Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of authority gradient, illustrated by a personal anecdote highlighting the challenges of challenging authority in diving contexts. Despite efforts to foster psychological safety, the innate hierarchical structure often inhibits individuals from voicing concerns. We explore strategies to mitigate this gradient, emphasizing the importance of building psychological safety through genuine acceptance of mistakes and open communication. Additionally, we discuss practical approaches such as leaders actively engaging in tasks alongside their team and promoting continuous skill development to empower individuals to question norms. While these methods may not be foolproof, they offer avenues to cultivate a culture of mutual respect and accountability within dive teams. For further insights, we recommend exploring the provided series of articles on building psychological safety in teams. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/navigating-the-authority-gradient Links: DEBrIEF model: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/debriefing How to build psychological safety in a team: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4 Tags: English, Authority Gradient, Jenny Lord, Psychological Safety

In this episode, we explore the cognitive effects of cold water on divers, balancing our understanding of temperature's impact with last week's discussion on heat. While physiological effects of cold water, like decompression sickness, are well-documented, the cognitive implications are less known but equally important, particularly for divers in cold conditions. Studies reveal that besides feeling colder with repeat dives, divers experience symptoms like de-personalization, reduced concentration, and memory lapses, impacting their ability to execute essential tasks underwater. Despite potential improvements with acclimatization, divers must consider these cognitive effects, especially during task-loaded dives or repetitive immersions. Mitigation strategies include wearing appropriate insulation, limiting dive times, and actively warming up between dives, emphasizing the importance of planning and preparation for cold-water diving excursions.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/brrrr-cold-water-and-the-effects-on-our-brain Links: 1968 study: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/001872086801000501 2019 study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006899319302331?via%3Dihub Tags:  English, Decision Making, Fatigue, Jenny Lord, Performance Shaping Factors, Situation Awareness

In this podcast episode, we explore the often-overlooked impact of weather, particularly heat, on divers' cognitive and physical abilities. Despite the common perception that warm temperatures are ideal for vacations, studies reveal significant cognitive impairment in individuals exposed to heat, especially without air conditioning. From decreased reaction times to impaired decision-making and mental flexibility, the effects of heat on divers, particularly those new to hot climates, pose considerable risks. Additionally, physical conditions like dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke can be life-threatening if not addressed promptly, underscoring the importance of staying hydrated and seeking shade. With many divers visiting hot destinations for short holidays, acclimatization becomes crucial for safe diving, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to temperature regulation and self-care to mitigate the cumulative effects of heat on diving performance. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hot-hot-hot-challenges-of-diving-in-the-heat Links: Harvard study: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002605 Study by Cheema and Patrick: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1509/jmr.08.0205 Tags:  English, Decision Making, Jenny Lord, Performance Shaping Factors

In this podcast episode, we delve into the contentious debates within the diving community, focusing on the half turn back of tank valves as a prime example. Exploring a recent Facebook group discussion with diverse opinions, ranging from staunch supporters to strong opponents, the episode delves into the broader issue of anchoring bias in scuba diving practices. Drawing parallels with anchoring bias in various domains, from shopping decisions to legal judgments, the episode emphasizes the impact of initial teachings on long-term practices. Anchoring bias, deeply rooted in psychology, influences how divers learn and instruct others, creating a tradition that may persist even when no longer necessary. The podcast encourages listeners to question established practices, employing the "consider-the-opposite" technique to overcome anchoring bias and think logically about alternative approaches. The episode extends this mindset to examining incidents and accidents, advocating for understanding the context and reasons behind actions rather than focusing solely on mistakes. Ultimately, the episode urges divers to embrace exploration of new ideas, challenging traditional practices to foster continuous learning and improvement. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/change-is-difficult-consider-the-opposite Tags: English, Cognitive Biases, Incident Analysis, Jenny Lord

In this podcast episode, we delve into the crucial role of mistakes in the learning process, drawing parallels between human learning and artificial intelligence. Reflecting on the challenges of learning to dive, the narrative emphasizes the importance of trial and error, highlighting that making mistakes is an inherent part of improvement. The episode introduces the concept of debriefs as a powerful tool for learning, not just to identify mistakes but also to recognize what went well. A practical model, DEBrIEF, is discussed, emphasizing the significance of balanced feedback that includes both positive and negative aspects. The podcast encourages a learning mindset when approaching accidents and incidents, shifting the focus from assigning blame to preventing future occurrences. The episode underscores the value of a structured approach to debriefs, providing references to support the discussion. Overall, the episode encourages listeners to embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth and underscores the importance of fostering a learning-oriented mindset in both individual and team contexts. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly   Links: Robots learning to play football: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZjQwZNw2po “Ugly”- Two other relevant blogs: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/counter-factuals https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/its-obvious-why-it-happened The positivity effect: a negativity bias in youth fades with age. Laura L Carstensen and Marguerite DeLiema: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6186441/   Tags: English, Debrief, Incident Analysis, Jenny Lord

In this podcast episode, we explore the challenge of bringing about change, emphasizing the importance of recognizing value in stories. Three compelling examples are discussed: a near-fatal diving incident due to an oxygen mix-up, a media company's critical review of a faulty rebreather incident, and a rural Indian village adopting latrines after witnessing the consequences of unhygienic practices. The central theme revolves around the need for reflection to identify similarities and conditions leading to outcomes, rather than focusing solely on differences. The episode poses questions about trust in established practices, the depth of evidence required for change, and the factors hindering it. The diving industry's reliance on compliance and resistance to a Just Culture are highlighted, emphasizing the necessity of investing in continuous learning and applying human factors for lasting improvement. The podcast encourages listeners to move beyond identifying lessons to implementing meaningful changes for genuine learning. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/learning-from-stories-isn-t-easy-here-s-why   Links: Look at the conditions, not the outcomes: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/don-t-just-focus-on-the-errors Article by Dan Heath on LinkedIn about trying to bring latrines to rural Indian villages: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-can-change-anyones-mindif-help-them-trip-over-truth-dan-heath/ The status quo is good enough blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/status-quo Compliance provides an illusion of safety blog: https://gue.com/blog/compliance-provides-an-illusion-of-safety-in-diving/ Compliance provides an illusion of safety video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNhmxz2_adc Were you lucky or were you good blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/were-you-lucky-or-were-you-good-2   Tags: English, Debrief, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Learning, LFUO

Dive into the world of diving safety with insights from Gareth's blog on counterfactuals in this podcast episode. Jenny tackles common but unhelpful statements following accidents, such as "They should have paid more attention" and "They lacked situation awareness." The episode explores practical strategies for divers, focusing on increasing capacity and directing attention effectively. She emphasizes the importance of making diving processes automatic and shares tips on self-assessment for skill readiness. The episode also covers the nuances of prioritizing attention to elements like mindset, buoyancy, and gas supply, offering a comprehensive guide for safer and more enjoyable diving experiences. The summary highlights the significance of practice, experience, and slowing down to build expertise in underwater environments. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/unleashing-your-sixth-sense   Links: Gareths blog about counterfactuals: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/counterfactuals   Tags:  English, Jenny Lord, Situation Awareness, Situational Awareness

In this podcast episode, Jenny shares a humorous yet insightful experience from assessing an instructor course, highlighting the common issue of miscommunication. The example involves a diver misinterpreting hand signals during a training exercise, leading to an unexpected outcome. She explores the challenge of ensuring clear communication, emphasizing the responsibility of the communicator to provide sufficient information. The episode introduces the concept of closed loop communications as a way to check assumptions and ensure understanding, especially in underwater scenarios where verbal communication is limited. Cultural behavior and the importance of avoiding condescension in communication are also discussed. Jenny acknowledges the inevitability of miscommunication due to our natural inclination to be efficient and make assumptions, concluding with a humorous reference to the challenges of explaining every detail, especially for those with young children. The show notes include a link to a video that further explains the efficiency aspect of communication. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/lost-in-translation   Links: Video about explaining every step of a process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDA3_5982h8   Tags:  English, Communication, Jenny Lord

