How Complacency Increases Risk

Complacency is the number one cause of workplace accidents. Complacency is defined as “self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers.” (Merriam-Webster)

Understand complacency for the insidious state of mind it represents. When you perform the same task repeatedly that requires alertness—without incident—you risk experiencing complacency. Dismissal of safety steps follows. For example, instead of walking the long way around a dump truck, you short-cut it across the back while it dumps its load, tragically on you. Practice remaining conscious of safety rules; make them part of who you are as an employee. Complacency and alertness are opposites. You can’t be both at the same time.

Learn more: ohsonline.com [Search “complacency”].

Keith Stein | 5/31/2018

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