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Safety Quote by Nancy G. Leveson

“Insisting that operators always follow procedures does not guarantee safety although it does usually guarantee that there is someone to blame-either for following the procedures or for not following them-when things go wrong.” quote by Nancy G. Leveson
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““Insisting that operators always follow procedures does not guarantee safety although it does usually guarantee that there is someone to blame-either for following the procedures or for not following them-when things go wrong.””

Nancy G. Leveson

About This Quote

Source Book: Engineering a Safer World, Nancy G. Leveson, 2011

Procedural compliance alone does not ensure safety; it can create blame culture when failures occur.

In simple terms: Following rules isn’t enough for safety.

Key Takeaway

Design systems that prioritize safety over blame.

Themes

safety responsibility systems thinking

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

policy philosophical

When to use this quote

  • manufacturing
  • aviation
  • healthcare
  • software development

Key Concepts

Human factors organizational culture risk management

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we shift focus from blame to learning?
  • What safeguards prevent over‑reliance on procedures?
A Different Perspective

Safety also requires flexibility and learning from incidents.

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