture. These approaches can be used in any training and education sessions to identify clear examples even without the qualification of an occupational health and safety s...
The Psychology of Safety Briefings
The article examines the psychological aspects of conducting occupational health and safety briefings and explains why they are often perceived as a formality. The author explains how a competent presentation of information and a clear explanation of cause-and-effect relationships between employee actions and risks help make the briefing effective. The article analyzes the impact of content quality and the specialist's personal involvement on shaping safe behavior in both young and experienced e...
The Impact of Interpersonal Conflicts on Workplace Incidents
Employees' psychological state, emotional burnout, and misunderstandings within the team directly affect the work atmosphere and increase the likelihood of workplace accidents. The article examines the role of the occupational health and safety department in the timely resolution of disagreements between colleagues before they lead to incidents. The author explains how daily preventive work, forecasting problems, and training employees in competent behavior in conflict situations help mitigate s...
No Risks or Are We in a Mental Trap?
The implementation of a risk-based approach does not always lead to a reduction in occupational injuries, as the organization of the safety system faces mental traps. The article examines typical misconceptions of managers and workers — from underestimating uncertainty and the illusion of someone else's control over risks to ignoring mitigating measures. The material shows why, without feedback from employees and collective threat identification, a risk management system will not be sufficiently...
Human Error
The article examines the nature and causes of human errors in the workplace through the relationship between the personal qualities of the employee and the work environment. The author analyzes the negative consequences of customary disciplinary punishments, which destroy trust and force the hiding of misconduct instead of eliminating the true causes. The publication offers an approach to improving the error response system — from implementing clear algorithms for finding root problems to fair e...
Professionals Championship: A Platform for Engaging Employees in HSE
The article examines the Professionals Championship of JSCo 'RZD' as a tool for training and engaging employees in industrial safety issues. Using the example of competitions among occupational health and safety specialists and representatives of blue-collar occupations, the author shows how skill refinement helps identify strengths and development areas of personnel. This format motivates employees to study professional requirements in greater depth and makes it possible to form the company's t...