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Concepts to Use When Addressing Workplace Safety Issues

Concepts to Use When Addressing Workplace Safety Issues

Nov. 17, 2022
ASSP offers some theories to help improve safety management.

Sometimes viewing things in a new light can help address safety issues. 

In an article on ASSP, safety professionals Joe Story, M.S., M.B.A.; John Zey, Ed.D, CIH, FAIHA; Miaozong Wu, Ph.D., CSP, ARM; James Junkin, CSP, SMS, ASP; Cameron Sumlin, M.B.A.; and Justin Story created a toolbox offered some ideas not commonly found in workplace safety training programs.

Here are a few:

Systems Thinking and Theory – This tool, which can be used for both analyzing and resolving issues, involves looking at problems from an expanded view in order to identify interrelationships and interdependencies within systems. The authors provide an example where a worker injured his eye because he wasn’t wearing safety glasses. A typical conclusion was that the worker failed to understand the safety implications and therefore recommend more training. But using this new way of thinking a safety professional would ask why the worker chose not to wear the safety glasses. “She might then discover that the glasses frequently fog up and that the PPE supply cabinet is located in an area that is not easily accessible, causing productivity losses to those who retrieve new ones or use antifog. Systems thinking allows safety professionals to fix the root problem.

Signaling Theory – Signaling theory involves sending a message to someone without specifically saying anything.

In this case, workers or even safety professionals receive unspoken or mixed messages that could reduce the impact of a safety program. “For example, consider a supervisor allowing, but not directly telling, workers to temporarily remove machine guarding during a production crunch to momentarily increase production so goals can be met on time. This signals to workers that ignoring safety practices is OK if the situation warrants it and may cause some to conclude that safety policies are there to reduce liability or pacify regulators — not to protect workers,” the authors write.

Institutional Theory – When something becomes a collective norm because we do it this way because we’ve always done it this way.

The authors provide the example of the OSHA 500 credential which is often required to secure a construction safety job. But this had led to the rejection of qualified construction safety professionals and hiring of under-qualified professionals, according to the authors, negatively affecting performance.

Note: See more theories here.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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