Safety Myths and the Truth Behind Them

Why do some companies struggle with safety programs? Well, OSHA regulations are demanding, and keeping track of documents is a tough job. Many companies are limited by common safety myths and misconceptions about safety and getting rid of these wrong ideas is very important when you’re designing a new safety program or improving an existing one.

When you think about it, workplace safety is relatively new: less than 200 years ago, workers were still expected to take care of themselves. The Industrial Revolution created many new jobs in a short time, and they were often carried out in risky environments. Governments realized that safety regulations were necessary, and Massachusetts created the first health and safety laws in the US in 1877.

What is the general attitude towards safety in your company? Anyone who believes that safety is too expensive or time-consuming probably has never seen a major accident. The costs involved can make safety measures look cheap by comparison, and there can be severe injuries or even casualties. Your safety program not only protects employees; it also makes them more productive, all while helping your company prevent the legal and financial impact of accidents.

You can’t have a “one size fits all” solution when dealing with safety, since each company is unique. However, adequate training and regular maintenance can go a long way towards accident prevention. You should remove any ideas that get in the way of your safety program, and here we will discuss 5 of the most common safety myths.

Myth #1: Accidents Are Unavoidable

Do your employees feel confident they can avoid accidents? Or do they view accidents as something they can’t avoid? If you want a successful safety program, your employees must believe safety is something they can control. Some accidents are completely unpredictable, and they even happen in companies with excellent safety records. However, the vast majority of accidents can be avoided with an adequate safety program:

• Employees should make hazard detection a habit, making sure all risks are reported.
• When possible, hazards should be removed completely from workplaces.
• When not possible, employees should follow adequate safety measures and wear PPE.

Making a workplace safer is more difficult when employees feel helpless towards accidents. However, you can challenge this idea with adequate training and a solid safety program. Having the right tools and knowledge, your employees are better equipped to prevent accidents, and also to mitigate those that can’t be avoided.

Myth #2: Safety Costs Too Much Money

Saying that safety costs money is true, but we don’t agree with the words “too much”. When a severe accident happens, the costs of a safety program suddenly seem small by comparison. There have been several studies comparing safety costs and accident costs, and they agree that letting accidents happen is far more expensive.

• The US National Safety Council conducted a survey among CFOs, and 60% answered that companies save $2 in accident costs for every $1 invested in safety programs.
• The European Commission reached a similar conclusion, finding that accident prevention has a benefit-cost ratio of up to 2.18.

It’s not a stretch to say that major accidents can take companies out of business, considering both the human and material consequences. Severe accidents often bring costs like emergency medical expenses, OSHA fines, lawsuits, site closures, and company shutdowns.

Myth #3: Minor Incidents Don’t Need to
be Recorded

A common safety mistake is assuming that minor incidents are unimportant, and they go unreported as a result. However, near misses and minor accidents often indicate larger issues in your company, and you could soon deal with a severe accident unless you act appropriately. There are many reasons why employees often decide not to report smaller issues:

• Some safety programs are not designed properly, and focused on numbers instead of actual prevention. In this case, employees may hide incidents to inflate safety metrics.
• There are cases where a safety program has harsh penalties even for minor incidents, and employees hide them due to fear.
• As mentioned above, employees may simply believe that “minor” means “not important”, and many issues remain unreported.

No matter the cause, there’s a communication issue when near misses and minor accidents don’t get reported. This information is very valuable; it helps you improve the safety program, and you can prevent major accidents by detecting their warning signs early.

Myth #4: We Don’t Need a Designated Health and Safety System

A company may struggle with negative attitudes towards the safety program itself, even when employees agree that safety is important. However, improving safety without a dedicated program is like trying to reach an address without directions or GPS. Ironically, not having a safety program can make your workplace appear safer than it really is, but only because reports and inspections are ineffective (or nonexistent).

With a safety program, you can keep up with new technologies and industry regulations more easily. Your training program can be improved and adapted constantly, making sure your employees have updated knowledge and skills to stay safe.

Myth #5: Safety is Boring

Any topic can be interesting or boring, depending on how it’s presented. When the next “safety training course” is 50 text slides that were copy-pasted from safety regulations, employees can’t be blamed for their lack of interest. You might also hear comments that the safety program is boring when employees are asked to print, fill and scan many inspection forms on a daily basis.

With the help of technology, you can turn safety into a fun and interesting topic. Instead of forcing your employees to read dozens of slides about safety regulations, you can use an interactive course that covers the topic. Instead of using printed documentation that wastes their time, you can use safety management software to make all your forms digital.

Conclusion

Even the best safety programs can face resistance if employees have the wrong idea about safety. You need to challenge the notion that accidents can’t be avoided, or otherwise your employees will see little purpose in a safety program. How you approach the topic is also very important, since you want to remove the notion that “safety is boring”. You can use technology to make the learning experience more interactive while eliminating repetitive tasks like document management and data entry.

Another one of the common safety myths is that safety investments offer nothing in return when numbers from research studies suggest otherwise. For every dollar invested in safety programs, you can save $2 or more in accidents.

Once your company has built interest in safety, the next step is making sure the safety program is followed properly. You must make sure all incidents are reported, big or small since this is key for improvement. Employees should feel that the safety program is there to help and protect them, not to accuse them when there is an issue. Debunking these common safety myths and building a strong safety program will ensure your business is successful and your employees are protected.