Episode 1136 – Blame, Brains & the Behavioral Beef

On today’s Rated R Safety Show, Jay Allen dives headfirst into the philosophical (and occasionally theatrical) debate tearing through the safety world right now.

It started with a bold session at the Western Conference on Safety—“Investigations Done Differently,” featuring Jeff Lyth and Bruce Jackson. But when a longtime behavior-based safety veteran publicly questioned whether HOP (Human and Organizational Performance) has any evidence of reducing incidents or injuries… the floodgates opened.

So today, we talk about it.

Is HOP just razzmatazz—or is it the necessary evolution of how we treat error, people, and performance?

Jay pulls receipts from:

  • Amy Edmondson’s work on psychological safety 🔬
  • James Reason’s Swiss Cheese Model 🧀
  • Karl Weick’s sensemaking in high-reliability orgs 🧠
  • DOE’s application of Human Performance in nuclear safety ☢️

We don’t just throw shade—we build signal.

Also in this episode: 🌍 Climate control or Bond villain tech? 🚀 Elon Musk’s Starbase city gets weird(er) 🧃 A mail carrier goes full WTF 🎤 Kendrick Lamar, tariffs, and Danzig (because yes)

And we end with one glitchy question to fry your philosophical circuits:

If your system only works when no one makes a mistake… what did you actually build?

📍Broadcasting from the Safety FM Studios in Orlando, Florida. Powered by Safety FM + Radio Big.

🎶 Featured Track: Artist: Godmode Song: Action (Feat. Moistrus) License: #4488658410

Listen On

Also In Season 1