Todd Conklin
Founder & Speaker
Human & Organization Performance Consulting
The Paradox of Normally Safe Operation
Organizations often take comfort in periods of stable, incident-free performance. Work appears controlled, risks seem managed and systems are assumed to be functioning as designed. Yet this very stability can become a trap. In complex, high-risk environments, “normal” operations are not inherently safe – they are the product of continuous human adaptation to varying conditions, pressures and constraints.
This keynote explores the paradox that the absence of incidents does not equate to the presence of safety. Instead, prolonged stability can mask the gradual erosion of controls, the normalization of workarounds and the quiet accumulation of risk. As systems drift, success reinforces existing beliefs, reducing curiosity and weakening the organization’s sensitivity to weak signals.
Drawing on principles from Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), Dr Todd Conklin reframes safety as the capacity to adapt, respond and learn – not merely the outcome of compliance or control. He challenges leaders to move beyond measuring safety by what “does not happen” and instead to understand how everyday work succeeds under pressure.
Attendees will gain insight into how stability can conceal vulnerability and how to build organizations that remain alert, adaptive and resilient – even when everything appears to be going right.
Todd Conklin is a witty and wise safety expert who spent a whopping 30 years at the renowned Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Senior Advisor for Organizational and Safety Culture. That’s right, he’s got a PhD and three decades of experience under his belt – so you know he’s got some serious brainpower.
For the last 25 years of his career, Dr. Conklin has been tackling the Human Performance program at Los Alamos, straddling the academic and practical worlds with ease. He’s been everywhere, man – speaking to executives, groups, and work teams all over the globe about the vital connection between workers in the field and an organization’s systems, processes, and programs.
But it’s not just talk for Conklin. Oh no – he’s put these ideas into practice at major corporations worldwide and even lends his expertise to event investigations across the planet. Plus, he’s a best-selling author with his book, Pre-Accident Investigations: An Introduction to Organizational Safety, and has a massive following for his twice-weekly podcast of the same name.
So, what’s Conklin’s secret to success? Safety, of course! To him, safety means enabling workers to tackle any challenge in a world that’s full of surprises.
And as if that wasn’t enough, he resides in the stunning Santa Fe, New Mexico and believes that Human Performance is the most fulfilling work he’s ever had the pleasure of teaching and living.
In conclusion, if you want a true expert in the field of safety, you can’t go wrong with Todd Conklin – just don’t try to beat him at Jeopardy.