Complacency is often a focal point when discussing workplace safety. For the most part, we understand
what complacency is and what areas of work or life it affects us in. However, even though we may
acknowledge it, we may not fully grasp the consequences it can have or what we need to do to
overcome it.
How is complacency defined?
Dictionary.com defines it as, “A feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like.” Applying this definition to workers completing tasks, however, leaves out a large sector of the workforce who are complacent in their tasks. The definition provided by Dictionary.com applies more to a less-experienced worker who is not trained to recognize hazards or an experienced worker who is totally unaware of a hazard in their area at a given moment.
Many of the workers who are in fact complacent with the hazards of a task are experienced and are well aware that they exist. The workers are not unaware of the risk but are more likely to accept the risks without taking the proper time or energy to address the hazards. This can be for several reasons. They may have performed the task many times and believe the risk of danger is low. They may be trying to save time or avoid inconvenience. For workers who are experienced in their jobs and have become complacent with certain aspects or hazards of their job, it is important to take steps to avoid this error trap.
Here are a few examples:
- Recognize work tasks that you may be so used to doing that you no longer take the same precautions when performing them. Think back to when you first started working or the first time you did a specific task, were you more cautious or did you follow more safety procedures?
- Audit yourself or even have a coworker audit your work to see what your shortcomings may be when completing work tasks. Having someone else give you constructive feedback can help give you an honest look at where you can improve.
- Fight the urge to take the easy way out or make the easier decision when it comes to following safety rules or procedures. It only takes 1 time for something to go wrong and cause injury. Rationalizing why you should allow yourself to cut corners leaves you open to more risk. Hold yourself and others around you accountable to do what needs to be done.
- Once you realize what risks you are leaving yourself exposed to, begin to make it a habit to take the steps that mitigate or eliminate the hazard. Once an action is repeated over and over and has become a habit, it becomes automatic, and it is much less likely you will have to face complacency to get yourself to do it.
We all must face and fight off complacency from time to time. It is important to monitor yourself when it comes to complacency on the job. What corners are you cutting? Why are you cutting those corners? What do you need to address in order to resist complacency with the hazards of your work?
