The rules for hazard communication are clear, and safety data sheet requirements and chemical spill protocols are equally well defined. But chemical safety continues to be misunderstood or overlooked by some workers, putting those employees and their peers at a greater danger of serious injury.
In a recent article in Safety + Health magazine, safety expert Joe Tantarelli argues that the one of the prime culprits is complacency. A consequence of working with chemicals day in and day out is that employees can quickly become complacent to the risk of an incident occurring—and they also become complacent about the safety measures that are meant to protect them from chemical hazards.
As Tantarelli says in the article:
“…chemical labels seem to become the visual equivalent of white noise for some folks. Once complacency decreases the efficacy of chemical labels and other HazCom measures, workers are more likely to take additional risks. And human factors such as distraction and rushing will inevitably compound the chances of an incident occurring.”
The good news is that safety professionals have a potential solution hiding in plain sight. Frontline supervisors and crew leaders are well positioned to identify chemical-safety issues in real time and then intervene to address them before they become major problems. From noticing people taking shortcuts to spotting workers who are fatigued or distracted, supervisors have a unique ability to recognize possible HazCom problems before they develop.
The one hiccup is that supervisors and other frontline leaders need to understand how complacency and other human factors work before they can intervene effectively. They also require the skills to properly communicate with employees to head off any issues. If supervisors at your facility aren’t able to effectively combat complacency, Tantarelli suggests they may need support “such as skills development training or one-on-one mentorship, [which] can go a long way to improving the efficacy of safety’s eyes and ears when it comes to chemical safety.”
Chemicals are a big enough danger on their own. When you add complacency and other human factors to the mix, the risk of a serious incident increases dramatically. Introducing supervisor-centric training can make a big difference in frontline leaders’ ability to recognize and respond to HazCom issues as soon as possible.
In the same vein, human factors management training can provide useful context and personal safety awareness skills for workers as they navigate complacency while handling chemicals in the workplace. When combined with safety-focused supervisors, the end result is a heavily reduced risk of chemical spills and a much safer workplace.