Status Quo Will Lead to Decay and Failure: Why Continuous Incremental Improvement is Essential for EHS

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There’s a common saying that what isn’t growing is decaying, and this couldn’t be truer when it comes to Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) management. The workplace, with all its moving parts, is constantly evolving, and so are the risks and hazards we face. Yet, many organizations fall into the trap of maintaining the status quo. They stick to established safety protocols, thinking, “If it isn’t broken, why fix it?” But what they often miss is that the environment around them is always changing. Keeping things the same, especially when it comes to safety, leads to stagnation—and worse, potential failure.

This reflection came to me after listening to a podcast by Tod Conklin, where he stressed that stagnation in EHS practices can be deadly. It’s not just about maintaining safety; it’s about continuously improving it.

The Dangers of Status Quo in EHS

The status quo might feel like a safe harbor, but in the world of EHS, it’s a slow-moving storm. The danger comes from thinking that just because things are working well today, they will continue to do so. In fact, complacency and stagnation create conditions ripe for disaster.

1. Complacency Leading to Major Accidents One of the biggest dangers of maintaining the status quo is complacency. Organizations become comfortable with existing practices, ignoring new risks that evolve as operations change. A stark example of this is the DuPont phosgene gas leak in Belle, West Virginia, where a fatality occurred after years of neglecting safety improvements. The facility had operated the same way for years, and warnings about safety flaws were ignored because “things had always been fine.” The result? A tragedy that could have been avoided with incremental safety improvements.

2. Regulatory and Legal Backlash Regulations are constantly evolving to address new hazards and technologies. If your organization clings to outdated safety measures, it is only a matter of time before you are out of compliance. For example, many facilities in India have seen safety disasters after ignoring evolving chemical safety regulations, often leading to severe penalties, legal action, and in some cases, operational shutdowns. Failing to adapt invites failure.

3. Deterioration of Safety Culture When an organization stops pushing for better safety standards, the entire safety culture suffers. Employees start to believe that the bare minimum is enough, leading to less engagement, fewer near-miss reports, and a general lack of accountability. Safety committee meetings become mere formalities, and critical safety issues get buried under bureaucratic inertia. Over time, small hazards are allowed to persist, slowly leading to bigger problems, accidents, or worse—loss of life.

The Power of Incremental Improvement

The alternative to stagnation is simple: continuous incremental improvement. This approach isn’t about sweeping changes or disruptive transformations but small, consistent steps toward better safety outcomes.

Good Practices Get Better
When organizations focus on improving practices that already work well, they don’t just maintain the standard—they elevate it. Regular safety audits, better training sessions, and proactive risk assessments help ensure that even effective practices evolve to meet new challenges.

Preventing Small Issues from Escalating Small, neglected safety issues can snowball into major incidents if left unresolved. A minor leak in a chemical plant, when ignored because “it’s always been like this,” can turn into a catastrophic failure. One example is the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, where small design flaws and neglected safety measures led to one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. Incremental improvements—such as upgrading safety systems or regularly revisiting risk assessments—could have mitigated or even prevented the disaster.

Tools and Methods to Drive Incremental Improvement

It’s clear that standing still is not an option, but how can we foster a culture of constant improvement in EHS?

• Routine Risk Assessments: Periodically revisiting and updating risk assessments ensures that new hazards are identified and mitigated before they become crises.
• Regular Audits and Inspections: Performing regular safety audits—not just for compliance but for genuine improvement—helps identify gaps in existing practices.
• Active Safety Committees: Safety committees should be revitalized with fresh perspectives and clear action items, ensuring follow-ups on every agenda point to avoid the typical “copy-paste” problem of repeating the same issues without progress.
• Continuous Learning and Training: Employees should be constantly upskilled to handle new safety challenges, ensuring they remain proactive instead of reactive.

Accountability and Ownership: No Room for Passing the Buck

At the heart of continuous improvement is accountability. In too many cases, EHS professionals pass the responsibility for unresolved safety issues back to operations or management. However, in a truly safe workplace, ownership of safety is shared by everyone—from top management to the front-line worker.

Leaders need to take charge, showing through their actions that safety is a core value, not just a compliance checkbox. This ownership trickles down through the organization, fostering a culture where continuous improvement is part of daily practice. It’s about making EHS not a side responsibility but a central component of business operations.

Real-Life Success Stories of Incremental Improvement

One of the best examples of how incremental safety improvements can bring significant results comes from the aviation industry. Airlines have mastered the practice of tweaking and refining their safety protocols over decades, leading to a record low in aviation incidents. Each small change—whether it’s related to better crew training, upgraded cockpit technologies, or stricter maintenance protocols—has resulted in safer skies. The same mindset can be applied to EHS in manufacturing, construction, and other high-risk industries.

