SH282: Isolation Amplifies Drift: When Remote Operations Make Small Deviations Invisible

About this episode

The episode discusses how isolation in remote operations can lead to unnoticed risks due to normalization of deviation.

This blog by Michael John Snow explores how small equipment issues on a remote expedition vessel can gradually become accepted as “normal,” not because of poor decisions, but because of how isolated systems work. In these environments, teams are skilled and focused on keeping operations running, especially when guests, tight schedules, and limited support make stopping costly. With fewer external checks and less immediate feedback, minor irregularities are often monitored rather than acted on, and over time they fade into the background. This process, known as normalization of deviation, slowly shifts what is seen as acceptable without anyone clearly deciding to take a risk. When a problem finally forces action, it can look sudden, but it is usually the result of many reasonable choices made over time. The key message is that this isn’t about individual failure, but about system design: isolation reduces challenge, delays response, and makes it easier for risk to build unnoticed. To manage this, the blog argues that remote operations need stronger structures—like clear governance, tracking, and shared visibility of equipment performance—so that small issues stay visible and are…

People in this episode

Host: Gareth Lock

Topics covered

• remote operations
• normalization of deviation
• system design
• risk management
• equipment performance

Keywords

• isolation
• drift
• equipment issues
• operations
• governance
• feedback
• risk

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Human Diver, remoteassetgovernance.com

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