Complacency

Have you ever noticed something that seemed unsafe, but just kept walking? Perhaps there was a spill on the floor, maybe a burnt-out light bulb, or only skimming through a pre-use inspection instead of methodically observing and recording actual conditions? While you may not think much of it in the moment, these micro-decisions all contribute to a culture of complacency in the workplace.

What is complacency? In the context of health and safety, complacency is a sense of self-satisfaction and confidence in one’s own abilities, that leads to a lack of awareness of danger and/or deficiency. It’s the overall attitude that “I’ve got this!” but based on faulty ground.

It’s easy to develop a mindset of complacency, especially when many of our workdays are so similar. We get comfortable with the way things are going, familiarity sets in, and we may stop thinking critically about our actions or surroundings. You may have gone into “auto-pilot mode” when performing a simple task, like putting on your shoes. Then, still not really paying attention to the surroundings, you didn’t notice the banana peel on the floor, leading to a slip and fall. Complacency can sneak in over time, quietly, and when this mindset goes unchecked, it can result in an incident, injury, or even a fatality.

Don’t allow complacency to take hold of your workplace. Address the misconception that years of experience make you immune to errors, and ensure leadership sets the tone for the workplace. Frequently engage with your workers, communicate about the risks, and document when a near-miss takes occurs. We can learn from these incidents to prevent further incidents from taking place, and to help protect our workplaces and our workers.