In this podcast episode, we explore a diving incident where two divers entered a wreck without laying a line, resulting in a challenging situation inside a room. We reflect on common responses that often follow such incidents, emphasizing the limitations of retrospective counterfactuals, where people tend to say what the divers "should have," "could have," or "would have" done differently. The episode discusses biases and the importance of understanding the local rationality of those involved, urging listeners to consider the perspectives of the divers at the time. Gareth provides insights into various factors affecting decisions, such as training availability, financial constraints, and the emotional significance of past experiences. The episode concludes by highlighting the prevalence of counterfactuals in discussions about incidents and encourages listeners to approach learning from adverse events with an open mind, understanding the complexity and challenges involved in change. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/counterfactuals   Links: The power of hindsight blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/joining-dots-is-easy-if-you-know-the-outcome Hindsight bias blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/its-obvious-why-it-happened We can’t pay more attention blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/cant_pay_MORE_attention Balasore train crash news report 1: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/odisha-accident-wrong-labelling-of-location-box-wires-led-to-mix-up-crs-report-8699655/ Balasore train crash news report 2: https://thewire.in/law/cbi-arrests-three-railway-employees-for-balasore-train-tragedy   Tags: English, Cognitive Biases, Counterfactuals, Decision Making, Hindsight Bias, Incident Analysis, Just Culture

In this podcast episode, we explore the profound wisdom encapsulated in various quotes about learning from mistakes. Quotations from figures like Oscar Wilde, Samuel Levenson, and Mary Tyler Moore emphasize the importance of embracing errors as opportunities for growth. The discussion delves into the challenge of learning from near-misses and the cognitive biases, such as the outcome bias, that hinder our ability to reflect on decision-making. Using the context of diving safety, Gareth highlights the significance of focusing on contributory factors rather than just outcomes when analyzing incidents. The episode emphasizes that true learning involves change and recounts a personal experience in a diving safety review, highlighting the crucial difference between lessons identified and lessons learned. The importance of reflection in activities like diving is stressed, and a four-question post-activity debrief model is shared. The episode concludes by distinguishing between types of errors – mistakes, slips, and lapses – and underscores the need for understanding the context surrounding these events for effective learning. The concept of psychological safety and Just Culture is introduced, highlighting the necessity of creating an environment where learning from mistakes is encouraged. The summary encourages listeners to recognize that merely focusing on outcomes without understanding the context may hinder the learning process, emphasizing that true learning involves embracing change. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/you-need-more-than-mistakes-to-learn   Links: The difficulty in learning from near misses: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/were-you-lucky-or-were-you-good-2 The difference between mistakes, slips, and lapses: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/mistakes-errors-words-have-meaning Looking at conditions, not just outcomes: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/don-t-just-focus-on-the-errors Stages of psychological safety blogs: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4 Just Culture video: https://vimeo.com/410128892?share=copy   Tags:  English, Debrief, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Psychological Safety, Teamwork

In this podcast episode, Gareth reflects on the challenges of learning from near-misses, particularly in the context of recent tragic events involving the loss of the Titan submersible. The episode explores the biases that hinder our ability to analyze and learn from incidents, emphasizing the complexities of socio-technical systems and the difficulties in replicating conditions for learning. Drawing parallels with diving, Gareth discusses the dynamic nature of risks, the fallacy of binary safety assessments, and the importance of recognizing uncertainties. The episode delves into cognitive biases, heuristics, and psychological factors influencing decision-making, shedding light on the sunk cost fallacy, prospect theory, and the local rationality principle. It advocates for a culture of learning, critical debriefs, and the application of human factors principles in diving. Ultimately, the episode encourages listeners to approach incidents with curiosity, suspend judgment, and seek to understand the local rationality of those involved. The tragic loss of the Titan submersible serves as a poignant reminder of the imperative to learn and improve safety in complex systems. The episode concludes by honoring the lives lost in the incident. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/its-obvious-why-it-happened   Links: How Near-Misses Influence Decision Making Under Risk: A Missed Opportunity for Learning: https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.1080.0869 If we want to learn, notice the conditions, not the outcomes: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/don-t-just-focus-on-the-errors AccipMap: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S000368701730100X DMAIB report: https://dmaib.com/reports/2021/beaumaiden-grounding-on-18-october-2021/ Implications for hindsight bias: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Perspectives-on-Human-Error%3A-Hindsight-Biases-and-Woods/d913cdeae4e2782881a52e635e06c208b0796aed If the adverse event occurs in an uncertain or unusual environment, then we are more likely to judge it more harshly: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167292181012 Five principles behind High-Reliability Organisations (HRO): https://www.high-reliability.org/faqs?_gl=1*j0ylqo*_ga*NDkyNjExMzA3LjE2ODc2Nzc2NTI.*_ga_TM3DC1EMKK*MTY4NzY3NzY1MS4xLjEuMTY4NzY3OTI2OC4wLjAuMA.. Prospecive hindsight/Pre-mortems: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-help-correct-the-biases-which-lead-to-poor-decision-making Red Team Thinking: https://www.redteamthinking.com/ Guy’s blog, Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/is-the-juice-worth-the-squeeze Doc Deep’s final dive: https://gue.com/blog/i-trained-doc-deep/ Single and Double Loop learning: https://hbr.org/1977/09/double-loop-learning-in-organizations Columbia Accident Investigaion Board: https://govinfo.library.unt.edu/caib/news/report/pdf/vol1/chapters/chapter8.pdf New ways to learn from the Challenger disaster: https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/aero.2015.7118898 Drop your Tools: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2393722 Availability, Representativeness & Adjustment and Anchoring: https://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~schaller/Psyc590Readings/TverskyKahneman1974.pdf Trieste record breaking dive: https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2020/january/first-deepest-dive Resources from RF4 presentation: https://bit.ly/rf4-resources Psychological safety, Tom Geraghty’s site: https://psychsafety.co.uk/ Normal Accidents: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_Accidents Tags:  English, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Human Factors, Incident Investigation

In this podcast episode, Gareth delves into the concept of near-misses in diving, exploring the two categories: those that "could happen" and those that "almost happened." The distinction lies in background risks versus perceived risks influenced by cognitive biases. The episode draws parallels with real-world examples, such as the normalization of risks in the space shuttle Columbia tragedy. Three dive scenarios are presented, examining the outcomes and whether the participants were lucky or skilled. The discussion emphasizes the impact of successful near-misses on risk perception, leading to potential complacency. The episode concludes with insights into mitigating these issues, promoting counterfactual thinking, and stressing the importance of effective debriefs to enhance learning from near-misses. The audience is encouraged to reflect on successful outcomes and consider whether they were lucky or good in order to improve diving practices. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/were-you-lucky-or-were-you-good-2   Links: Normalisation of Deviance blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/normalisation-of-deviance-not-about-rule-breaking Debrief model: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief How Near-Misses Influence Decision Making Under Risk: A Missed Opportunity for Learning. Dillon & Tinsley, 2008: https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.1080.0869   Tags:  English, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Normalisation of Deviance, Risk Management

In this podcast episode, Gareth recounts the experience of an experienced cave diver during what was intended to be a routine sidemount dive. Despite their expertise and previous successful dives, this particular excursion took an unexpected turn, prompting reflection on why certain factors may not be apparent in the moment but become evident in hindsight. The episode explores the physiological and cognitive aspects affecting diver performance, touching on concepts like working memory, task load, and background cognitive loading. Analogies such as juggling and buckets of water are used to illustrate the limitations of cognitive capacity. The impact of being submerged on cognitive performance is discussed, emphasizing the need for awareness and adaptation during underwater activities. The episode concludes with insights into the narcotic effects of gases, particularly nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and examines the specific context that contributed to the diver's challenges. The importance of resilience in the face of errors is highlighted, encouraging listeners to understand the local rationality of those involved in adverse events and emphasizing the value of learning from near misses. Original blog:  https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/please-sir-my-brain-is-full   Links: Carl Spencer’s last dive: https://www.sidetracked.com/the-siren-song-of-the-britannic/ Dalecki et Al, 2012: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00221-012-2999-6 Oxygen narcosis research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35859332/   Tags: English, Cognitive Biases, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Incident Analysis

