Where is the Bridge Between the Subject Matter Expertise of Seasoned Veterans and the Tech Savvy Skill of Our Workforce’s Next Generation?

It is often heard – “Complacency is the greatest threat to safety in the workplace.” Couldn’t agree more. However, as safety professionals who preach this, it may be time to take a close look in the mirror to ensure we are walking the walk and not just paying it lip service.

To be frank, the safety industry itself has become complacent. We shouldn’t demonize ourselves because of it. After all, we all know complacency is easy to lull into. However, we should snap ourselves out of it quickly if we want to play our part in preventing workplace incidents and injuries.

For far too long now, we have been turning a blind eye to the changing landscape of the workplace. For several decades, the invaluable knowledge and expertise of a time-honoured workforce has slowly been taking its final bow from the working sector. Trickling out in dribs and drabs, taking with them centuries of combined skill and know-how. Leaving in their wake, at no fault of their own, a giant chasm chalk-full of trials by fire.

Enter the twenty and thirty somethings. They’re hungry, want to learn and want to impress. Unfortunately, as it is when anyone starts something new, they don’t know what they don’t know, and their definition of common sense has been formed by a different world than the generation that came before them. This means they interpret and assess situations much differently than their predecessors.

So, before they start their job, they’re picking up and reviewing the same piece of paper that the old guard had at their disposal – a standard Job Hazard Assessment. Anyone who has been on any type of worksite has seen this sheet of paper. There are subtle differences from one to the other, but they generally have the same format – a bunch of checkboxes with lists of potential hazards and associated controls specific to the work being conducted. Unfortunately, without the critical insight from the veteran field personnel, now enjoying retirement, the piece of paper is lifeless to the young worker. The crucial competence that a veteran worker would apply to each and every component of the Assessment is lost on the new worker. And, what’s more, black text on a white sheet is not speaking to the new generation as it did to previous workers. We could dwell on why that is, or we could instead focus on the solution.

Gen-Y and beyond are technology driven. Almost everything in their life is connected to tech. We need to cater to this shift if we want to educate the next generation to the level of the previous one. It’s the only way we’re going to succeed in keeping people safe.

In keeping with this philosophy, we need to bring these paper-based safety briefings into the digital-age. This is where the SafetyCheck Smartphone Application comes in. It not only successfully digitizes those fallible paper checklists. It takes Job Hazard Assessments to the next level by allowing the templating of previously completed safety briefings, creating that bridge between seasoned veterans and new workers. By putting the SafetyCheck App into the hands of your workforce, you are extending an entire career of exemplary work experience to new hires who have just set foot onsite for the first time. With your most experienced and reliable worker’s expertise and key Safety Culture messaging templated into the SafetyCheck App, gone are the days where a worker feels they need to figure things out with a trial and error approach to safety.

When we let experienced personnel leave our workplaces without capturing their vast knowledge, we are jeopardizing the safety of every young person we hire thereafter. Let’s stop this complacency and provide the members of our workforce with the tool that will guide and coach each and every one to become a Safety Culture champion, armed with the know-how and lessons learned of an entire generation.

For more information on the SafetyCheck Application, contact [email protected].