WE CARE & the Total Safety System

The natural environments in which we live, work, and play all contain risk. This guidebook serves as an accumulation of models and methods that can help leaders and other practitioners navigate technical and behavioral safety challenges in modern, complex organizations. In addition, this guidebook introduces "WE CARE" Coaching, "WE CARE" Improvement Sprints, and the guiding principles of Effective Fiduciary Leadership Theory. Under a critical lens, classical definitions of "safety" as a condition or environment that is "free from harm" paint safety as an objective, unrealistic, and imaginary construct. Safety is a complex, nebulous notion. In addition to its objective aspects, safety is also a feeling, and each person tends to evaluate safety on his or her unique, individual terms. In the absence of a clear, objective view of occupational and public safety, it is no wonder that today's safety challenges are often viewed as "wicked social problems"—problems which experts agree should be addressed through collaborative, constant intervention. With clear language, the presentation of proven models and methods, and multiple appendixes and resources, this guidebook empowers readers and leaders to embrace key social concepts centered around complexity, integrity, and uncertainty—all backed by the experience and insights of an author with more than forty years of experience at the leadership table.