In this podcast episode, Gareth shares insights gained from conversations with survivors of the recent Carlton Queen liveaboard incident off the coast of Egypt. The survivors recounted harrowing experiences during the ship's sinking and discussed conditions that seemed "odd" in hindsight. The episode delves into the challenge of recognizing latent factors contributing to accidents before they occur and emphasizes the importance of understanding what 'normal' looks like in various situations. Drawing on the survivors' perspectives, Gareth explores the powerful effects of hindsight bias, providing practical tips for reducing its impact when analyzing events and learning from them. The episode concludes with a call for active reflection and the use of tools like DEBrIEF to uncover error-producing conditions and improve safety. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/would-you-do-the-same-thing   Links: Looking for patterns: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/joining-dots-is-easy-if-you-know-the-outcome Error producing conditions: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/don-t-just-focus-on-the-errors Debrief guide: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief   Tags: English, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Hindsight Bias

In this podcast episode, Gareth reflects on the power of assumptions in everyday life, using examples ranging from a humorous cycling sign to more serious incidents in diving. The discussion explores how assumptions, while essential for navigating the complexity of daily activities, can sometimes lead to oversights and mistakes. Drawing parallels with diving scenarios, the episode emphasizes the critical need to validate certain assumptions, especially those related to safety in the underwater environment. Gareth shares insights into the recent incident involving the Carlton Queen liveaboard, highlighting the individual and systemic failures that contributed to the event. The episode concludes by advocating for a shift from a punitive approach to a restorative one in learning from mistakes and fostering a culture of safety in diving. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/assumptions-a-paradox   Links: Cognitive bias infographic: https://medium.com/thinking-is-hard/4-conundrums-of-intelligence-2ab78d90740f Buster Benson’s original blog about cognitive bias: https://betterhumans.pub/cognitive-bias-cheat-sheet-55a472476b18 Debrief model: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief   Tags:  English, Cognitive Biases, decision Making, Gareth Lock, Just Culture

In this podcast episode, the focus is on how we interpret and learn from incidents in diving. Using the analogy of a vase breaking, the episode explores how the language we use to describe events can influence our understanding. It presents two diver scenarios, emphasizing the importance of context in shaping behavior and decision-making. The podcast delves into research showing biases in incident reports, where a linear-cause-and-effect narrative leads to individual blame. It stresses the need for context-rich narratives for a more comprehensive understanding of incidents. The episode discusses cultural influences on diving safety protocols and calls for a shift from an individual-blame approach to a systemic understanding of failures. It concludes with an announcement of "Learning from Unintended Outcomes" course and upcoming comprehensive guide on moving from blame to learning in diving incidents using a human factors and system-learning approach. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/watch-what-you-say   Links: The role of agency in discussing dive incidents: https://gue.com/blog/the-role-of-agency-when-discussing-diving-incidents-an-adverse-event-occurs-an-instructor-makes-a-mistake/ 2018 Research aboout linear reports: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/4/4/46 2023 research about experienced vs inexperienced analysis: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1144921/full Work as imagined vs work as done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtgIwHrUWVQ&list=PLNXuyLsCTX6hHS3newpcROfJ_JiI27q3C&index=26 Two contrasting views of the South Korea ferry accident: https://vimeo.com/122851457 Moving from an individual blame focused approach to one that looks at the wider system: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227822215_A_Review_of_Literature_Individual_Blame_vs_Organizational_Function_Logics_in_Accident_Analysis Learning from Unintended Outcomes course: https://www.thehumandiver.com/lfuo   Tags:  English, Communication, Gareth Lock, Incident Investigation, Just Culture

In this podcast episode, the discussion revolves around risk management in diving, sparked by an incident in a remote location. The episode explores fundamental principles applicable to all diving scenarios. It begins by emphasizing the inherent hazards in diving and the potential fatal outcomes associated with various risks. The "bow-tie model" is introduced to illustrate preventive measures, controls, and mitigations. The episode further delves into the Four Ts of risk management—Treat, Transfer, Tolerate, and Terminate—and explains their relevance to diving, considering factors like training, equipment, and environmental conditions. The inherent and irreducible risk in diving is acknowledged, with a focus on the delicate balance between risk and reward, highlighting the trade-offs involved in decision-making. The podcast concludes with a scenario-based exploration of risk management strategies in a remote diving expedition, addressing the complexities and interdependencies of the 4Ts. The episode encourages listeners to consider these principles when assessing risk in their diving experiences and emphasizes the importance of a multi-layered approach to achieve a tolerable level of risk. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/risk-management-in-diving   Links: The confusing concept of inherent risk: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GFVM8QrNv0zfevkiGBX38SC-MJWYNdco/view?usp=sharing Human Diver blog about risk or uncertainty: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/risk-or-uncertainty Dirty Dozen checklist: https://thedirtydozenexpeditions.com/s/Dirty-Dozen-Group-LLC-SPLASH-CHECKLIST-30-AUDITED-BY-HUMAN-FACTORS.pdf Pschosocial risks: https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/mac/psychosocial.htm More Human Diver blogs: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=cognitive+biases Blog about hindsight bias: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/joining-dots-is-easy-if-you-know-the-outcome   Tags:  English, Checklists, Cognitive Biases, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Risk Management

This podcast episode explores the critical importance of designing checklists for rebreather and general diving operations, drawing parallels with aviation practices. The episode delves into the 'Challenge and Response' checklist method widely used in aviation, emphasizing its role in enhancing safety, systematic verification, and crew coordination. The discussion addresses reasons for deviations from checks, including distractions, individualism, complacency, and frustration, with insights from aviation incidents. Solutions to these challenges are presented, advocating for optimal checklist initiation, managing interruptions, and thoughtful checklist design based on human factors principles. The episode concludes by underlining the need for checklists as integral tools in diving safety, urging consistent usage within a robust social system to minimize deviations and enhance overall operational safety. Original Blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-improve-diving-checklist-design-and-use   Links: Original checklist blog, part one: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-building-an-effective-checklist Ross. Human Factors Issues of the Aircraft Checklist, 2004: https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1553&context=jaaer Degani, Asaf; Wiener, Earl L. (1990) Human Factors of Fight-Deck Checklists: The Normal Checklist. Contract No. NCC2-377. A report prepared for Ames Research Center:​​ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19910017830 Degani, A. and Wiener, E. L. (1994). On the Design of Flight-Deck Procedures. (NASA Contractor Report 177642). Moffett Field, CA: NASA-Ames Research Center: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19940029437   Tags: English, Checklists, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Non-Technical Skills, Situation Awareness

This podcast episode explores the crucial role of checklists in enhancing safety and standardizing procedures in various fields, with a focus on diving. Delving into the complexities of checklist design and execution, the discussion emphasizes the importance of considering human factors, operational conditions, and the social environment. While checklists play a vital role in promoting mutual monitoring and coordination during high workload periods in dive operations, the episode highlights the need for balance in standardization, length, typography, and phraseology. The podcast underscores the significance of addressing cognitive limitations and potential error-producing conditions, advocating for the thoughtful design of checklists based on human factors principles. The episode concludes by stressing that checklists are not a one-size-fits-all solution; they must be integrated into a team with a shared commitment to adherence and accountability for effective risk management in diving operations. Original Blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-building-an-effective-checklist   Links: World Health Organisations Surgical Safety Checklist: https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety/research/safe-surgery/tool-and-resources Part 2 original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-improve-diving-checklist-design-and-use Degani, Asaf; Wiener, Earl L. Human Factors of Fight-Deck Checklists: The Normal Checklist. Contract No. NCC2-377. A report prepared for Ames Research Center. May 1990: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19910017830 Degani, Asaf. On the Typography of Flight-Deck Documentation. Contract No. NCC2-327. A report prepared for NASA. December 1992: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930010781 Burian, Barbara. “Design Guidance for Emergency and Abnormal Checklists in Aviation.” In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 50th Annual Meeting. 2006: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/253033092_Design_Guidance_for_Emergency_and_Abnormal_Checklists_in_Aviation   Tags:  English, Checklists, Decision Making, Gareth Lock

