The true root cause of many workplace incidents are not the whirling blades or toxic chemicals, but the complacency of workers and employers. Here are some indicators that complacency is making your workplace unsafe.
Attitudinal indicators: Workers who:
1. Assume things are safe.
2. Believe someone else has made it safe.
3. Believe something is safe because it’s never been a problem before.
Observable indicators. Workers who:
1. Don’t wear PPE.
2. Drive distracted.
3. Falsify safety forms.
4. Skip steps in procedures.
5. Take undue risks.
Systemic indicators. Employers that:
1. Don’t conduct drills of their emergency response procedures.
2. Haven’t conducted a formal hazard assessment in years, if ever.
3. Engage in “safety theatre”. Go through the motions for show.
I recommend organizations include "complacency" as a known workplace psychological hazard, and take steps to control it.
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