Last week I invited a group of seafarers to conduct a risk assessment exercise during entering into the Hormuz Straits. Instead of giving them a template for risk assessment, I offered them a visual map. Allow me to unfold their experience and how visual methods can unlock our ability to listen and talk about the real risks.
The seafarers were asked to think about the risks associated with Hormuz Straits in words and then map their words.
The map below (referred to as the iCue engagement sheet) consists of 4 quadrants:
Physical words: Top right quadrants (Hazards)
Physical words: Top left quadrant (Controls)
Psychological words: Bottom left quadrants (their individual concerns)
Cultural words: Bottom right quadrants (their group concerns)
What you see in the image above is the seafarers’ own words associated with ‘Hormuz Straits risks’. In addition, they also made connection between their words.
What the seafarers learned from this exercise:
- ‘We have always only focused on the top two quadrants’ in our formal risk assessments and toolbox talks’. These seafarers realised at once what they were missing.
- How do you control a missile or a terrorist attack? Fire hoses, security alarms and raiser wires? They realised how often the controls have little connection with the hazards.
- ‘I can see the connections’, one seafarer said. ’An accident happens when we are not focused or when we don’t talk to each other’, he added. They saw the connections; it was not me. They took the ownership of risk.
- ‘It’s more connected with our fears and concerns’, one said. They felt the experience. They learned something.
- All high risk activities require people to start with sharing their concerns and taking ownership of the risks. Is that not what we want from risk assessments?
What sets visual mapping apart from forms and checklists?
It is quite simple. People can see the risks and they can see the relationships between physical, psychological and cultural issues. None of this is possible when we conduct risk assessments on a standard template or a checklist. And what is more, it takes less than 10 minutes to achieve the quality of conversations that you won’t get after spending hours doing paperwork.
What is the iCue mapping process?
A visual, verbal and relational mapping involving 6 steps to develop a comprehensive risk picture. Check out this video below.
Is visual mapping a substitute to formal risk assessment?
Absolutely not. We ask you to combine this bottoms-up visual mapping with top-down risk assessments to achieve the best of both worlds. And do one more thing. Change the language from ‘Toolbox talk’ (objects and formality) to ‘iCue conversations’ (listening to the cues of risk when people speak) before the start of any high risk activity.
We already do risk assessments. Why do I need to do this?
Be so good at assessing the risks that you don’t have to conduct too many accident investigations.
Can I apply this method to incident investigations?
You can use this process to incident investigations, interviewing or any form of social interaction. It will sharpen your facilitation skills and you will become a trusted partner in all conversations. Here are several worked examples of videos to illustrate the application of this method.
How do I get started?
Email us at support@novellus.solutions or check out Novellus Events page for our next event series.
What support is available beyond this workshop?
Once you register, you will become a member of a growing international community of people from across high-risk sectors.
Members are part of an online forum and they have access to a lot of free resources.Members meet online and practice their iCue mapping and listening skills.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more worked examples of visual mapping.
Can I use the iCue mapping for my business?
You can only use the iCue method once you have attended the training.
The iCue engagement process was created by Dr Robert Long (Human Dymensions, Canberra, Australia). The Intellectual Property Rights are reserved by Human Dymensions. Dr Long does not give permission for this method to be used without proper training.
If you want to use this method for commercial purpose, please get in touch.
