Safety science, a systems thinking perspective

Safety science, a systems thinking perspective: From events to mental models and sustainable safety

Blokland, P.J. (TU Delft Safety and Security Science)
Reniers, G.L.L.M.E. (TU Delft Safety and Security Science; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; Universiteit Antwerpen)

2020

In the past one hundred years, concepts such as risk, safety and security have become ever more important and they represent a growing concern in our society. These concepts are also important subjects of study to enhance sustainability. During the past fifty years, safety science has gradually developed as an independent field of science. In this period, different concepts, theories, models and research traditions have emerged, each with its specific perspective. Safety science is now focused on finding ways to proactively achieve safety versus reaching safety in a reactive way. We think this increasing awareness and search for proactiveness can be found and presented when viewed in light of the systems thinking iceberg model, where increasing awareness and proactiveness can be seen as digging deeper into this systems thinking iceberg, discovering the levels of systems, structures and ultimately the mental models that are "below the waterline". It offers a way forward in understanding, and proactively managing, risk, safety, security and sustainable performance, in organizations and ultimately in society as a whole.

Mental models
Performance
Risk
Safety
Security
Sustainability
Systems thinking

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ef86dfa0-c8df-4642-b5a9-c26c675d0979

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125164

2071-1050

Sustainability, 12 (12)

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2020 P.J. Blokland, G.L.L.M.E. Reniers