Your team member ignores risks in near-miss investigations. How can you guide them to prioritize safety?

Safety is the easiest thing to get buy in on. If the legal and ethical considerations aren’t enough to sway someone, there’s always the financial punch. On average, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that a workplace fatality can cost a company between $1 million and $5 million, including direct and indirect costs. In some cases, especially with legal settlements or punitive damages, this can exceed $10 million. However, if you’re working with someone who can’t be swayed by the first points… it might be better to work with someone else. (Injuries suck and I’ve seen two grown men cry when they lost their fingers. You don’t want to experience a fatality.)

E importante destacar que a segurança deve ser a principal prioridade em qualquer ambiente de trabalho, especialmente em situações que envolvem quase acidentes. Explique que cada quase acidente é um sinal de que há problemas potenciais que precisam ser identificados e corrigidos antes que resultem em incidentes graves.

To begin with, identify the reasons to as why team members are hesitant about conducting near miss investigations and ask them to make suggestions on how near miss investigations arrangements can be made more effective and easier. This will help you formulate a strategic plan to tackle the issue Additionally, explain to them the advantages of conducting investigations brings to the overall safety of the team. The arguments can be reducing on the reoccurrence of these near misses

To guide a team member who ignores risks in near-miss investigations, emphasize the importance of learning from near-misses to prevent future incidents. Explain how these incidents are critical opportunities to identify hazards and improve safety measures. Encourage them to take a proactive approach by involving them in risk assessments and demonstrating the potential consequences of overlooking hazards. Reinforce that prioritizing safety benefits everyone and helps maintain a safer, more efficient workplace. Continuous coaching and training can also help shift their mindset toward safety.