The Ripple Effect of Safety

Paul Oliver
STI/SPFA Safety & Health Consultant

When discussing injuries and the importance working safe we often discuss how an injury would affect an individual’s immediate family or loved ones. While this may be an effective method to provoking thought in an individual worker, I want to discuss the not so immediate effects working unsafe can have. There is often a far-reaching ripple effect of consequences from any incident that occurs, even if it does not result in injury.

The Ripple Effect

The ripple effect is a commonly used concept in today’s society. Merriam-Webster defines ripple effect as “a spreading, pervasive, and usually unintentional effect or influence.” In the field of environmental remediation, our projects are spread out across the country. You may never see or work with the other 90% of the company’s workforce. It is easy to fall into a state of mind that what occurs on your particular project mainly affects just those people and that project alone.

One day, while prepping for an audit during the first few months of being employed at the company, I was reminded how far my actions or decisions can actually reach. Our client had very strict standards for safety, which made for a safe job site, but it also put a lot of pressure on the management and the work crew.

Out of frustration, I made a statement half-jokingly along the lines of “the worst thing they can do is fire us”. A woman who has been with the company almost as long as it has been around was quick to respond. She stated, “No, that is not the worst thing that can happen. The worst thing is that we could perform poorly and our company’s reputation could be damaged.” A light bulb went off right then. Our decisions, actions, performance, etc. affect more than just ourselves. Sure, in theory I could have been fired if the audit went terrible (which it went very well), but that is not the worst thing that could come of my decisions.

The worst outcome is affecting the company on a larger scale in a negative fashion. These audits were a part of our score card that was in part used to bid other jobs with this client. If we did not perform well at my site, we hurt more than just ourselves on that site. We hurt the company.

Why You Should Focus on the Large Ripple

This idea of a larger ripple is something I try to pass on to the other employees on my sites. Even if they do not enjoy working for the company as much as I do, they should have some type of feeling of obligation to complete their best work for the other employees in the company. If someone is planning on quitting and decides they do not care anymore or are willing to take risks, they need to understand that there are hundreds of other employees and their families depending on the paycheck that comes from the company. One simple action or decision that leads to a negative event can have far reaching long-term consequences.

As an employee, I want to argue that you have an obligation to the other employees in that company to do your best work. Notice I did not say an obligation to the company. While you can argue that one does indeed have an obligation to the company, it can be more easily brushed off than an obligation to the other employees in the company. It is easy to think the owner or high level of management who represents “the company” does not give a care about the individual worker thus making it easier to rationalize taking short-cuts or putting in little effort at work. In my opinion, it is more difficult to brush off the idea that an individual’s lack of effort or unsafe work behavior is hurting their fellow employees in the company.

Summary

What kind of ripple effect will you make? Is it pervasive in a good way? Let your work have a larger positive effect for your company. Challenge those around you to have a positive effect that reaches far past the immediate jobsite, office, or branch they work in.