KISS

Another mnemonic that I really feel doesn’t resonate in the world of occupational health and safety. Just my opinion, but do we do quite the opposite? Do we indeed overcomplicate processes, procedures and even our training? I do think this is the case and the majority of which is done with good intentions.

Keep it Simple Stupid is the mnemonic I am used to, but it can sound pretty derogatory. Apparently accredited to Kelly Johnson an engineer with Lockheed. Maybe a far better translations would be ‘Keep it Short & Simple’ or ‘Keep it Simple and Specific’? However, Make it Really Confusing (MIRC) might be better aligned to some OHS programs and their contents across our organizations? Maybe not a great example, but you get my point?

A quick Google search explains KISS as a design principle. So, when we design our H&S programs or develop processes / procedures and their contents, why on earth do we have to make them so complicated? Just spending an hour reading posts on LinkedIn can show you how confusing OH&S and even the basic terminology can be.

To make it a little more confusing OH&S is governed by both federal and provincial / territorial authorities each with their own legislation. Federal jurisdiction covers @ 10% of the Canadian workforce with the rest falling under provincial / territorial regulations. How many acts, regulations and codes?? If you fall under the provincial banner and only work in one area then its pretty simple but if you operate across Canada….? We also have Workers Compensation…..?? Do we as OH&S professionals get a little too tied up here and then transfer this to our own programs?  Instead of leading from the front have these authorities led us astray? Ok, let’s move on with things we can control.

A quick look at the stats and you see a year in year out stagnation in fatalities and lost time injuries. The numbers have increased but so has the workforce. When hundreds of workers are killed or seriously injured across the country, when do we get to the time when we say “no more’? All I see is tears and words. Lots of words, sometimes with actions. These actions often lose focus once the next ‘distraction’ takes us back to what really matters ($$’s, profits, top line vs bottom line, labour costs, product costs etc etc). I totally get that, as without this we don’t have jobs! But every incident means less $$’s and huge risks to your jobs.

With so much going on then let’s get back to KISS. Look at your program and ask is it over complicated. Are you using terminology that looks great when competing for work but confuses the hell out of your workers (even your managers and supervisors). JSA’s, JHA’s, FLHA’s, SWP’s, SWSP’s, FLHA’s, FLRA’s, TRA’s, SSoW’s, RA’s, SOP’s, TBT’s, BBSOP’s to name but a few.

Whatever you have its vital to do the basics to the best of your ability.

• Recruit carefully.

• Onboard your new hires thoroughly.

• Ensure your employees (old and new) have full understanding of their tasks and the associated hazards. Remember that even the best workers are at risk of skill fade over time.

• Confirm and review competence - Your employees may well sign off on processes and procedures and say they understand but physically complying maybe something they have never done before.

How many workers have previously spent hours signing off on procedures only to get to the workplace and find that’s things aren’t actually done that way? Compliance is important but we must question what gaps we have.

Come on now, there must be gaps or else safety performances across the country would be exemplary?? Could those gaps be the simple fact that the safety people, along with managers and supervisors understand written procedures but our front-line workers are confused.

A few other simple questions:

• Is English their first language?

• What’s their level of literacy? It’s estimated between 10-20% of people suffer dyslexia. Did you check?

• Fatigue - can also lead to confusion, misunderstanding and poor decision making.

If your processes / procedures / programs are over complicated or you have simply used far too many words then a step may be missed. It may well be minor but do you want to take that risk?