The Weekly Reflektion 07/2025
Just finished education, starting a new job, exciting new tasks to get after, good prospects for advancement and perhaps a successful career. Progression up through the system usually brings with it responsibilities, and the higher up in the organisation you reach the greater the responsibilities you have. At least in a ‘normal’ organisation. You may become responsible for the health, safety and welfare of people. Recognising what this means and understanding the consequences of getting it wrong, are essential if you really want to exercise this responsibility.
What do you have hanging over you?
The story of the Sword of Damocles comes from an ancient Greek legend and was recorded by the Roman philosopher Cicero. It tells of Damocles, a courtier who envied the power and luxury of King Dionysius II of Syracuse. To teach him a lesson, Dionysius allowed Damocles to sit on his throne and enjoy royal privileges. However, above the throne, he suspended a sharp sword by a single horsehair. The constant threat of the sword made Damocles realize that great power comes with great danger and anxiety. The story is often used to illustrate the precarious nature of power and fortune. It is also appropriate in the context of management and their responsibilities, not least being responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the people working for the company and at the companies’ premises.
We would not advocate a sword hanging by a thin thread over the Chief Executives chair as a constant reminder, as Dionysius arranged for Damocles. We note that Dionysius did not see the need for the sword for himself when he was in charge. There is however a need for reminders. Many managers receive reminders every time a serious incident occurs and the health, safety og welfare of someone working for them is compromised. Hindsight is however too late.
In our first Breakfast Seminar in April 2018, we talked about the US Navy Subsafe program. This program was initiated following the loss of the USS Thresher on 10th April 1963. The program was focussed on submarine hulls staying watertight and being able to recover from flooding. In the period 1915 to 1963 the US Navy lost 16 submarines (including the Thresher) due to non-combat related causes. Since Subsafe was introduced only one submarine, the USS Scorpion has been lost. In our research into the Subsafe program we discovered that Submarine Commanders in the US Navy always commemorate submarines that have been lost as they sail by theirlast reported positions. All sites of submarine losses are programmed into the navigation system. This is the sword the US Navy places over the commanders to remind them of their responsibility.
Are there any good examples of Major Accidents where the management failed to exercise their responsibility? The answer is of course yes, all of them. When a major accident has happened it really is the extent of the failure that emerges from the investigation. In some cases, the failures are unforgivable and gross negligence is obvious. In many cases the failures are understandable due to the pressures that management are put under to achieve company objectives. These unfortunately also fall into the category of unforgivable.