In order to be effective at reducing complacency in the workplace or, for that matter at home and on the road, we first need to understand how it fits into the whole at risk behavioral model. Then, after we understand how at risk behavior is often encouraged and supported, we can start to chip away at complacency and help with the challenge of not only having a safe and healthy workplace but also have employees who have the skills and motivated to work safely. The "at-risk" behavioral model consists of six parts:
types of at risk behavior;
sources of unexpected events;
critical errors leading to injury;
states of being contributing to errors;
hazard awareness; and
"Critical Error Reduction Techniques."
This is where the employee knows full well that the activities they are doing are not safe and that there is a significant amount of risk associated with the activity. The activity is usually against a policy or procedure. Often this type of activity is supported by a concept called "Positive Reinforcement of a Negative Act." The employee knows both the risks and benefits of doing a task at risk but the benefits, in his or her mind, out weigh the risks. Now each time they successfully perform the task "at risk" there is a little more "Positive Reinforcement of a Negative Act." The more reinforcement, the more they will perform the task at risk.
For example: An employee may have an assignment that requires the use of a step ladder. The task requires at least a twelve-foot step ladder. The twelve-foot step ladder the employee is to use is very heavy and stored far from the point of use. The employee has found a light fiberglass step ladder stored near the point of use but that ladder is only seven-feet tall; however, by standing on the top of the ladder, where there is a sign stating "not a step or no step," he can perform the task required. Using the wrong ladder has increased the risk of the task but the increased risk does not mean injury is imminent. When he first starts to use the improper ladder, he is very alert to the added risk and exercises extra caution. If the positive reinforcement to this negative act is strong enough, he will even share his "success" with others (use this ladder, it is quicker and easier) and, if not checked, this activity soon becomes the new standard and everyone will be doing the activity at risk.
Note that even if people are deliberately willing to increase the risk of a situation, hardly any of them are deliberately trying to get hurt. The interesting thing about intentional at-risk behavior is that, if the intentional risk continues to be accompanied with high awareness and alertness, the injuries are infrequent.
