Process Safety with Trish & Traci Challenge the Illusion of Safety
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Aug 12, 2025 Join Alex Fernando, a strategy and risk expert with a wealth of experience in high-risk industries, and Warren Smith, a data science pro focused on organizational development, as they dive into eye-opening insights from analyzing over 10,000 incidents. They reveal how misclassifying serious incidents can hinder safety learning. The conversation highlights the urgent need for a cultural shift in leadership, urging a focus on why procedures aren't followed rather than blaming individuals. They also stress the importance of aligning safety practices with real-world challenges faced by workers.
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Incident Data Often Lacks Usable Detail
- Organizations often investigate incidents poorly, leaving many events unanalyzable or ignored.
- Only about half the incidents had usable data and a small subset warranted deep investigation.
Potential Harm Is Routinely Underseen
- Many organizations look through the lens of actual outcomes rather than potential severity, creating complacency.
- As a result, high-potential incidents often go under the radar as near misses.
Many Controls Are Difficult Or Unworkable
- A substantial portion of controls are difficult or unworkable when applied in the field.
- Workers adapt procedures to get the job done, increasing exposure when controls are impractical.