People often focus on getting things done quickly instead of working safely. When nothing bad happens for a while, it’s easy to think everything is safe, but that’s not always true. This is what is often referred to as the safety illusion.
In today’s blog, we want to chat more about what this means and offer some practical solutions for leaders to help improve safety.
Fast Isn’t the Solution
People naturally prefer quick results because our brains are wired to enjoy immediate rewards. Finishing a job or making a sale feels good right away. Safety is different because its success is invisible; you don’t notice the accidents that didn’t happen. When a task is completed quickly, and there are no negative consequences, it’s easy to fall into the pattern of thinking that this behaviour is acceptable. However, that is not the case.
There are two common thinking habits that can make this worse:
- Optimism bias: this is when people think that an accident won’t happen to them.
- Present bias: People value immediate rewards (like finishing faster) more than future benefits (like avoiding injuries).
Additionally, when we focus on quick rewards, our brains start to expect them before they happen. This anticipation makes us crave instant results and reinforces the habit of choosing short-term gains.
Strategies for Leaders
It’s important for leaders to understand these natural habits and create workplaces where safe behaviour is encouraged and rewarded. This will help encourage workers to choose safety over speed in the workplace or on a worksite.
Consider implementing the following:
- Make safety visible: Regularly track and share progress so everyone can see how efforts are improving the workplace.
- Reward proactive behaviour: Recognize and encourage employees who identify risks or help prevent incidents before they happen.
- Cultivate a strong culture: Make safety a core part of how employees and leaders are evaluated and expected to perform.
- Regular training and education: Help employees think ahead, identify potential risks, and prevent problems before they occur.
- Apply Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): Teach practical mental strategies that help employees stay focused, manage stress, and make safer decisions.
- Make it engaging: Use incentives and interactive activities to encourage employees to actively participate in workplace safety.
- Encourage storytelling: Share real experiences that show how safe actions can prevent incidents, even when the benefits aren’t immediately visible.
“Skipping checks saves time” becomes “Skipping checks increases risk.” These approaches cultivate mindfulness, resilience, and proactive behaviour. –OHS Canada
Gratification is about more than simply completing a job or checking off a task. The real reward is creating a mindset where employees value protecting themselves and those around them. When work is completed on time without compromising safety, everyone benefits.
Employees who consistently follow proper procedures may not experience the same immediate sense of accomplishment as watching a project take shape, but their actions are just as important. While the results may not always be visible, they help prevent injuries, protect lives, and build a stronger workplace culture.
Ultimately, recognizing the value of these unseen successes helps shift the focus from short-term wins to long-term safety, ensuring that every employee returns home safely at the end of the day.