In this podcast episode, Gareth delves into the nuanced concept of safety in diving, challenging the perception of what constitutes a "safe" dive. Examining different dive scenarios, from reef dives to wreck penetrations and cave dives, the episode explores the subjective nature of acceptable risk levels based on individual training, skills, and experience. Drawing on a healthcare safety framework, the discussion categorizes safety approaches into "Ultra Adaptive," "High Reliability," and "Ultra Safe," questioning where the diving industry aligns in terms of risk management. The lack of precise data on diving failures and fatalities is highlighted, challenging the commonly cited failure rate. The episode encourages listeners to reconsider their understanding of a "safe" dive, emphasizing the importance of regular emergency and rescue plan validation, skill practice, and reflective debriefs to foster a true sense of safety in diving. Gareth prompts listeners to contemplate their personally constructed views of safety and the potential challenges when these views differ within a dive team, stressing the need for a psychologically-safe environment for effective risk management discussions. Original Blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/what-does-safe-mean   Links: Framework of contrasting approaches to safety: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25559-0   Tags: English, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Risk, Risk Management, Safety Culture

In this podcast episode, Gareth explores the complexities of risk management in diving, emphasizing the hazards involved, including drowning, hypoxia, hyperoxia, entanglement, and decompression illness. The discussion challenges the traditional concept of risk, highlighting that in diving, uncertainties are managed, not risks, due to the unknown probabilities associated with events. Drawing from a real-life cave diving accident, the episode delves into cognitive biases such as availability bias, representativeness bias, and mirages, revealing how humans struggle to accurately judge risks, especially in low probability/high consequence situations. The importance of framing decisions and considering cultural effects is discussed, shedding light on the divergent perspectives within the diving community. Gareth advocates for education and systematic thinking to address biases, emphasizing the role of checklists and the unique approach of The Human Diver in managing uncertainty rather than quantifiable risk. The episode concludes by highlighting the social construction of safety and the subjective nature of an acceptable level of risk in diving. Original Blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/risk-or-uncertainty   Links: Plura cave diving accident: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving_into_the_Unknown Anchoring case study: https://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/07/27/anchoring-effect/ Dirty Dozen splash checklist: https://thedirtydozenexpeditions.com/s/Dirty-Dozen-Group-LLC-SPLASH-CHECKLIST-30-AUDITED-BY-HUMAN-FACTORS.pdf Reference: Social Structure, Psychology, and the Estimation of Risk. Heimer, 1998: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev.so.14.080188.002423   Tags:  English, Cognitive Biases, Decision Making, Gareth Lock

In this podcast episode, Gareth explores the nuanced meanings of terms like success, failure, good, bad, and safe within the context of a two-week workshop for developing Human Diver instructors. The workshop incorporates realistic simulations with live students from diverse backgrounds, posing challenges in team formation. The episode delves into discussions around defining success in simulations, where both positive and negative outcomes contribute to learning. Gareth shares a personal experience from the workshop, highlighting the impact of goal-oriented leadership on team dynamics and the importance of maintaining psychological safety for effective communication. The episode emphasizes the relevance of these insights to the diving community, prompting listeners to reflect on leadership styles, capacity to fail safely, emergency preparedness, and the value of non-technical skills in high-consequence environments. Ultimately, Gareth argues that being safe involves understanding context, implementing defenses, and planning to fail safely in a fallible environment. Original Blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/success-or-failure-success-and-failure   Links: DEBrIEF guide: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief Challenger Safety: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4 The courses we run: https://www.thehumandiver.com/hfid-level-2 Safety is not being compliant with rules: https://gue.com/blog/compliance-provides-an-illusion-of-safety-in-diving/   Tags:  English, Gareth Lock, InterLAB, Leadership, Psychological Safety, Teamwork, Training

In this podcast episode, the host reflects on the crucial role of human factors in diving, particularly in the context of scientific diving, where diverse skills are essential for conducting underwater research. The episode details the experience of implementing human factors training in the first Occupational Scientific Diving Training class at the Tvärminne Zoological Station in Finland. The scientific diving class, held over six weeks, aimed to develop skills in project management, supervision, emergency plans, and diving skills. The incorporation of human factors principles, such as creating a psychologically safe environment, using checklists, and improving communication techniques, significantly enhanced the students' learning experience. The host shares how these practices fostered teamwork, reduced errors, and improved safety and efficiency in the challenging underwater environment. The episode concludes with the students' positive feedback, highlighting the transformative impact of integrating human factors training into scientific diving education. Original Blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HF-into-scientific-diving   Links: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research-stations/tvarminne-zoological-station/finnish-scientific-diving-academy   Tags: English, Beatrice Rivoira, Checklists Communication, Psychological Safety, Scientific Diving, Teamwork

In this podcast episode, Gareth explores the safety practices of aviation and nuclear industries, and their relevance to diving. Rather than focusing on regulations, the discussion centers on five key principles derived from Human and Organisational Performance (H&OP). The principles delve into understanding human error as normal, avoiding blame in favor of learning, recognizing that context drives behavior, emphasizing the importance of leaders' responses, and highlighting the vital role of continuous learning for improvement. Gareth provides a concise overview of each principle, underscoring their interdependence and practical applications in the diving community. The episode concludes by emphasizing the need to shift from a blame-oriented culture to one centered on learning, promoting safety and improved performance in the dynamic world of diving. Additional resources are offered for a deeper exploration of these principles. Original Blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/five-key-principles-how-to-improve-individually-and-organisationally   Links: Work as imagined will not meet the operating environment: https://gue.com/blog/compliance-provides-an-illusion-of-safety-in-diving/ James Reason’s categorised errors: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/mistakes-errors-words-have-meaning You can blame or you can learn, you can’t do both: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/surely-if-we-blame-and-punish-things-will-be-safer  Context, the decision-making process, and ‘local rationality’: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/why-diving-incident-stories-are-good-and-bad Social media sites and the fear of sharing stories: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/we-ve-got-an-attitude-problem Psycholoigcal safety: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 Dummies blog about Just Culture: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-in-diving-for-dummies-part-3-just-culture Adopting HF and Non-Technical Skills training into curricula: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/knowledge-is-not-enough-we-must-apply Moving from a blame-focused approach to one which is focused on learning and understanding local rationality: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/accountability-or-another-word-for-blame Learning from unintended outcomes: https://www.thehumandiver.com/lfuo The need to tell context-rich stories: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/don-t-just-focus-on-the-errors Patrick Lencioni’s ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team’: https://medium.com/@leenasn/book-summary-the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team-f3299a1f1a3c Post from the CEO of PADI: https://pros-blog.padi.com/straight-talk-from-padi-ceo-your-1-priority-and-responsibility-when-training-or-supervising-divers/%C2%A0 Moving from blame to learning: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/from_blaming_to_learning   Tags:  English, Gareth Lock, HOP, Human Error, Human Performance, Just Culture, Leadership

In this podcast episode, Jenny delves into the concept of trust, drawing a historical connection to the origin of the term "confidence man" in the late 1940s. The story of William Thompson, a small-time thief, serves as an analogy to highlight the importance of integrity in building trust, especially in teamwork. The discussion emphasizes that while skills and integrity are foundational components of trust, benevolence, or the belief that someone is acting in our best interests, plays a crucial role. Jenny explores Shane Snow's three building blocks of trust – ability, integrity, and benevolence – and emphasizes that benevolence forms the foundation, making it the most critical factor. The episode concludes by relating these trust principles to the diving community, highlighting the natural tendency for divers to trust one another based on shared identity and the significance of considering all three trust components in diving partnerships. Relevant academic references on organizational trust and teamwork are provided for further exploration. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/do-you-trust-me-can-i-trust-you   Links: Simon Sinek’s presentation about trust: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJdXjtSnZTI Shane Snow’s three building blocks: https://www.forbes.com/sites/shanesnow/2020/04/27/this-common-approach-to-earning-trust-completely-backfires-on-leaders/ An Integrative Model of Organisational Trust: https://www.jstor.org/stable/258792?seq=7#metadata_info_tab_contents Trust in Teams: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0018726718818721 Patrick Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Foundation is Trust. https://medium.com/@leenasn/book-summary-the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team-f3299a1f1a3c   Tags:  English, Jenny Lord, Leadership, Psychological Safety, Teamwork, Trust  

