Navigating Risk: the influence of workplace harm and importance of creating a strong safety culture

Imagine a scenario: a factory worker named Sarah slips on a slick surface while carrying equipment. Fortunately, she escapes with only a minor bruise, but the incident lingers in her mind. After this event, Sarah becomes hyper-aware of her surroundings, leading her to take extra precautions. While this heightened vigilance can enhance safety, it also signifies a shift in her risk tolerance. What once felt like manageable hazards now loom larger in her mind.

This isn’t just Sarah’s story; it’s a common narrative in workplaces across the globe. When employees witness or experience harm, their perception of risk often transforms. Suddenly, what once felt routine can spark anxiety and apprehension. This shift in risk tolerance can have profound implications for both individual employees and organizations as a whole.

The Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll

This is precisely what the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll 2024 Report, Engineering Safer Workplaces, addresses – giving a unique insight into people’s experiences with, and perceptions of, workplace risks and harms. Recently, the National Safety Council (NSC) had an opportunity to review this first-of-its-kind global report, which is based on nearly 147,000 interviews conducted by Gallup in 142 countries and territories throughout 2023.

Key findings from the report include:

• Eighteen percent of the current global workforce – equating to around 667 million adults – have personally experienced serious harm at work in the past two years.
• Workers are generally not worried about workplace harm until they experience it. Worry levels about workplace harm increase significantly as exposure to it – either by knowing someone harmed or personally experiencing harm – increases.
• Globally, only half (51%) of the current workforce who experienced harm at work in the past two years say they reported the incident by telling someone responsible for safety or health at work, such as a supervisor or manager.
• Of those in the workforce around the world, 62% report having never received occupational safety and health training about risks associated with their work.
• There is a significant relationship between safety training and the likelihood of reporting workplace harm. The more recently people have had training, the more likely they are to report workplace harm if they experience it.

The connection between harm and risk tolerance, and the impact of training

While the symbiotic relationship between harm and risk tolerance among workers is undeniable – including the potential for increased caution and hesitation, strained team dynamics and creating a culture of fear – training can play a critical role in mitigating the negative impacts of harm and fostering a culture of safety. Here are some of the ways a well-designed safety training program can help:

• Empowering employees: Training provides employees with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate risks confidently and feel equipped to handle potential hazards.
• Promoting open communication: Training encourages a culture of open dialogue about safety. When employees are comfortable discussing risks and incidents, it fosters a collaborative environment where everyone can learn from each other’s experiences. Just as the Engineering Safer Workplaces report suggests, clear reporting tools should be available to employees and can take different forms, from hotlines to chatbots to online forms. Employees should be encouraged to use them as part of a wider organizational culture that fosters and promotes safety and reporting.
• Reinforcing safety protocols: Regular training reinforces the importance of safety protocols and ensures that all employees are aware of best practices. When safety becomes ingrained in the organizational culture, employees are more likely to take appropriate action in the face of risks. To help facilitate this, the new World Risk Poll report advocates for regular inspections, risk assessments, audits, and engaging the workforce in occupational safety and health policy.

Creating a culture of safety

The influence of workplace harm on risk tolerance is a complex and nuanced issue. While it’s natural for individuals to become more cautious after experiencing harm, it’s essential to strike a balance between heightened awareness and effective risk management.

At NSC, our role is to help every employer achieve a safer and healthier workplace, and we take great pride in supporting organizations wherever they are on their safety journey, no matter if they are a multi-national corporation or a small, family-owned business. As the World Risk Poll illustrates, one of the key ways to do this is by investing in comprehensive training and cultivating a culture of open communication. By doing so, organizations can not only protect their employees but also empower them to thrive in a safe and productive environment. In the end, safety is not just about minimizing risks; it’s about fostering a workplace where everyone feels secure and engaged – ultimately driving success for all.

To learn more about navigating risk in the workplace, you can watch a recording of the launch webinar for the Engineering Safer Workplaces report, in which I participated. NSC also recently released a report on safety training effectiveness, which reviewed the key considerations for an effective safety training program and identified ways to evaluate effectiveness – you can read it here.