Recognizing the Status Quo in Your Own Career as an EHS Professional

It’s not just organizations that can fall into the trap of maintaining the status quo—EHS professionals are equally at risk. In a demanding field like EHS, it’s easy to become complacent, sticking to familiar routines and relying on past achievements. However, just like the systems we manage, our own skills and knowledge need constant development. Otherwise, we risk career stagnation or even decline.

How to Identify You’re Stuck in a Status Quo
As an EHS professional, ask yourself the following:

1. Are you relying on outdated methods? If you find yourself sticking to the same processes or solutions year after year without seeking new approaches, that’s a red flag. (Still using MS-Excel as a database tool).
2. Are you avoiding learning new technologies? EHS is increasingly becoming a tech-driven field. If you haven’t updated your skillset with the latest in digital safety tools, risk assessment software, or incident reporting systems, you may be falling behind.
3. Are your safety reports repetitive? If the insights and recommendations you provide in safety audits sound eerily similar every time, you might not be digging deep enough to uncover new risks or areas for improvement.
4. Do you find yourself disconnected from frontline workers? If you’re not engaging regularly with employees and understanding their on-the-ground safety concerns, you’re likely missing critical input that could inform better safety practices.

Steps to Avoid Career Stagnation
Identifying the status quo in your own career is the first step, but it’s equally important to act on it. Here’s what you can do to ensure continuous growth:

1. Embrace Lifelong Learning
   The EHS landscape is always evolving, with new hazards, regulatory requirements, and technologies emerging. Make a commitment to continuous learning, whether it’s through online courses, certifications, or industry conferences. Specializing in areas like Process Safety Management (PSM), Product Stewardship , Business Continuity Managment, Facility management, Engergy management, environmental sustainability, or digital safety systems can make you indispensable.
2. Seek Feedback and Mentorship
   Sometimes, we can’t see our own blind spots. Regularly seek feedback from peers, supervisors, or mentors who can help identify areas where you might be getting too comfortable. A good mentor can guide you toward growth opportunities and help you step out of your comfort zone.
3. Get Involved in Cross-Functional Projects
   Collaborating with departments outside of EHS—such as operations, HR, or quality control—can expose you to different perspectives and help you apply safety principles in new ways. This not only broadens your experience but also demonstrates your versatility as a safety professional.
4. Push for Innovation in Your Role
   Don’t wait for management to initiate change. Take ownership by introducing innovative ideas and tools that can improve safety outcomes in your organization. Whether it’s adopting digital twins for predictive maintenance or developing new employee engagement strategies for safety training, lead the charge.
5. Build a Strong Network
   Staying connected with other EHS professionals through industry groups, social media, or conferences can provide you with new insights and inspiration. Networking also helps you keep up with the latest industry trends and opportunities, preventing you from getting left behind.
6. Measure Your Own Success Beyond Compliance
   Compliance with regulations is the minimum expectation in EHS. To truly grow, measure your impact by looking at how you’ve improved safety culture, reduced incidents, or introduced lasting improvements. Be proactive about tracking and celebrating these achievements.

By taking these steps, you not only avoid career stagnation but also position yourself as a forward-thinking EHS leader—one who continuously seeks to improve both professionally and within your organization.

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Conclusion: The Only Way is Forward

As with safety systems, standing still in your career is dangerous. The status quo may feel comfortable, but in the fast-paced world of EHS, it’s a sure path to stagnation and missed opportunities. The good news is, through continuous learning, innovation, and self-assessment, you can not only safeguard your own career but also contribute more effectively to the safety and success of your organization. In EHS, just like in life, progress is the only option.

In the dynamic world of EHS, standing still is just as dangerous as moving backward. The status quo might seem safe for now, but it’s a breeding ground for future failure. Continuous improvement is the only way to ensure safety systems don’t just maintain but thrive. Whether it’s through proactive audits, stronger leadership ownership, or daily incremental changes, the goal is the same: progress.

Let’s remember, in EHS, there’s no finish line. What we improve today becomes the standard for tomorrow, and what we neglect today becomes tomorrow’s disaster.

My Own Career journey of learning and growing:-

1985 Passout from College.

1989 Qualficaction as Safety professional.

1992 ISO 9000 Lead auditor to support corporate QMS team for site.

1994 Process Safety Management, Goa and Basle.

1995 Environmental Management alignment to manufacturing ASCI,Hyderabad

1999 Environmental Best Practices exposure, Yokohama, Japan.

2001 ISO Lead Audior, IMS Florida USA

2003 Foregin Corrupt Practices Act trainer, Singapore.

2002 Construction Safety as per OSHA 1926 St. Louis, USA.

2002 MBA in HR.

2005 Started my own personal Blog site.(550 posts so far).

2006 Global EHS Manager to manage sunrise Prodcut Stewardship, Business Continuity, and Energy Management managers.

2006 Green Belt 6 Sigma.

2008 EHS Linkage to Operational Excellence, training, New Castle UK.

2011 Potential global Leadership grooming program at Rolle Switzerland.

2023 Insurance Regulator Advisor.

Karthik

20th October 2024, 1630 Hrs.