PAPod 596 - Incremental Safety Practices: Reductive vs. Inductive Safety
02 May 2026

PAPod 596 - Incremental Safety Practices: Reductive vs. Inductive Safety

PreAccident Investigation Podcast

About

Todd Conklin reviews Erik Hollnagel’s new book "Incremental Safety Practices" and explains the core idea that safety efforts fall into two approaches: reductive (removing hazards) and inductive (building resilient systems). He urges listeners to view safety as an ongoing capacity managed in everyday work rather than a static goal achieved after eliminating risks.


The episode invites organizations to reflect on whether their programs focus on hazard removal, resilience building, or both, and emphasizes paying attention to incremental improvements (or erosions) in safety culture and practice.