Many of the posts discuss mistakes. MoD is in the poo because of deliberate acts and concealing those acts; not mistakes. The likes of FAIR helps address the former, but the latter can only be addressed by instant dismissal. IMHO.
I have some old MoD literature from 2002 on the subject which is poor on presentation, but eventually gets there. Under the title of “A “Blame-free” Environment”, it says;
“Safety Culture requires an atmosphere in which individuals are not unduly punished or blamed for their mistakes – a “blame-free” environment. This is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in practice: when things really do go wrong, people’s reaction is often to protect themselves by pointing the finger of blame at others.
Even an organisation that strives to achieve a blame-free environment is still subject to rules and legal regulations. A “Just” culture is one in which individuals are not free of blame if they are culpably negligent, and where the organisation gives due regard to honesty. Errors and mistakes are inevitable, and safety can only be improved if the organisation can learn from its mistakes”.
I think a “However” if required before “A Just Culture” to separate the two concepts.
In MoD certain levels ARE free of blame when culpably negligent, honesty is NOT given due regard and lessons aren’t learned. And somebody from MoD has to post here, now, asking for opinions?
