Safety is Not an Accident!

First a quote: “When little accidents are acceptable, big ones are inevitable.” – James Bradley, Trane Technologies

Good morning and happy Monday,

Creating a culture of safety is not easy, almost never happens by accident, and requires everyone to be involved and accountable for doing their individual part.

I often speak of how much I have learned from workshop participants over the years. Click here to read "The Dual Roles of Successful People." Today I offer another example of a lesson learned from one of my past “students” who goes by the name Jimmy.

I love the quote! It contains so much truth!

And, before you decide an article about safety isn’t your cup of tea, or your responsibility, please consider that the concept extends well beyond the importance of organizational safety. These same concepts could be used to address other aspects of an organization’s culture including psychological safety, respect, inclusiveness, diversity, etc.

In fact, these concepts might be true in every aspect of life, from one’s personal habits to organizational practices; minor missteps left unaddressed, can set the stage for catastrophic risks. For instance, we might easily dismiss glancing at our phone while driving as inconsequential or brush off a minor miscalculation at work as a harmless oversight.

When small errors or risky behaviors are consistently overlooked, they can become normalized, and the threshold for what is considered acceptable gradually expands.

Do you believe a quick glance at your phone while driving is harmless. Think again! According to the NHTSA, 3,308 people were killed by distracted drivers in 2022. In a fraction of a second, one short distraction can have disastrous consequences.

“Carefulness costs you nothing. Carelessness may cost you your life.” – Unknown

In organizations, the tolerance for minor mistakes can also lead to dire outcomes. Consider a manufacturing plant where workers routinely ignore minor safety violations. Initially, small infractions might not lead to any immediate harm. However, over time the accumulation of these overlooked mistakes can lead to a major safety accident.

Each ignored violation reinforces the notion that safety protocols are flexible or even optional when the pressure on delivering results builds. This can lead to an erosion of the overall safety culture and increase the likelihood of more serious accidents in the future.

In addition to the distracted driver statistics above, history offers other examples of this phenomenon as well.

• The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 is another poignant example. Engineers were aware of the potential for O-ring failure in cold temperatures, but the issue was not deemed critical enough to delay the launch. NASA was under intense media pressure to launch on that fateful morning. The acceptance of what was believed to be a minor risk ultimately led to a catastrophic failure that claimed seven lives.
• The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may be another example of this commonality. Many researchers believe this disaster was the result of a series of small errors and numerous early warning signs being ignored. The cumulative effect of these minor oversights resulted in one of the worst environmental disasters in history.
• The Boeing 737 Max, once heralded as a marvel of modern engineering, became synonymous with tragedy following two devastating crashes in 2018 and 2019. The accidents, which claimed the lives of 346 people, were attributed to a flaw in the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System. (MCAS).

Pressure to deliver the 737 Max quickly to compete with Airbus’s A320 led to a rush in development, allowing small errors to slip through the cracks. Is it possible this phenomenon is also behind Boeing’s more recent “blown out” window incident? Perhaps. Time will tell.

In broader terms, these examples serve as a cautionary tale for all industries. It highlights the importance of addressing minor issues with the same rigor and seriousness as potential major ones.

Here are a few strategies for your consideration:

• Promote a Zero-Tolerance Safety Policy: Organizations might be wise to cultivate an environment where even the smallest mistakes are addressed promptly and thoroughly. This approach helps to reinforce the importance of standards and reduces the likelihood of apathy or complacency. Avoid punitive reactions and focus on learning and improvement.
• Encourage Reporting: Employees should feel safe reporting minor errors without fear of retribution. An open reporting culture allows for the early identification and rectification of potential problems.
• Continuous Training and Development: Regular training sessions can help reinforce the importance of attention to detail and the adherence to safe working practices.
• Implement Checks and Balances: Robust systems of checks and balances can catch small errors before they escalate. Regular audits and inspections can help maintain high standards and prevent complacency.

The key is to recognize that every small mistake is a potential precursor to a larger problem. Addressing small issues promptly is essential to mitigating risk, reducing complacency, and ensuring that everyone goes home from work safely, every single day.

When it comes to a culture of safety, apathy and complacency are the enemies to be guarded against.

How will you live, love, or lead differently, or better, this week?

Sincerely,

Bryan Yager

“Expanding Your Capacity for Success”

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Bonus Quotes:

• “Prepare and prevent, don’t repair and repent.” – Unknown
• “Safety First is Safety Always.” – Charles Melville Hays
• “Safety must be everyone’s responsibility… Everyone needs to know that they are empowered to speak up if there’s an issue.” – Captain Scott Kell
• “The outcome of safety is the sum of decisions and actions of the individuals in a workplace.” – Unknown
• “Tomorrow: your reward for working safely today.” – Robert Pelton
• “The real enemy of safety is not non-compliance but non-thinking.” – Rob Long
• “You don’t need to know the whole alphabet of Safety. The A, B, C of it will save you if you follow it: Always Be Careful.” – Mines Magazine (Colorado School of Mines)
• “Don’t learn safety by accident.” – Jerry Smith