SafetyAtWorkBlog

In this episode, I compare two new books reviewed on the SafetyAtWorkBlog to explore where psychological harm at work really comes from. Setting Kat Page’s evidence‑based focus on job design and prevention against Graeme Cowan’s leadership‑led emphasis on empathy and care, the discussion asks whether harm sits with individuals, leaders, or the systems of work themselves. Drawing on occupational health research and real‑world examples, the episode argues that while care matters, preventing psychological harm ultimately depends on how work is designed—and whether organisations are prepared to change it.

I argue that Australia should stop treating occupational health and safety (OHS) as a compliance cost and start seeing it as a powerful economic lever that protects productivity, skills and human capital. By reshaping procurement rules, tax settings and incentives, Treasury could reframe safety as essential economic infrastructure and one of the nation’s smartest investments.

This episode summarises a SafetyAtWorkBlog article exploring a quiet but significant shift in occupational health and safety thinking — away from blaming individual workers and towards examining the systems that shape how work is designed and managed. Drawing on ideas from a recent US book about wealth, power and responsibility, the script contrasts “individual framing” with “systemic framing,” arguing that many workplace harms, especially psychological harm, are driven by organisational incentives, business models and power structures rather than personal failings. It challenges the rise of the workplace wellbeing industry, questions who benefits when safety is treated as an individual problem, and calls for OHS professionals to look higher up the system to identify the real sources of risk.

In this episode, I reflect on a SafetyAtWorkBlog article examining how overlooked disciplines—particularly accounting and governance—shape work health and safety, arguing that concepts like legitimacy theory and corporate purpose help explain why workplace harm is tolerated and normalised. The script challenges compliance focused OHS practice, links social licence and legitimacy to chronic and psychosocial hazards, and contends that meaningful prevention requires redesigning business models, not just jobs. Ultimately, it calls on OHS to broaden its intellectual foundations beyond “safety culture” to confront the political, economic, and moral systems that legitimise risk rather than prevent it.

A thought-provoking look at the realities of work-life balance, workplace wellbeing, and the social costs of modern work. This episode challenges old ideas and calls for systemic change to support healthier, more inclusive workplaces.

Today I explore how personal morality shapes leadership and workplace safety, inspired by recent comments from Donald Trump. I look at why safety is built on shared responsibility—not individual preference—and how leaders’ attitudes toward laws can affect everyone at work.

Articles referenced - Red Flags for OHS Misunderstandings - https://safetyatworkblog.com/2025/01/02/red-flags-for-ohs-misunderstandings/

Leadership and Culture Confusion Is Self-Inflicted - https://safetyatworkblog.com/2023/12/04/leadership-and-culture-confusion-is-self-inflicted/

‘I’ll Obey the Laws I Like’: A (Sad) Leadership Masterclass - https://safetyatworkblog.com/2026/01/12/ill-obey-the-laws-i-like-a-sad-leadership-masterclass/

This audio summary explores the provocative concept of "safety anarchism" through a conversation with Professor Sidney Dekker, author of The Safety Anarchist. Originally broadcast in 2017, the discussion challenges conventional views on workplace safety and bureaucracy, contrasting the disorder of anarchy with the collaborative ethos of anarchism. Dekker critiques Australia’s massive compliance burden and questions whether increased regulation has actually improved safety outcomes. He advocates for decentralised authority, ground-up innovation, and a reimagining of the safety profession—moving beyond surveillance and paperwork toward embedded expertise and genuine responsibility.

This is the first in a three-part series revisiting key ideas from the original interviews.

This episode examines the human side of workplace disasters and safety, inspired by Professor Sidney Dekker’s book, "The End of Heaven". It explores how societies have historically sought meaning in suffering, contrasting technical investigations with the need for consolation. The discussion covers the rituals and cultural explanations often used in safety-critical industries, and challenges common approaches to understanding failure and supporting those affected. Listeners are invited to reflect on how meaning, history, and humanity shape responses to workplace incidents and safety practices.

This episode explores the “Safety Differently” movement and documentary, led by Professor Sidney Dekker. The discussion highlights how Australian organisations—including oil and gas, healthcare, and Woolworths supermarkets—are rethinking workplace safety by empowering frontline workers and moving away from traditional, top-down approaches. Real-world case studies demonstrate that giving employees more autonomy and support can lead to safer, more engaged workplaces. The episode also provides information on where to access the documentary and additional resources for those interested in implementing “Safety Differently” principles.

This episode explores the tragic death of Karla Jordan, an accountant whose workplace environment was identified by the Victorian Coroner as the primary stressor leading to her suicide. It examines the toxic culture at Ballarat Health Services—marked by intimidation, poor communication, and mismanagement—and the systemic failures that contributed to Karla’s decline, including ignored warnings, inadequate support, and insensitive task allocation.

With new psychosocial hazard laws approaching in Australia, Karla’s story serves as a stark reminder that employers must act proactively to prevent psychological harm. Until workplace mental health is treated with the same urgency as physical safety, more lives may be at risk.