Complacency can have consequences

Jan 6, 2022
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Written by wpengine
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Statistics show that a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds. Repetitive tasks can lead to complacency as they become increasingly routine, resulting in us giving less thought to what we are doing. For workers, complacency can lead to impulsive and unsafe actions, resulting in injury.

Consider these steps as you work:

  • Always be alert and aware of your surroundings when on the job
  • Before starting a task, mentally walk through the steps, potential hazards, and what PPE you should be using
  • Report any unsafe conditions and near misses to your supervisor
  • When performing tasks, give your full attention to the work at hand
  • Watch out for the safety of your co-workers, as their complacency could affect you as well
  • Don’t take shortcuts that could compromise your safety

Management may unintentionally feed complacency by accepting the status quo regarding safety, and if they don’t hear about any safety-related issues from employees, they assume that everything is okay. Two-way communication must regularly occur between workers and management, which will disrupt opportunities for complacency and expand learning opportunities for both the management and employees. Good communication leads to a better safety culture in the workplace, a better working environment, and fewer accidents.

Use the beginning of the new year to look for those areas of complacency in your shop and evaluate opportunities to make improvements.

Rick Means, Director of Safety and Education, is available to help members draw up safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact Rick at 360-943-9198, Ext. 118 or [email protected].