Episodes
![More is Not Better: Only Better is Better](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog42744/SafetyCultureExcellenceHi-Res.jpg)
Wednesday Sep 18, 2013
More is Not Better: Only Better is Better
Wednesday Sep 18, 2013
Wednesday Sep 18, 2013
When safety results are unsatisfactory, managers tend to say, “We are not doing enough for safety.” There is an assumption that more effort will produce better results. In the short term this often seems true. When leaders focus on one priority over others, followers tend to direct their efforts accordingly. Leaders assume that their additional activities produced the desired results. Often, it was not the effort but simply the priority that drove the improvement. However, such knee-jerk reactions rarely work long term. Sustainable results depend more on the quality rather than the quantity of effort.
One organization increased the hours workers spent in classroom training because they discovered knowledge deficits had contributed to accidents. Accident rates reduced in the short-term, but knowledge levels did not rise. The emphasis on reducing accidents had focused worker efforts, but the training had not been effective in improving knowledge. Leaders realized after some investigation that the problem was the quality of the training. The training did not address the most critical knowledge needed. Increasing the quantity of the poorly designed training had simply subjected workers to more meaningless and ineffective activity. When the quality of the training was improved, more quantity was not needed.
Many organizations purchase the latest fads in safety training and programs in hopes of improving results. Again, there is this assumption that more is better. Rather than improving existing programs and training and aligning them with a better safety strategy, let’s simply do more. Unfortunately,” more” doesn’t fix ”poor.”
Very few organizations are failing to dedicate enough effort to safety, but many are not using that effort to its maximum effectiveness. The answer is not more effort; but better effort.
-Terry L. Mathis
Terry L. Mathis is the founder and CEO of ProAct Safety, an international safety and performance excellence firm. He is known for his dynamic presentations in the fields of behavioral and cultural safety, leadership, and operational performance, and is a regular speaker at ASSE, NSC, and numerous company and industry conferences. EHS Today listed Terry as a Safety Guru in ‘The 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS in 2010, 2011 and 2012-2013. He has been a frequent contributor to industry magazines for over 15 years and is the coauthor of STEPS to Safety Culture Excellence, 2013, WILEY.
![219 - 11th Annual Behavior-Based Safety Conference Video - April 2012](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/42744/SCE-Podcast-Channel-Logo-2022_sbgdbp_300x300.jpg)
Monday Feb 06, 2012
219 - 11th Annual Behavior-Based Safety Conference Video - April 2012
Monday Feb 06, 2012
Monday Feb 06, 2012
Greetings everyone! I’m excited to announce the release of our video promoting our upcoming 11th Annual Behavior-Based Safety Conference in Houston, Texas this April 2012. You can watch or download the video here or stream it from YouTube
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQjeQFImEgo]
Pre-Conference: April 16, 2012 General Conference: April 17-18, 2012 Post-Conference: April 19, 2012
For the brochure, detailed agenda or to signup, please visit:
I hope to see you there. Have a great week!
Shawn M. Galloway
ProAct Safety, Inc.
![175 - Why We Fail to See Risk](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/42744/SCE-Podcast-Channel-Logo-2022_sbgdbp_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Apr 03, 2011
175 - Why We Fail to See Risk
Sunday Apr 03, 2011
Sunday Apr 03, 2011
Greetings, this podcast recorded while working in New Iberia, LA. For the topic this week I’d like to share an article I wrote that published in the January 2011 edition of EHS Today. It was titled “Why We Fail to See Risk” The published article can be found at www.EHSToday.com or under Insights at www.ProActSafety.com.
I hope you enjoy the podcast this week. If you would like to download or play on demand our other podcasts, please visit the ProAct Safety’s podcast website at: http://www.safetycultureexcellence.com
Have a great week!
Shawn M. Galloway
ProAct Safety, Inc