Managing Safety in Complexity by Martijn Flinterman (Book Review #2309)

Managing Safety in Complexity: Making ‘Working Safely’ Possible Between Systems That Speak Different Codes by Martijn Flinterman is a pioneering exploration of safety management through a sociological lens. This book challenges traditional approaches to health, safety, and environment (HSE) management, emphasizing that checklists, compliance, and behavior-based safety alone are insufficient for preventing accidents and ensuring organizational learning. Instead, Flinterman draws on the insights of sociologist Niklas Luhmann to highlight the critical role of communication, meaning-making, and social structures in shaping risk and safety outcomes.

The book addresses a pressing question in safety management: why do well-intentioned safety programs often fail, and why do accidents still occur even when procedures are followed? Flinterman argues that the answer lies in the complexity of organizational systems. Different departments, teams, and stakeholders often “speak different codes,” leading to miscommunication, misaligned priorities, and missed opportunities for learning from failures. By applying systems theory and organizational sociology, he offers a framework for understanding these dynamics, enabling HSE professionals to navigate uncertainty and complexity more effectively.

Flinterman’s approach is both intellectual and practical. While the book is grounded in theory, it draws on real-world examples and the author’s professional experience to show how sociological insights can inform everyday safety practice. Readers are invited to rethink what it means to “work safely” in high-risk environments, considering how social systems, interactions, and communication patterns influence safety outcomes. This perspective encourages reflective practice, adaptive thinking, and continuous learning—skills that are essential for modern safety leaders and risk managers.

Written for HSE professionals, risk managers, safety leaders, and reflective practitioners, Managing Safety in Complexity is not a conventional manual, but rather a guide to thinking differently about familiar challenges. It offers a fresh, systems-oriented perspective that equips readers to anticipate, understand, and manage safety issues in environments where uncertainty and complexity are the norm.

In sum, Martijn Flinterman’s book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of safety in complex organizations. It bridges theory and practice, challenges conventional assumptions, and provides a roadmap for fostering safer, more resilient workplaces.

Written by Jeyran Main

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