SH118: Being a deviant is normal...
An episode of the Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving podcast, hosted by Gareth Lock at The Human Diver, titled "SH118: Being a deviant is normal..." was published on November 2, 2024 and runs 6 minutes.
November 2, 2024 ·6m · Counter-Errorism in Diving: Applying Human Factors to Diving
Episode Description
In this episode, we delve into "normalization of deviance"—how divers, like workers in many fields, can gradually drift from safe practices due to pressures to be more efficient or productive. Often starting with small rule-bending or shortcuts, this drift can increase over time, as divers operate closer to safety limits without realizing the risk. Drawing on examples from high-reliability organizations, we'll discuss strategies for recognizing and counteracting this drift, from clear baseline definitions to fostering environments where divers feel comfortable speaking up about concerns. Finally, we explore the value of critical debriefs to ensure safe practices remain a priority.
Original blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/being-a-deviant-is-normal
Links: Steve Lewis’ blog: https://decodoppler.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/normalization-of-deviance/
Andy Davis’ blog: http://scubatechphilippines.com/scuba_blog/guy-garman-world-depth-record-fatal-dive/#The_Issue_of_Normalization_of_Deviance
Amalberti’s papers: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092575350000045X
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2464877/
Cook’s paper: http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/14/2/130.short
Blog about complacency: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/complacency-the-silent-killer-but-it-s-not-that-simple
Efficiency thoroughness trade off: http://erikhollnagel.com/ideas/etto-principle/index.html
Tags: English, Gareth Lock, Human Factors, Non-Technical Skills, Normalisation of Deviance, Normalization of Deviance
Similar Episodes
Feb 28, 2026 ·11m
Jan 17, 2026 ·73m
Jan 8, 2026 ·62m
Jan 8, 2026 ·59m
Jan 7, 2026 ·31m
Jan 7, 2026 ·49m