Safety Shorts: The Safety Hazard Of Complacency with Libby Pritchard

June 7, 2021

Kicking off our Safety Shorts series is a conversation about the single most common cause of workplace fatalities, complacency. Unexpectedly, this can be even more hazardous in workplaces where there is a strong focus on safety, as we can become satisfied with our safety efforts, settle into routines, rest on excellent safety records, and slip into a mode where we take safety for granted. Complacency opens the door for accidents and injuries. Today Libby shares her suggestions for how to help us snap out of complacency and turn our concentration dials back up, and details the use of nudges, intentional reminders that make behaviors more likely, in the fight against complacency in workplace safety - because even a small mistake can cause significant loss.

Episode Highlights

• Celebrating National Safety Month, which is June
• Complacency is the single most common cause of workplace fatalities
• Unexpectedly, it can be even more hazardous in workplaces where there is a strong focus on safety and compliance
• We become satisfied with excellent safety records and take it for granted
• Similar to getting a crown at the dentist or a new tattoo - you’re acutely aware of it in the beginning, but after a while, you get used to these things
• Nudges are intentional, sometimes unexpected cues, that direct our focus and attention and guide behaviour
• You can use these in workplace safety to help fight back against complacency
• Examples include installing mirrors that indicate who is responsible for safety that day, place family photos near the exit to remind drivers who they are driving safely for as they head out onto the road, and mixing up your tool box talks
• Share safety videos as a reminder that even a small mistake can cause a significant loss

Toolbox Talk Discussion Questions

• When are the most likely times you may ‘zone out’ at work?
• What types of accidents could happen here on our site if we ‘zone out’?
• What are nudges we could introduce that could help address times like these when we zone out?
• What other safety nudges could we add around our site?
• Does anyone have a story about complacency or nudges they’d like to share?

Quotes:

“As humans, we are prone to distraction, inattention, and one of the greatest safety hazards, complacency.”

“Unexpectedly, it can be even more hazardous in workplaces where there is a strong safety focus.”

“After a while, you get used to all these things, just like a haul truck driver gets used to their same-old-same-old route, or the welding job you’re doing is just like that last one hundred you did.”

“Complacency is an open door for accidents and injuries.”

“Nudges are intentional reminders or arrangements that make a behavior more likely, and workplace safety is a perfect place to try out a few nudges to fight back against complacency.”

“Sharing accident or near-hit videos can reinvigorate workers and show how even a small mistake can cause significant loss.”

Links:

National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association website