Stereotypes & Immutability: A Major Hazard
Assessing hazards in any environment is a complex and analytical process. Most safety professionals follow an industry standard, systematic approach to identifying and managing these hazards. While these systems are generally reliable and comprehensive, one must remember that it is okay to deviate from the norm when evaluating safety management.
A major component of risk that is often easily overlooked are mental and psychological factors. This can range from mental health issues such as depression, PTSD etc to unique employee mindsets and belief systems presenting different challenges. After all, we are all individuals and do not all perceive the world around us in the same way.
A good example to consider is immutability or stubbornness within the workforce. More experienced or older employees may be very well adjusted to performing tasks in a specific manner, regardless of regulation or technology progression. These individuals can present a challenge as they are less receptive to change. You may have heard the expression “ I’ve been doing it this way for years” or “We have not changed our methods, this is how we have always done things”. This is a strong example of immutability.
Another example is pre existing stereotypes people may have. This can range from stereotypes towards age, people of certain genders or races and even religious beliefs. These stereotypes may cause people to react differently to certain requests and safety implementations. This also particularly relates to communication and delegation of instructions. If someone has a preconceived idea of something or someone based on their stereotypical beliefs, they are less likely to be receptive to and want to follow instructions or work in consonance with said person.
It is an important skill of any safety professional to be able to convey the importance of safety management to all sorts of people no matter what their inherent belief system is so that previous stereotypes towards safety and people can be set aside and even dispelled.
These hazards are dangerous as they can easily evade detection in the face of other major threats that may seem more dangerous in the moment such as machinery and chemical hazards.
Remember as a safety professional our jobs are not to diagnose people, but to take the above mentioned examples into account when implementing a safety management system and make our best effort to communicate the importance of safety.
Look out for our next blog solely focused on mental health of both employees and employers in the workplace and how this affects safety management.