In this podcast episode, Gareth shares his insights from a presentation given to young CEOs and presidents during a diving trip, focusing on applying lessons from diving to non-diving environments. The discussion encompasses topics like organizational drift, competing goals, creating a shared mental model using non-technical skills, and fostering an environment supporting psychological safety and a Just Culture. The key takeaway emphasizes the importance of learning and practicing debriefs for future dives, with a focus on the DEBrIEF framework. The framework is detailed as a valuable tool for analyzing both positive and negative dive experiences, promoting a psychologically safe environment for effective debriefing. Each element of the DEBrIEF framework is explained, from defining the scope and creating psychological safety to reviewing the timeline and fostering internal and external learning. The episode concludes by highlighting the framework's role in continuous development for high-performing dive teams and the importance of a positive and supportive learning environment. The standalone DEBrIEF guide is also made available for further reference. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/debriefing   Links: DEBrIEF guide: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief   Tags:  English, Debrief,Gareth Lock, Leadership, Teamwork

In this podcast episode, the focus is on a scenario involving three teams of divers tasked with finding a wreck in challenging underwater conditions. The problem requires a mix of decision-making and situation awareness, emphasizing the importance of understanding the current situation, recognizing patterns, and projecting ideas into the future. The teams face challenges such as maintaining a constant bearing and dealing with variable currents. The experienced divers demonstrate the concept of intentional deviation, choosing a longer route to increase the chances of finding the wreck. The episode highlights the application of human factors and non-technical skills in diving, showcasing how intentional decisions, though seemingly flawed economically, can be smarter in the given context. The interdependence between technical skills, environmental factors, luck, and non-technical skills is explored, emphasizing the critical link between situation awareness and the diving environment. The podcast encourages post-dive debriefs to enhance understanding of problem-solving approaches and underscores the interconnected nature of situation awareness, task, and environment in diving.

In this podcast episode, the focus is on the importance of taking action and addressing issues in various environments, drawing parallels to a scenario in fire safety training. The speaker reflects on the quote, "The standard you walk past is the lowest standard you accept," emphasizing the responsibility of leaders to initiate change by not overlooking problems. The Bystander effect is explored, particularly in the diving industry, where psychological safety and lack of standards can hinder addressing issues. The podcast discusses effective strategies to counter the Bystander effect, including proactive discussions, defined team roles and standards, and the significance of briefs and debriefs in fostering a culture of learning and improvement. The episode encourages individuals to be proactive leaders, persist in initiating change, and engage with the team to maintain momentum. Additionally, we look at how change can start with one person and gain momentum with others joining in. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/whose-job-is-it-to-create-change   Links: Speech from Lieutenant General David Morrison:https://youtu.be/s_TfZdIhIgg?t=156 The bystander effect video: https://youtu.be/OSsPfbup0ac Interesting leadership tips: https://www.lollydaskal.com/leadership/story-everybody-somebody-anybody-nobody/ Debrief webinar from Jenny and Mike: https://youtu.be/JTM_Lh7HtmA%C2%A0 Psychological safety blogs: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Tags:  English, Gareth Lock, Leadership

In this podcast episode, Mike Mason, an instructor for The Human Diver in Australia, shares insights from his recent week-long dive training course focused on MOD 2 CCR. Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, he discusses key takeaways applicable to all divers, regardless of their specific diving interests. Mike delves into the significance of team pre-jump checks, highlighting how performing these checks as a group enhances awareness and emergency response. Gas planning and computer settings are explored, with an emphasis on independent problem-solving and the use of worst-case scenarios for safer decision-making. Mike also underscores the unique approach of physically supporting teammates during simulated problems, enhancing safety and situational awareness. The episode concludes with a recommendation for instructor Marc Crane, known for integrating Human Factors into dive training, and the value of non-technical skills in becoming a better diver. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/teamwork-in-diving-what-i-learned-from-a-recent-training-course   Links: Dummies series, Leadership blog https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-teamwork   Tags:  English, Communication, Decision Making, Mike Mason, Situation Awareness, Teamwork

In this podcast episode, we explore the challenges of diver training and the limitations of a formulaic approach in preparing divers for real-world uncertainties. The discussion revolves around the difficulties of transferring tacit knowledge from experienced divers and instructors to students within the constraints of short course durations. The evolution of competence through stages—novices, advanced beginners, competent performers, proficient performers, and experts—is explored, emphasizing the importance of contextual understanding and decision-making. The episode scrutinizes the current training culture in diving, highlighting the need for frequent, reflective experiences and contextual situations for effective learning. The role of case studies, near misses, and incident reports in bridging the gap between theory and real-world application is emphasized, with a call for a just culture and psychologically safe environments for meaningful discussions and learning. The episode concludes with insights into the challenges of knowledge transfer and the significance of contextual understanding in improving diving competency. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/why-diving-incident-stories-are-good-and-bad   Links: Five stages of competancy by Dreyfus https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0270467604264992 Flyvberg’s book on social science https://amzn.to/3ZvuXiG Essentials program https://www.thehumandiver.com/HFiD-Essentials If Only documentary https://www.thehumandiver.com/ifonly Oatmeal comic about the backfire effect https://theoatmeal.com/comics/believe The problem with transferring knowledge, Dave Snowdon https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241660493_Complex_Acts_of_Knowing_Paradox_and_Descriptive_Self-Awareness   Tags: English, Decision Making, Gareth Lock, Incident, Reporting, Just Culture, Psychological Safety

In this podcast episode, we delve into the tragic details surrounding a fatal diving accident between friends, investigating a series of factors leading to the unfortunate outcome. The incident took place outside formal dive center procedures, raising questions about the supply of compressed air by unlicensed operators and the lax recertification requirements for divers. Numerous issues emerged, such as buoyancy problems, rapid ascents, and the management of finite gas supplies. The proceedings scrutinize team protocols, gas tracking, and a lack of rescue attempts, shedding light on the complexities of mixed diving methods and decision-making under stress. The podcast highlights the intersection of errors, environmental influences, and diver fatigue, questioning the inevitability of the final outcome and implications for the criminalization of buddy system failures in the diving community.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/human-factors-analysis-of-a-maltese-diving-fatality   Links: Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board on the grounding of the Beau Maiden: https://dmaib.com/reports/2021/beaumaiden-grounding-on-18-october-2021/   References and source materials: Summary of the judgement: https://www.divinginfo.mt/?p=1751 Judgement details (in Maltese) https://ecourts.gov.mt/onlineservices/Judgements/Details?JudgementId=0&CaseJudgementId=135422 Facebook page of the Professional Dive Schools Association of Malta: https://www.facebook.com/PDSAMalta Scuba Tech Philippines- Andy Davies: http://scubatechphilippines.com/scuba_blog/accident-analysis-gauci-2020/   Clapham Rail Crash report: https://www.jesip.org.uk/uploads/media/incident_reports_and_inquiries/Clapham%20Rail%20Crash.pdf Never Events: https://humanisticsystems.com/2016/02/27/neverzero-thinking/ Case studies from the outdoor activities sector in Australia: https://uploadsproject.org/ Criminalising human error: https://humanfactors101.com/2022/05/08/is-human-error-a-crime/ Being aware of hindsight bias doesn’t mean we won’t fall foul of it: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/10631443_Hindsight_is_not_equal_to_foresight_The_effect_of_outcome_knowledge_on_judgment_under_uncertainty The “Reasonable Man”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reasonable_person Rodando Vought case: https://humanfactors101.com/2022/05/08/is-human-error-a-crime/ Liability of a buddy: https://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/dive_magazine/2002/LiabilityBuddy200203.html BSAC Safe Diving Guide: https://www.bsac.com/safety/bsacs-safe-diving-guide/ BSAC Duty of Care and Welfare page: https://www.bsac.com/advice-and-support/club-support/duty-of-care-and-welfare/duty-of-care-and-welfare--club-checklist/ British Mountaineering Council Risk, Responsibility, Duty of Care and Liability Club Guidelines: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/Download.aspx?id=385 Work as Imagined vs Work as Done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtgIwHrUWVQ&list=PLNXuyLsCTX6hHS3newpcROfJ_JiI27q3C&index=24 Professional Diving Schools Association statement: https://www.facebook.com/PDSAMalta Maltese Diving Regulations: https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/409.13/eng/pdf Everest tragedy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Destructive-Goal-Pursuit-Everest-Disaster/dp/023000332X Loss of Situation Awareness blog: https://gue.com/blog/the-cause-of-the-accident-loss-of-situational-awareness/ The shooting down of US Blackhawks in Iraq: https://www.mindtherisk.com/literature/150-friendly-fire-the-accidental-shootdown-of-u-s-black-hawks-over-northern-iraq-by-scott-a-snook   Tags: - English, Gareth Lock, Incident Analysis, Just Culture, Psychological Safety

