As I set out on my morning walk, my faithful companion wasn’t just the rising sun or the cool 14Cel. Bangalore breeze—it was Todd Conklin’s 3 minute podcast echoing through my Airpods. In those fleeting moments, amidst the serenity of nature, one thought struck a chord and lingered: “Everything works until it doesn’t.”
Those five simple words, articulated by Conklin in his concise yet profound podcast, encapsulated a truth that resonated deeply with my ethos as an advocate for safety and wellbeing in workplaces. As an EHS professional with years of experience navigating the intricate landscape of safety protocols and risk management, this principle isn’t just a concept—it’s a guiding light.
This principle reverberates beyond the industrial realm—it mirrors the fabric of our daily lives. In a world where routines seem reliable and systems appear foolproof, it’s all too easy to slip into a state of complacency. But as Conklin’s succinct insight highlighted, the veneer of reliability can shatter in an instant.
In my journey as a safety consultant and a fervent believer in proactive risk mitigation, I’ve encountered instances where seemingly infallible safety measures encountered unforeseen vulnerabilities. Each scenario, each challenge, reinforces the undeniable truth embedded in Conklin’s words.
Join me in this exploration—a journey that transcends the boundaries of workplace safety to touch upon the very essence of preparedness in our homes, communities, and personal lives. Together, let’s delve into the depth of this principle and unravel its implications on safety, seeking insights to fortify our commitment to proactive risk management.
Let’s delve into workplace situations and personal scenarios where this holds good:
Workplace Situations:
Emergency Response Plan: Consider an office emergency response plan. Everything seems well-organized until an actual emergency occurs, revealing gaps in evacuation procedures or inadequate emergency supplies.
Equipment Maintenance: A manufacturing unit’s machines might seem reliable until a critical piece of equipment fails unexpectedly due to lack of regular maintenance.
Software Security: An organization might have robust cybersecurity protocols, yet a new software vulnerability emerges, highlighting the need for continuous updates and monitoring.
Personal Scenarios:
Home Security System: Your home security system might function flawlessly until a power outage exposes vulnerabilities in backup systems or connectivity issues.
Vehicle Maintenance: A well-maintained car might suddenly encounter a breakdown due to a part failure, emphasizing the need for regular servicing despite apparent reliability.
Health and Wellness: Personal health routines can also reflect this principle. Following a healthy lifestyle might seem foolproof until stress or unforeseen health issues challenge your immunity or well-being.
In both spheres, the idea remains constant: what appears seamless can unravel unexpectedly, necessitating preparedness and continuous improvement to mitigate potential risks.
Now focsuing to workspace:
This is a powerful principle and certainly relevant to workplace safety. The core idea is acknowledging that systems and processes might seem flawless until they encounter a failure. To extend this,in maintaining safe conditions at work:
- Constant Vigilance: Acknowledge that even well-established safety protocols can fail. Regularly assess, update, and improve safety measures. What works today might not be foolproof tomorrow.
- Adaptability and Learning: Encourage a culture where teams are proactive in identifying potential weaknesses in safety systems. Promote reporting near-misses or potential hazards to continuously learn and evolve safety practices.
- Scenario Planning: Anticipate potential failure points. Conduct risk assessments, scenario planning, and stress testing to identify weak spots and strengthen safety measures accordingly.
- Training and Awareness: Ensure that all employees are well-trained and aware of safety protocols. Continuous training programs can reinforce safety measures and help prevent complacency.
- Regular Audits and Reviews: Implement regular audits and reviews of safety protocols. These should be thorough and critical, aiming to spot even the smallest potential for failure.
- Feedback Loop: Foster an environment where feedback is welcomed and acted upon. Employees at the ground level often have valuable insights into potential safety risks that may be overlooked.
- Technological Integration: Embrace technological advancements for safety. Tools like sensors, AI-driven monitoring, and data analytics can detect and prevent potential safety issues.
Remember, in the realm of safety, the mantra should be: “Everything works until it doesn’t, and it’s our responsibility to anticipate when that might happen and prevent it.”
How organisations can stay on top of this aspect! (Appicable to every business domain) Learning from Incidents as a post mortem to improve performance.
Root Cause Analysis: Delve into incidents where safety measures failed unexpectedly. Explore how conducting thorough root cause analyses revealed underlying factors that led to the breakdown, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond the surface. Use 5 Why Methods with 6M (Man, Machine, Method, Measure, Mileu, Material) as tool. Learn and Implement preventive measures.- Human Factors: Discuss the role of human error or complacency in instances where safety systems faltered. Highlighting the need for robust training, awareness, and a proactive safety culture to mitigate human-related risks.
- Complexity and Interconnectedness: Explore how systems become vulnerable due to their intricate nature. Showcase examples where an unexpected failure in one part of a system cascaded into larger safety issues, emphasizing the importance of understanding interconnectedness. (Challenger, Columbia, Chernobyl).
- Risk Mitigation Strategies: Offer insights into effective risk mitigation strategies. Discuss proactive measures like scenario planning, regular audits, continuous improvement, and the integration of technological advancements in safety protocols.
- Culture of Continuous Improvement: Highlight the significance of fostering a culture that values continuous improvement. Share success stories where organizations embraced a mindset of learning from failures to strengthen their safety measures. (Amazon Firephone, SpaceX Early launch failures, Toyota Recalls 2009)
- Adaptability and Preparedness: Discuss the necessity of being adaptive and prepared for unforeseen circumstances. Illustrate scenarios where adaptability and preparedness prevented potential safety hazards from escalating. (Ford Pinto 1970s, Improper Risk Assessment for safety concerns, and then corrections!).
- Personal Accountability: Stress the importance of personal accountability in ensuring safety. Encourage individuals at all levels to take responsibility for their actions and be vigilant in upholding safety protocols.
By exploring these facets in-depth, organisations can get comprehensive insights into why and how “everything works until it doesn’t” and work solutions.
Conclusion:
In the tapestry of safety and risk management, the thread of “everything works until it doesn’t” weaves a narrative that transcends mere caution—it speaks to the essence of preparedness and resilience. As we traverse through the complexities of workplaces and personal spheres, this principle stands as a sentinel, reminding us that vigilance, adaptability, and a culture of continuous improvement are the bedrock of safety. Each failure, each unforeseen challenge, is an opportunity not just to recover but to fortify our defenses. Let us embrace this truth not with fear but with a resolve to evolve, to learn, and to persist in our commitment to ensuring safety, both in the hallowed halls of industries and within the sanctuaries of our homes. For it is not the inevitability of failure that defines us, but our response to it—our unwavering dedication to making safety a steadfast companion on our journey through work and life.
Karthik
4th Jan 2024.
Health, Environment, Safety, Sustainability (HESS) 