The OSHA Law Blog has a nice post up called “Best Practices? Or Safety Run Amuck” about the unintended consequences that can occur when people rationalize their opinions as “Best Practice” without bothering to consult with the workers who are expected to implement those company policies. While the incident they describe doesn’t concern Process Safety Management, the issues it discusses are VERY relevant.
Sometimes additional safety policies and procedures can actually reduce safety by adding complexity and a false sense of security. How many times have you dealt with a “policy” that made no sense? Can you think of some at your workplace – perhaps some that have safety consequences?