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of human error in diving and how it relates to different types of errors, including slips, lapses, mistakes, and violations. The episode highlights that errors alone aren't the primary issue; they need to occur in a specific context where hazards and control/mitigation measures are present to impact safety. Using a real-life example from the "If Only" documentary, the podcast discusses how various factors, such as time pressure, equipment issues, and social environments, can contribute to catastrophic outcomes when combined with errors. It introduces the "TWIN" or "WITH" model, which categorizes error-precursors into four areas: Work Environment, Task Demands, Individual Capability, and Human Nature. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding these error-precursors to enhance dive safety and prevent adverse events. It also encourages divers and instructors to proactively identify and address these conditions, highlighting the role of context in diving incidents and accidents.   Task Demands Time pressure (in a hurry) High workload (large memory) Simultaneous, multiple actions Repetitive actions/monotony Irreversible actions Interpretation requirements Unclear goals, roles, or responsibilities Lack of or unclear standards   Individual Capabilities Unfamiliarity with task/first time Lack of knowledge (faulty mental model) New techniques not used before Imprecise communication habits Lack of proficiency/inexperience Indistinct problem-solving skills Unsafe attitudes Illness or fatigue; general poor health   Work Environment Distractions/interruptions Changes/departure from routine Confusing displays or controls Work-arounds/OOSß instrumentation Hidden system/equipment response Unexpected equipment conditions Lack of alternative indication Personality conflict   Human Nature Stress Habit patterns Assumptions Complacency/overconfidence Mind-set (intentions) Inaccurate risk perception Mental shortcuts or biases Limited short-term memory   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/don-t-just-focus-on-the-errors Links: HF for Dummies Part 2- Human Error: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-in-diving-for-dummies-part-2-human-error ‘If Only’ Documentary: https://www.thehumandiver.com/ifonly Normalisation of Deviance blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/normalisation-of-deviance-not-about-rule-breaking Institute of Nuclear Power Operations reference guide: http://nuclearsafety.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Human-Performance-Reference-Manual.pdf Tags: English, Decision-Making, Gareth Lock, Incident Analysis, Incident Investigation, Incident Reporting

In this podcast episode, we delve into the four stages of learning, offering insights into the learning journey of a diver, from novice to expert. We begin with the first stage, unconscious incompetence, where beginners are unaware of their lack of knowledge and often rely on step-by-step instructions. The journey continues to the second stage, conscious incompetence, where novices start to realize the vast amount of knowledge and skill they have yet to acquire, often referred to as the "Mount Stupid" phase. Moving on, we explore the third stage, conscious competence, where divers begin to master skills but still need to concentrate. Finally, we reach the fourth stage, unconscious competence, where experts can execute skills almost instinctively and effortlessly. The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing and embracing these learning stages, highlighting the role of teaching, practice, and learning from others' mistakes in the process. It also touches upon the significance of diving incident stories in the learning journey.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/the-four-stages-of-learning Links: Dunning Kruger, Unskilled and Unaware of it https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjem7i_pZOCAxUhiv0HHXTIDjUQFnoECAgQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F12688660_Unskilled_and_Unaware_of_It_How_Difficulties_in_Recognizing_One%2527s_Own_Incompetence_Lead_to_Inflated_Self-Assessments&usg=AOvVaw2M00VJJpL1TSHlK-6bZ-Pl&opi=89978449 Learning from others mistakes: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/why-diving-incident-stories-are-good-and-bad) Tags: Cognitive Biases, Decision Making, Jenny Lord

In this podcast episode, the focus is on the significance of learning from diving incidents, accidents, and near-misses, as these provide valuable lessons for safety improvement. While media attention tends to center on fatalities, the episode argues that a "Just Culture," emphasizing a psychologically-safe environment for open conversation, can promote better learning from incidents and near-misses. It addresses the prevalent tendency to blame individuals for adverse outcomes, highlighting the limitations of this approach, which doesn't consider the context or conditions that lead to these events. The episode introduces two contrasting perspectives: the Individual Blame Logic (IBL), which attributes incidents to individual choices and seeks to assign blame, and the Organisational Function Logic (OFL), which identifies systemic factors that influence outcomes and aims to improve the system. Through a case example, it illustrates how the OFL approach reveals multiple organizational and latent conditions. In conclusion, it underscores the importance of the OFL in creating a safer and more learning-oriented environment compared to the punitive IBL, which tends to conceal learning opportunities.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/who-to-blame-what-to-learn Links: A review of LiteratureIndividucal Blame vs Organisational Functional Logics in Accident Analysis. Catino, 2008: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227822215_A_Review_of_Literature_Individual_Blame_vs_Organizational_Function_Logics_in_Accident_Analysis Tags: - English, Decision-Making, Gareth Lock, Just Culture

This podcast episode delves into the concept of a "Just Culture" in the context of diving, addressing potential confusion within the diving community. A 'Just Culture' revolves around fostering an environment of trust where individuals are encouraged to share safety-related information without fear of retribution, while also defining the boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. However, this culture can be challenging to implement effectively, as it requires post-event determinations of what's acceptable, often influenced by various biases and societal pressures. The episode explores the need to differentiate a 'Just Culture' from a 'Just Do It' culture, emphasizing the importance of sharing context-rich stories to facilitate learning from near-misses, incidents, and accidents. In the world of adventure sports like diving, where inherent risks persist, understanding cognitive biases and promoting a culture of open storytelling is crucial. The episode also touches upon the hurdles of intentionally creating cultural change within sub-communities and highlights key steps to develop a 'Just Culture' to support learning from mistakes. In essence, this discussion sheds light on the significance of learning from others' experiences to enhance safety in diving.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/a-just-culture-is-not-a-just-do-it-culture   Links: Messy World of Diving presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtgIwHrUWVQ&list=PLNXuyLsCTX6hHS3newpcROfJ_JiI27q3C&index=26 Safety Clutter paper: https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/bitstream/handle/10072/382962/Rae159320.pdf?sequence=1 A System Safety perspective of Gross Negligence: https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/search/publication/9114283 Normalisation of Devience blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/normalisation-of-deviance-not-about-rule-breaking Don’t Just Focus on the Errors blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/don-t-just-focus-on-the-errors Bad apples or bad day blog: https://gue.com/blog/do-bad-apples-actually-exist/ Risk or uncertainty blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/risk-or-uncertainty How to develop a Just Culture in healthcare study: https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/12/1/e002049 HF for Dummies Just Culture blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-in-diving-for-dummies-part-3-just-culture Is a Just Culture needed blog: https://gue.com/blog/is-a-just-culture-needed-to-support-learning-from-near-misses-and-diving-accidents/   Tags: - English, Gareth Lock, Just Culture

