Most fall-from-height accidents do not occur due to technical defects, inadequate production management systems, or incorrect technological processes.
The vast majority of falls from height occur as a result of the risky behavior of the injured workers themselves.
Interestingly, it is often trained and certified workers with extensive experience who fall. They know perfectly well that they must clip in when working at height.
How is it that people, despite having a natural instinct for self-preservation, fall from height because they fail to clip in?
Scientists explain this as follows.
While a person initially clips in due to an instinctive fear of falling when starting to gain experience at height, over time, their personal experience begins to outweigh the knowledge and warnings received during HSE training, as well as information about accidents involving others in other companies.
The brain gradually falls into an illusion of invulnerability. The worker clips in many times but never falls. The individual believes their repeated experience shows that clipping in is a redundant, excessive operation, despite what they were told during HSE training and briefings. Consequently, they stop clipping in, either consciously or unconsciously.
If several other people in the crew behave the same way, a production culture hidden from management forms, where those who do clip in are seen as "black sheep." This process can continue for a long time until someone eventually falls.
Furthermore, they may demonstrate excellent knowledge of HSE rules to management or inspectors, while actually considering these rules redundant and formalistic.
It turns out that we cannot convince people to act correctly simply by presenting them with compelling logical arguments!
Nor can we convince people to act in accordance with HSE instructions just by reading those instructions to them.
So, what should be done???
They should be asked: "How do you personally ensure your safety during work? What do you need for this?" By addressing them personally, we show respect for them as professionals in their field and as experts in safe work practices. The main goal during this conversation is to personally convince them to change their attitude toward clipping in at height and to obtain their agreement to follow the "Golden Rule" of clipping in at height.
It is crucial for the manager to demonstrate the importance of this issue. Production meetings should begin with safety topics.
We must never stop talking about safety culture.
Production managers must regularly visit worksites to personally conduct inspections and talk with workers about the need to clip in at height. Additionally, regular inspections and audits should be conducted by independent HSE inspectors, potentially under civil law contracts.
Serious penalties for those responsible must follow identified violations of the "Golden Rules" of safety. This is important because workers measure the value of a rule by the consequences of failing to follow it.
The primary goal is to prevent accidents and save workers' lives.