Future Fellow tackling ‘investigation trauma’ to avert fear-fuelled catastrophe
A world-leading human factors and safety scientist has received prestigious Australian Government backing to improve how high-risk industries investigate safety incidents.
CQUniversity Professor Anjum Naweed has been named an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow for 2024, securing $1.2 million for his research over four years.
He’s among 100 of the country's best mid-career researchers, sharing $106.7 million in the ARC’s 2024 Future Fellowships scheme, to undertake quality research for the national interest.
Prof Naweed’s groundbreaking project, Transforming incident investigation in safety-critical industries, will assess how industry processes manage and contribute to trauma for those involved.
“In Australia’s safety-critical industries, like transport, mining, health care, people go to work with the real risk of not coming home,” the Adelaide-based academic explained.
“Management intolerance towards mistakes, and blame-focused investigation methods, mean that workers can begin their day fearful of incidents … and if something goes wrong, end it fearful of investigation.
“This culture of fear could mean workers are afraid to speak up and report near misses, for fear they will be investigated and blamed, and the consequences could ultimately be fatal.”
Since 2022, Australia’s Workplace Health and Safety Act has identified ‘psychosocial risk’, such as exposure to traumatic events, or unsustainable workload, as a workplace hazard.
“This project will give us new knowledge about trauma created by workplace investigations, and characterise a new class of hazard which is currently poorly understood,” Prof Naweed said.
“I’m thrilled to have the support of the Australian Research Council to explore and provide the first evidence base for shaping change in investigation processes and fear culture, to ultimately improve safety and health for all Australians.”
CQUniversity Vice-President (Research) Professor Grant Stanley said the ARC grant reflected the big contributions that Prof Naweed and CQUniversity’s Appleton Institute were making to safety across Australian workplaces.
"The Future Fellowship funding awarded to Prof Naweed recognises an impressive track record collaborating with communities and industries, to achieve real impact for health and safety,” Prof Stanley said.
"Since joining CQUniversity in 2012, Anjum’s research has earned numerous awards and grants, and securing this ARC Future Fellowship highlights opportunities for a highly successful research career at a regional university.
"I congratulate Anjum on this magnificent achievement."
ARC Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Johnson announced the 2024 Future Fellows in July.
“The ARC Future Fellowships scheme plays a significant role in facilitating research excellence… (and) the breadth of topics that will be investigated is a reflection of the ARC’s commitment to supporting outstanding mid-career researchers to undertake high quality research for the benefit of all Australians,” Dr Johnson said.
Transforming incident investigation in safety-critical industries will be led from CQUniversity’s Appleton Institute for multidisciplinary health and well-being research, in Adelaide.
