In this insightful interview, human factors expert Gareth

Lock discusses the critical aspects of how we should understand sense-makingand decision making especially in ambiguous and high-consequence environments.The research shows that if performers have 'successful' outcome following anear-miss, then our perception of the risk is lowered and therefore we are morelikely to erode vital safety margins (training, equipment, standards andpolicy).

Gareth explores the importance of distinguishing 'could

happen' events from 'almost happened' events, understanding levels ofuncertainty, mental models, and avoiding the normalization of deviance. What can lawenforcement trainers and supervisors do about this? Gareth explains how we candevelop counter-factual thinking to raise understanding of how our perceptionof risk can shift and how to make probabilities more visible.

Finally, Gareth explains his DEBrIEF model of how we can

strategically guide our people to build important self-reflection skills toimprove decision-making and deeply learn from all incidents and near misses.

Gareth Lock is the founder of The Human Diver, an

organization set up to deliver education and research into the role and benefitof applying human factors, non-technical skills, psychological safety, and‘just culture’ in sports, military, and scientific diving. He has published thebook ‘Under Pressure’ and produced the documentary ‘If only…,’ both focused onimproving safety and performance by looking at incidents through the lens ofhuman factors.

Show Notes from Gareth Lock:

 www.thehumandiver.com - where everything I do in the world of diving sits!

 www.humaninthesystem.com - this is where I put my non-diving programmes!

DEBrIEF framework - www.thehumandiver.com/debrief 

Under Pressure: Diving Deeper with Human Factors - Gareth Lock - www.thehumandiver.com/underpre