The Stability Trap: When success becomes the seed for failure

Welcome to Season 6 and the 132nd episode of the podcast show HOP Into Action. In this episode of HOP Into Action, Brent Sutton explores Todd Conklin's latest book, "The Stability Trap".Amazon.com link

Welcome to Season 6 and the 131st episode of the podcast show HOP Into Action.In this episode of HOP Into Action, Brent Sutton explores the ETTO principle from Erik Hollnagel and how the tradeoffs we make at work and at home are normal, and how HOP and the 4Ds can help us to operationally learn and improve our systems to reduce the presence of tradeoffs in high-risk work activities.

Welcome to Season 6 and the 130th episode of the podcast show HOP Into Action.In this episode of HOP Into Action, Brent Sutton reframes safety rules from “controlling people” to supporting work. We trace the history of rules from factory-era prohibitions, Taylorist scripts, and audit checklists to today’s HOP mindset, and then show how to make rules useful at the job.

Welcome to Season 6 and the 129th episode of the podcast show HOP Into Action.Today, I reflect on a research article from the Journal of Patient Safety detailing an evaluation of different incident investigation methods within a large United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) hospital. The study compares the outcomes of Learning Teams with the traditional Root Cause Analysis (RCA) approach for adverse healthcare events. The authors found that Learning Teams generated significantly more actions and a higher percentage of system-focused actions, which are considered more effective compared to RCA. Furthermore, qualitative interviews revealed that Learning Teams foster a more open and less blame-focused culture and involve a wider range of staff than RCA, leading to more robust, system-level solutions for preventing future incidents.

Welcome to Season 6 and the 128th episode of the podcast show HOP Into Action.Today, we conclude the discussion with Ben Hutchinson. Ben is not only a seasoned senior health and safety leader, but he also has a deep interest in safety research.Ben operates the site safetyinsights.org and is the host of “Safe As” podcast, where he posts and talks about safety research summaries in a way that is relatable for others to learn from.The second part of the discussion centers on current research and areas for future safety focus.So please sit back and enjoy this series of HOP into Action.

Welcome to Season 6 and the 127th episode of the podcast show HOP Into Action.Today is part one of a two-part series with Ben Hutchinson. Ben is not only a seasoned senior health and safety leader, but he also has a deep interest in safety research.Ben operates the site safetyinsights.org and is the host of Safe As podcast, where he posts and talks about safety research summaries in a way that is relatable for others to learn from.Ben explains his motivation for posting academic research online: the frustration that valuable safety research is often locked behind paywalls, making it inaccessible to the practitioners who need it to improve their work. And he stresses the importance of cultivating curiosity among safety practitioners regarding the existing body of knowledge.

Welcome to Season 6 and Episode 126 of the HOP Into Action Podcast Series. In this episode, Brent Sutton explores the origins of learning from work and how it became a cornerstone of Human and Organizational Performance. He unpacks why everyday adaptations and weak signals matter, why leadership’s role is less about control and more about curiosity, and the real danger of normalising work when things look “all green.” Through stories and reflections, Brent shows how learning makes the invisible visible — turning tacit knowledge into shared understanding, and creating the conditions for BetterWork.

Welcome to Season 6 and Episode 125 of the HOP Into Action Podcast Series. On today's show with Brent Sutton and Brent Robinson we are all about AI.The intro is an AI voice, the podcast transcript and summary is AI. But the speakers are real, and as Brent Sutton explores, that AI for them means Aged Intelligence.So please sit back and enjoy this series of HOP into Action.Our PLAUD.AI Agent said that the highlights of the podcast were:- 🚀 The podcast explores the rapid evolution of AI, comparing it to the early internet days, and highlights the proliferation of AI experts in a fast-changing market.- 🌐 AI's accessibility has increased, allowing more people to utilize its capabilities, which were once limited to a privileged few.- 🔍 AI tools are being used to improve work design and investigation insights, helping organizations identify and resolve issues more effectively.- ⚖️ The conversation emphasizes the importance of ethical AI use, focusing on privacy, transparency, fairness, and accountability.- 📚 AI is seen as a tool to support operational learning and knowledge management, helping organizations scale and improve their processes.- 🧪 The speakers Brent Sutton and Brent Robinson encourage experimentation with AI, noting its rapid evolution and the potential for learning and improvement.Two of our free OpenAI ChatGPT Agents (they will work in the free version) are available for non-commercial use only at:HOP Error Trap Analysis of Safety and Operations Documentshttps://hoptool.com/4bL8eo7HOP Investigation Insights Analysis Tool Registrationhttps://hoptool.com/3K58qCIFor more information, go to: https://hoptool.com/4aoggSF

For more information, go to: https://hoptool.com/4aoggSF

In this special episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Podcast, hosted by Todd Conklin, we take a moment to honor the legacy of James Reason, a prominent figure in the field of safety and human error study, who passed away on February 5th, 2025. James Reason revolutionized the way we understand human errors, particularly in complex systems, with groundbreaking concepts such as the Swiss cheese model and the theory of a just culture.Listen as we delve into the life and contributions of James Reason, from his early conversations that expanded our understanding of organizational accidents to his influence in various sectors, including healthcare and aviation. Featuring a special tribute from David Woods, this episode reflects on Reason's enduring impact and challenges us to continue advancing in the world of safety and reliability.Join us in remembering a man whose work has profoundly shaped the foundation of modern safety practices. In a unique tribute, we invite you to enjoy a sandwich with Swiss cheese, a nod to Reason's famous model, and reflect on his contributions to the field. Thank you, James Reason, for your remarkable influence on safety and human error research.