Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving

Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving

Hosted by: Gareth Lock at The Human Diver

Human factors is a critical topic within the world of SCUBA diving, scientific diving, military diving, and commercial diving. This podcast is a mixture of interviews and 'shorts' which are audio versions of the...

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Episodes

SH197: We’ve got an attitude problem!

Mistakes are an essential part of learning, but in the highly regulated world of diving, the fear of judgment often stifles open discussion. Unlike other extreme sports where mistakes are embraced as learning...
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SH196: They broke the rules! So...?

When diving accidents occur, the immediate response often blames rule-breaking, but reality is far more complex. Rules are designed to enhance safety, yet accidents can happen even when rules are followed—and...
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SH195: Murphy was wrong!

Murphy’s Law suggests that if something can go wrong, it will, but this oversimplifies reality. Most of the time, things go right, even when procedures are ignored or actions are flawed, which can create a false sense...
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SH194: Surely if we blame and punish, things will be safer?

In this episode, we discuss a controversial Facebook post about a novice diver being taken beyond their certification limits to 45 meters by an instructor, sparking a heated debate on blame, punishment, and safety in...
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SH193: The problem with bringing Human Factors into Diving is...

This blog explores the challenges of integrating Human Factors into diving, starting with the very nature of human factors themselves. Diving incidents often get oversimplified as “diver error,” ignoring the broader...
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SH192: Quarks and Meows - the state of diving safety!

In this episode, we dive into the complex nature of safety in diving and explore why it’s not as simple as just following rules or avoiding accidents. Safety is shaped by people, technology, processes, and culture,...
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SH191: Are there Cobras in diving?

In this episode, we explore the unintended consequences of rewarding specific behaviors and metrics in both high-risk industries and diving. From the infamous Cobra Effect in colonial India to modern-day challenges in...
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SH190: You can't learn from adverse events if you are going to blame

In this episode, we explore the role of punishment in learning and accident investigations, challenging the idea that punishment fosters accountability or safety. Drawing from research by Heraghty, Dekker, and Rae, we...
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SH189: ‘Pilot error’. Don't 'fix' the Pilot. ‘Diver error’. 'Fix' the diver.

In this episode, we explore how systems, not just individuals, shape safety outcomes in aviation, diving, and daily life. We discuss historical lessons, such as redesigning cockpit controls in WWII B-17 bombers to...
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SH188: The Status Quo Bias. We don’t like to change

Status Quo Bias is the tendency to stick with familiar choices, even when better options exist, and it impacts decisions in many areas, including diving. From Coca-Cola's "New Coke" failure to nitrox's initial...
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SH187: The risks we take. The decisions we make. The lessons we MIGHT learn.

This episode dives into the complexities of risk, decision-making, and resilience, blending personal experience with critical lessons for divers and beyond. Host Gareth Lock recounts his journey from peak physical...
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SH186: Being Efficient? Being Thorough? Which One Did You Choose?

This episode explores the Efficiency Thoroughness Trade-Off (ETTO), a concept by Erik Hollnagel that explains how we balance being thorough and efficient in everyday tasks, including diving. Using relatable examples...
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