In construction, we all get busy and face pressure to get things done quickly. Over time, it’s easy to become comfortable with our work and start taking shortcuts or skipping steps that seem unnecessary. Unfortunately, that’s when accidents happen. Complacency and shortcuts often lead to injuries that could have easily been prevented.
What are Shortcuts?
A shortcut is any time we skip a step, ignore a safety rule, or use a faster, but unsafe, method to complete a task.
Examples include:
- Climbing on equipment instead of using proper access points
- Not wearing PPE because the job will “only take a minute”
- Using the wrong tool because the right one is farther away
- Ignoring barricades or safety signs
- Failing to tie off or use fall protection correctly
What Is Complacency?
Complacency happens when we get too comfortable or confident in our work. After doing the same task day after day without incident, we may start to think, “I’ve done this a hundred times, I’ll be fine.” That mindset is dangerous. Most serious incidents happen to experienced workers who have stopped paying full attention.
How to Avoid Shortcuts and Complacency
- Stay aware. Treat every task like it’s the first time you’ve done it.
- Follow procedures. Safety rules exist for a reason – don’t skip them.
- Slow down. Taking a few extra minutes to do things correctly is better than losing weeks to an
injury. - Speak up. If you see someone taking a shortcut, say something. We all have a responsibility to
look out for one another. - Lead by example. Supervisors and experienced workers set the tone for safety on the site.
Discussion Points
- What shortcuts are we most tempted to take on this job?
- How can we hold each other accountable for working safely?
- What’s one area of our work where we could slow down and pay more attention?
Key Takeaway:
No deadline, shortcut, or quick fix is worth an injury. Safety shortcuts save seconds but can cost lives. Always take the time to do the job the right way, every time.