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of "common sense" and how it relates to decision-making, especially in uncertain situations like diving. Often, the hindsight bias leads us to believe that situations should have been obvious, but in reality, decision-making is influenced by various factors, including previous experiences and social interactions. We delve into the mechanisms behind decision-making, highlighting the importance of shared narratives and tribal learning in developing practical wisdom rather than relying on a vague notion of common sense. The episode emphasizes the role of debriefing and reflection in improving decision-making and fostering a psychologically safe environment for learning. So, next time someone mentions "common sense," consider the complexity of human decision-making and the context in which choices are made.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/common-sense   Links: Article about naturalistic decision making: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/seeing-what-others-dont/201602/the-naturalistic-decision-making-approach AquaCORPS magazine: https://aquacorps.online/ Blog about hindsight bias: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/joining-dots-is-easy-if-you-know-the-outcome TED talk from Barry Schwartz about Practical Wisdom: https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_using_our_practical_wisdom?language=en Blog about debriefing: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/debriefing Jenny and Mike’s DEBrIEF webinar: https://youtu.be/xzOdjNC5szU DEBrIEF guide: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief   Tags:  - English Decision-Making Gareth Lock Leadership Situation Awareness Teamwork

In this podcast episode, we delve into the crucial concepts of psychological safety and a Just Culture in the context of diving, teams, and organizations. These two terms, while closely related, have distinct roles in fostering learning, improvement, and safety. The episode begins with a scenario illustrating the interplay of these concepts in a diver's training journey, highlighting the impact of trust, vulnerability, and communication. Psychological safety, as defined by Professor Amy Edmondson, is explored in four stages: Inclusion Safety, Learner Safety, Contributor Safety, and Challenger Safety, each contributing to a learning-focused environment. A Just Culture, aimed at organizational improvement, is introduced as a way to analyze adverse events without resorting to blame. The episode provides insights into the proactive nature of psychological safety and the retrospective approach of a Just Culture in promoting safety and learning in diving and other domains. It emphasizes the need for open communication, understanding human error, and exploring conditions that influence behavior to enhance safety and performance.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/speaking-up-to-prevent-an-adverse-event-looking-back-to-learn   Links: Blog about near misses: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/were-you-lucky-or-were-you-good-2 European aviation regulations: https://www.caa.co.uk/media/sf3eiszu/fwm20160629_06_just-culture.pdf Blog about hindsight bias: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/joining-dots-is-easy-if-you-know-the-outcome Psychological safety toolkits by Tom Geraghty https://psychsafety.co.uk/tool-kit/ Video about Psychological safety and Just Culture: https://vimeo.com/410128892   Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Just Culture Psychological Safety

In this episode, we explore the journey of Nic Emery, a graduate of the Human Factors in Diving course, as she shares her experiences in cultivating psychological safety within her dive center, The Fifth Point. Nic emphasizes that this endeavor is a continuous process, requiring self-reflection, time, and commitment. She narrates how her team began quietly building a culture of psychological safety since 2021, influenced by the principles of Human Factors in Diving. Nic highlights the importance of open communication, vulnerability, and feedback in fostering psychological safety, both within her team and among divers. She shares a pivotal moment when they decided not to dive due to challenging conditions and how it led to a realization about the authority gradient and the need for psychological safety among customers. Nic's story showcases the gradual integration of these concepts into their dive center's culture and the steps they are taking to make it a part of their customer experience. The episode provides insights into creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to speak up and contribute to safety.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/what-are-we-pretending-not-to-know   Links: The Fifth Point diving: https://fifthpointdiving.com/ https://thehonestdiver.com/ Nic’s blog about why dive pro’s should talk about bad dives https://fifthpointdiving.com/the-dive-pro-hub/why-dive-pros-should-talk-about-bad-dives/ Display design https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a84tbFQcJe4RTbzxb20MWUMwJLX45gLZ?usp=sharing More blogs about psychological safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=psychological+safety Building a team series https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Tags:  -English Leadership Nic Emery Psychological Safety Teamwork

In this podcast episode, we delve into the realm of Human Factors in diving, breaking down its fundamental concept of designing systems that facilitate correct actions and deter mistakes. Human Factors in diving encompasses various aspects, including improving teaching techniques, minimizing errors in equipment use, and promoting a culture of inquiry and learning within the diving community. We explore its history in aviation and nuclear power industries, highlighting the shift from blaming individuals to understanding system limitations and human performance. The episode introduces the SHELL framework, emphasizing the interdependence of hardware, environment, software, and people in complex systems. It discusses four perspectives of Human Factors: the psychology of humans, human characteristics, factors affecting humans, and socio-technical system interaction. Additionally, we examine survey results that reveal diver perceptions of Human Factors. The episode clears misconceptions, emphasizing that Human Factors is not common sense, politeness, or just the cause of accidents. It explores the role of checklists and the challenges of implementing Human Factors in diving. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of understanding the specifics of Human Factors for effective teaching and safety improvements in diving, and the need for training agencies to integrate Human Factors into their programs for the betterment of diver safety.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/human-factors-in-diving-what-it-is-what-it-isn-t-why-you-need-to-know   Links: Insight into the background of Human Factors: https://youtu.be/iHaQjoxQlLs?si=K0CGhCzvu8pwf6wr The ‘SHELL’ framework used by the aviation community: https://skybrary.aero/articles/icao-shell-model The first of Steven Shorrock’s blogs about what Human Factors is: https://humanisticsystems.com/2017/08/11/four-kinds-of-human-factors-1-the-human-factor/ Gareth’s presentation at Rebreather Forum 4.0 https://gue.tv/programs/rebreather-forum-4?cid=3312565&permalink=5-gareth-lock-human-factors-in-diving Another series of blogs from Steven Shorrock: https://humanisticsystems.com/2019/07/10/what-human-factors-isnt-1-common-sense/ How to build a checklist (part 1 and 2) https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-building-an-effective-checklist https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-improve-diving-checklist-design-and-use The training courses that The Human Diver run: https://www.thehumandiver.com/training GUE tv- Human Factors for beginners: https://gue.tv/programs/human-factors-basics-for-divers Resources from RF 4.0https://bit.ly/rf4-resources   Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Human Factors

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of Situation Awareness (SA) in diving. We learn what SA is, why it's crucial for safe diving, and how to recognize when it's compromised. The episode introduces a model by Mica Endsley that breaks SA into three layers: perception, comprehension, and projection. It then discusses why SA matters, emphasizing its significance in avoiding accidents and mishaps. The episode also provides valuable tips on how to improve your SA, such as conducting briefings, gaining experience in diverse conditions, practicing technical skills, and engaging in debriefings for shared learning. Developing habits and routines to maintain SA during dives is highlighted as a key takeaway for enhancing safety and decision-making underwater.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/how-to-improve-SA   Links: You can’t pay MORE attention blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/cant_pay_MORE_attention   Tags:  - English Brief Debrief Decision-Making Mike Mason Situation Awareness

In this podcast episode, we delve into the concept of "Normalization of Deviance" in the context of diving. While it may seem like rule-breaking, it's actually about the social acceptance of deviating from established standards and practices. The episode explores how this phenomenon occurs in diving, where 'safety' is a social construct based on the absence of adverse events rather than legal rules. It delves into examples of drift at various levels, from industry-wide issues to individual behaviors like reducing gas minimums or exceeding depth limits. To address this, the episode emphasizes the need for performance-based standards, psychological safety, leadership development, and a Just Culture to prevent and correct the normalization of deviance.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/normalisation-of-deviance-not-about-rule-breaking   Links: Blog about rule breaking and rule following https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/they-broke-the-rules Cognitive biases and heuristics https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/i-am-biased-you-are-biased-we-are-all-biased Drift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jud_9k6fTHw Minimums become targets https://humanisticsystems.com/2019/10/24/shorrocks-law-of-limits/ UK HSE CCR report 2011 https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr871.htm Psychological safety blogs https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=psychological+safety Challenger safety blog https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/challenger-safety-control Tags:  - English Decision-Making Gareth Lock Normalisation of Deviance Risk Risk Management

