As the new year begins, I reflect on a series of late-2024 articles challenging conventional safety management wisdom, a series I will continue in 2025. The initial posts started to explore some critical safety practices, and I will continue to offer fresh perspectives and practical advice on many more critical concepts. The first two topics covered in 2024 were as follows:
Rethinking Risk Management
The first article highlighted a common pitfall: rushing into risk controls without fully understanding risks. While controlling risks is crucial, insufficient assessment often leads to addressing the wrong issues or applying ineffective controls. I proposed ways to improve this process without increasing safety bureaucracy, such as minimizing reliance on administrative controls.
If you missed this post, you can read the full article here.
Genuine Employee Involvement in Safety
The second article discussed worker involvement in safety management. Instead of focusing solely on abstract, system-driven activities like audits or policy compliance, I emphasized the value of addressing practical, worker-centric issues—ensuring proper tools, adequate time for tasks, and reducing unnecessary red tape. True involvement means leveraging workers’ insights to enhance safety directly.
By focusing on these tangible, worker-centered aspects, we can foster genuine involvement and achieve meaningful improvements in safety outcomes. You can read this article here.
What’s Next?
Later this week, I’ll examine a crucial yet overlooked topic: factors influencing the success of safety training. I’ll discuss what drives effectiveness and what hinders it. Stay tuned midweek for this article.
Here’s to a year of progress, learning, and safety.