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Safety Science, a Systems Thinking Perspective: From Events to Mental Models and Sustainable Safety

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Blokland

    (Safety & Security Science Group (S3G), Delft University of Technology, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Genserik Reniers

    (Safety & Security Science Group (S3G), Delft University of Technology, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands
    Center for Corporate Sustainability (CEDON)—KULeuven—Campus Brussels, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
    Department of Engineering Management, Faculty of Applied Economic Sciences (ENM), University of Antwerp, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Blokland & Genserik Reniers, 2020. "Safety Science, a Systems Thinking Perspective: From Events to Mental Models and Sustainable Safety," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:5164-:d:375922
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peter Blokland & Genserik Reniers, 2019. "An Ontological and Semantic Foundation for Safety and Security Science," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Stacey M. Conchie & Ian J. Donald & Paul J. Taylor, 2006. "Trust: Missing Piece(s) in the Safety Puzzle," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(5), pages 1097-1104, October.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Blokland & Genserik Reniers, 2021. "Achieving Organisational Alignment, Safety and Sustainable Performance in Organisations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-35, September.
    2. Michal Titko & Jozef Ristvej, 2020. "Assessing Importance of Disaster Preparedness Factors for Sustainable Disaster Risk Management: The Case of the Slovak Republic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Mahdieh Delikhoon & Esmaeil Zarei & Osiris Valdez Banda & Mohammad Faridan & Ehsanollah Habibi, 2022. "Systems Thinking Accident Analysis Models: A Systematic Review for Sustainable Safety Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-28, May.

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