In the final installment of the series on building psychological safety in instructional and ‘fun diving’ environments, this podcast episode explores "challenger safety." It underscores the importance of creating an environment where team members feel comfortable questioning or challenging unsafe practices, including instructors. This safety aspect encourages open dissent aimed at constructive improvement and urges leaders to welcome disruptive ideas and bad news with a positive response. It also advocates for diverse teams to foster divergent thinking and emphasizes the need for leaders to revisit and explain past decisions, avoiding groupthink and encouraging critical thinking. The episode concludes by highlighting the role of leaders and instructors in setting the cultural tone and ensuring a safe environment where team members can end a dive when necessary.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Links: “If Only” documentary https://www.thehumandiver.com/ifonly Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes? Part One: Inclusion Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 Part Two: Learner Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 Part Three: Contributor Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 Tags:  - English Communications Gareth Lock Leadership Teamwork

You might think that students have little to contribute when they are part of a team. However, if you think back to the inclusion safety and the need for a shared purpose of mutual learning, your students can help you improve as an individual and as a team. Look for opportunities whereby they contribute. In the context of fun diving, by allowing team members to contribute, then you can increase the chance of having more fun and using the cognitive diversity in your team to solve problems you face, this includes in an incident or adverse event. Don’t dismiss others, they might have an answer you haven’t thought about. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3   Links: Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes?: Part One: Inclusion Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 Part Two: Learner Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 Part Four: Challenger Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork

Building on the foundation of inclusion safety, the second part of this podcast series explores "learner safety" in instructional diving settings. Learner safety involves creating an environment where students and team members feel safe to make mistakes as they learn new skills and knowledge. To foster learner safety, adopting a "student mindset" is crucial, emphasizing that learning is a lifelong journey and no one reaches permanent competency. Sharing what you are learning with enthusiasm and optimism can inspire others to do the same, while sharing past mistakes and the lessons learned from them encourages a culture of vulnerability and growth. Celebrating failures within defined limits is vital, recognizing that they are opportunities for learning and improvement. Additionally, asking for feedback at the moment of need and encouraging collaborative problem-solving contribute to learner safety, creating thinking divers who continually improve and push their boundaries in the world of diving.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2   Links: DEBrIEF template: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes?: Part One: Inclusion Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 Part Three: Contributor Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 Part Four: Challenger Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4 Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork

Creating a team quickly in diving can be challenging due to the litigious nature of the sport, especially in the US, where instructors fear legal repercussions for acknowledging mistakes or deviations from standards. This fear hinders the development of psychological safety within a team. Psychological safety, defined as the shared belief within a team that it's acceptable to take interpersonal risks, plays a crucial role in diving, as every instructional dive is a team effort. To build psychological safety, it's essential to foster trust, humility, and good communication. Psychological safety consists of four stages: inclusion safety, learning safety, contributor safety, and challenger safety. This podcast series explores each stage in detail, beginning with inclusion safety, which involves making everyone feel included, moving to mutual discovery, defining and communicating the team's purpose and values, active listening, following through on commitments, and forbidding personal attacks. These practices promote inclusion and ultimately enhance team cohesion and safety in diving.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1   Links: Amy Edmonson’s book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fearless-Organization-Psychological-Workplace-Innovation/dp/1119477247/ About Prospect Theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect_theory Timothy Clark’s book https://www.amazon.co.uk/4-Stages-Psychological-Safety/dp/1523087684/ Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes? Part Two: Learner Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 Part Three: Contributor Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 Part Four: Challenger Safety https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Tags:  - English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork

Psychological safety is the foundation of high-performing teams, allowing members to speak up about problems without fear of backlash or dismissal. It hinges on trust, humility, and effective communication. Trust involves believing in your team's integrity, benevolence, and ability. Humility means acknowledging that no one knows everything and being open to listening. Good communication requires understanding and avoiding assumptions in conversations. Psychological safety goes both ways, from leaders to followers and among peers. Leaders set the tone by admitting their mistakes, fostering a culture where everyone can learn from errors. Building psychological safety takes practice, but its benefits are invaluable for strong, high-performing teams.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFforD-part-10-psychological-safety   Links: Communication for Dummies:https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-comms   Tags:  - English Dummies Jenny Lord Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork

In this episode, we explore the impact of tiredness, fatigue, and stress on diving performance and safety. We discuss how these factors can lead to errors and potentially dangerous situations underwater. Fatigue, whether short-term or long-term, affects cognitive functions like problem-solving, memory, and alertness, making it essential for divers to prioritize rest. Stress, which can be either distress (negative) or eustress (positive), also plays a significant role in diving performance. We introduce the "three lemons" concept, where any stressor, or "lemon," that arises before or during a dive should be considered carefully. We emphasize the importance of recognizing signs of stress in ourselves and our dive buddies, and we discuss the challenge of calling off a dive due to small issues, known as the "sunk cost fallacy." Ultimately, we highlight the critical role of being well-rested and managing stress in ensuring safe and enjoyable dives.   Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-for-dummies-part-9-error-producing-conditions   Tags:  - English Dummies Fatigue Jenny Lord Performance shaping factors Stress

In this podcast episode, we dive into the concept of leadership in the context of diving, emphasizing that leadership applies to everyone in various capacities. A leader is someone who understands the common goal, communicates it clearly, and fosters collaboration among team members to achieve it, even if they don't possess all the required skills themselves. We discuss leadership roles in diving, including dive guides, instructors, and even buddy pairs, stressing the importance of goal clarity, role awareness, and effective communication. We share a real-life example of an instructor who demonstrates strong leadership by addressing equipment safety concerns and creating a culture of psychological safety within the dive center. We also explore the negative aspects of leadership, such as destructive goal pursuit, where leaders become overly focused on tasks and neglect their team's well-being and learning. Good leadership behaviors are highlighted, including maintaining awareness of the team's purpose, active listening, and fostering psychological safety for open communication. Leadership is portrayed as a dynamic and situational skill that requires conscious practice and a clear understanding of the team's goals. In conclusion, whether you find yourself in a formal leadership role or not, effective leadership in diving involves understanding the why, what, and how of your team's mission and promoting continuous improvement among all team members. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-leadership Tags: - English Dummies Jenny Lord Leadership Teamwork

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of teamwork in diving, shedding light on its importance and practical application. While team sports like football, rugby, and hockey inherently rely on teamwork, diving often overlooks the team dynamic. We discuss the key elements of effective teamwork, including role clarity, where everyone understands their role and the goals of the dive, and clear communication, which involves using consistent signals and fostering an environment where questions and concerns are welcomed. The briefing and debriefing process is highlighted as a crucial tool for aligning the team's mental model and learning from each other's experiences. Trust, the cornerstone of teamwork, is explored, emphasizing its development over time and its profound impact on team dynamics. Real-life examples, including challenges faced by a married couple in a diving course, illustrate the significance of trust and the possibility of splitting up a team when necessary. Original Blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-teamwork   Links: Communication for Dummies blog https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-comms All the Dummies blogs https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=dummies How to create a team, 4 part series https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3 https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4   Tags: - English Dummies Jenny Lord Teamwork

In this podcast episode, we explore the critical issue of communication and why it can be so challenging, even in life-or-death situations. We start with a famous radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities, highlighting the importance of clear communication. We then delve into the various barriers to effective communication, including language differences, distractions, culture, and the fear of looking foolish or facing punishment. We discuss the challenges of hierarchical structures that hinder open dialogue and emphasize the need for instructors to create a safe environment for questions. Additionally, we examine the problem of missing context and how it can lead to misunderstandings, especially in complex situations. We stress that clear communication is the responsibility of the message sender and recommend using open questions to ensure comprehension. Finally, we highlight the significance of not just what we say but how we say it, with examples illustrating the importance of context and patience in ensuring effective communication. Tune in for valuable insights into improving communication, and remember that clear communication can be a lifesaver, especially in high-stakes environments like underwater activities. Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-comms Links Fact checking the Lighthouse story! https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-obstinate-lighthouse Tags: - English Communication Communications Dummies Jenny Lord