Design-Based Safety: Anti-Safety Lilliputians

David MacCollum

doi:10.56094/jss.v53i1.96

Authors

David MacCollum

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v53i1.96

Keywords:

Gullivers Travels, anti-safety

Abstract

In 1726, Jonathan Swift wrote a novel about Gulliver’s Travels. The story of Gulliver’s first voyage describes the goals and mindset of the Lilliputians as they attempted to tie down and restrict technical advances known to larger and superior individuals. The story is a satire about how the real world’s progress is hampered by mental lightweights who object to better ways of doing things.

Specialists in design-based system safety are vulnerable to “Lilliputians” who are out of touch with technology and engage a biased media in attempting to stop the use of reliable design-based safety.

Author Biography

David MacCollum

David V. MacCollum, 96, was a past president of ASSE and was a member of the first U.S. Secretary of Labor’s Construction Safety Advisory Committee [1969-1972]. He specialized in safety research and technical assistance on high-risk hazards to enterprise, insurance companies, universities, trade associations, attorneys, and government for over 20 years and was involved in the development of rollover protections and other safeguards and innovative construction methods and procedures. Mr. MacCollum held a B.S. degree from Oregon State University and was a Registered Professional Engineer and Certified Safety Professional. (in memoriam)