Most workplace accidents don’t happen because of massive, obvious mistakes. They happen because of small, everyday lapses—things so minor they don’t seem like a big deal. Until they are.
It’s the missing glove, the unfastened harness, the unsecured load. It’s the assumption that nothing bad will happen. Then, in a split second, everything changes.
The Little Things That Lead to Big Trouble
Skipping PPE “Just This Once” – Maybe it’s too hot, uncomfortable, or “not really needed.” But PPE is the last line of defense when things go wrong. One missing glove, one ignored helmet, and suddenly, a minor incident turns into a serious injury.
Ignoring a Small Spill – A little oil on the floor? A few drops of water? No big deal—until someone slips and ends up with a broken wrist or worse. If you see it, clean it. If you can’t, report it.
Not Checking Equipment Before Use – That ladder looks fine. The forklift seems to run okay. But small, unnoticed defects lead to malfunctions, and malfunctions lead to injuries. A quick inspection can save a life.
Rushing Through Tasks – Deadlines matter, but not at the cost of safety. Taking shortcuts—skipping a lockout, not testing a confined space, rushing through lifting procedures—turns routine tasks into hazards.
Failing to Speak Up – See something unsafe? Say something. Too often, workers assume someone else will report a hazard or fix an issue. But waiting could mean the difference between a near-miss and a fatality.
“I didn’t have the time, so I just shut it off”
His name was Epiphanyo. We called him Eppie.
He was just the sweetest young man—from South Philly. Born January 6, the Day of Epiphany. Very Catholic. Very kind. I adored him.
I was visiting his site and walked past his truck. Saw something that made me stop.
His H2S monitor—sitting on the passenger seat.
I went over and asked, “Eppie… why’s your monitor in the truck?”
He looked at me and said, “Miss Rebecca, the darn thing just kept going off this morning. I didn’t have time to shut it off. I had work to do.”
I called him by his full name. Epiphanyo. And I told him, “If I knew your middle name, I’d use that too.”
I said, “If you’re not wearing it, it can’t protect you. And if you die from H2S exposure, your mother is going to hunt me down.”
He laughed. I didn’t.
He put the monitor back on.
That’s the one I think about. He was a kid. Barely 24.
And if I hadn’t seen that monitor in the truck… I don’t even want to think about it.
-story courtesy of Rebecca Haring
▸ The Domino Effect of Small Violations
A single shortcut doesn’t always lead to disaster, but shortcuts add up. One missed step becomes a habit. That habit spreads. Before long, the entire workplace operates with an “it’s fine” mentality—until it’s not.
Take this scenario: A worker skips checking a ladder because they’re in a hurry. The next day, someone else uses that same ladder. A rung breaks. A serious fall follows. A few seconds of caution could have prevented months of recovery.
How to Stop Small Lapses Before They Become Big Accidents
Call It Out Early – Small hazards need immediate action. A minor fix today prevents a major accident tomorrow.
Follow the Process Every Time – No exceptions, no shortcuts. If a step exists, it’s there for a reason.
Make Safety Personal – Think beyond policies. Every shortcut is a risk—not just to you, but to your co-workers and their families.
Hold Each Other Accountable – Safety isn’t one person’s job. It’s everyone’s. Encourage a culture where speaking up isn’t just accepted—it’s expected.
The Bottom Line
Disaster doesn’t start with a catastrophe. It starts with a small, overlooked detail. The missing glove. The loose railing. The unchecked ladder.
The question is: Are you paying attention before it’s too late?
Stay sharp. Stay safe. Because the little things? They’re everything.
Related Articles
- All Posts
- 360 Immersive
- 360immersive
- accident prevention
- accidental careers
- adjustable workstations
- adult education
- AI in Safety
- Alberta safety courses
- Allan James Moore
- asking for help
- audit readiness
- automation in safety
- avoidable injuries
- awareness
- Aztec Safety
- back strain
- BambooHR integration
- behavior-based safety
- Behavioral Safety
- biometric sensors
- BIS Podcast
- BIS Safety Software
- BIS Safety Spotlight
- black holes
- BP Texas City Explosion
- Brave Leadership
- Brett Burkard
- burnout
- Canadian safety history
- Canadian safety standards
- carbon monoxide
- Carolynne Heron
- CCOHS
- chemical
- chemical vapors
- chronic injuries
- chronic pain
- cloud-based safety tools
- Coming Soon
- community safety programs
- Competency in Safety
- complacency in safety
- Compliance
- compliance courses
- compliance tools
- compliance vs protection
- Construction advocacy
- Construction education
- Construction industry
- construction safety
- construction safety training
- continuous improvement
- continuous safety improvement
- corporate culture
- crane
- Customer Spotlight
- Customer Spotlight Kevin Swinden Global Hazmat Safety Culture Hazmat Management Dangerous Goods Competency in Safety Workplace Risk Mitigation BIS Training Clients Canadian EHS
- customized training
- daily trip inspection
- Damage Prevention
- Dangerous Goods
- dangerous goods classification
- Danny Sellers
- data-driven safety
- defensive driving
- digital compliance
- digital forms
- digital safety tools
- digital safety transformation
- DMS features
- document control
- document management system
- Dr. Joanna Pagonis
- driver file management
- driver training
- driving instructor program
- DTRMS
- e-learning
- early intervention
- EHS
- EHS digital solutions
- Einstein
- electrical safety
- emergency preparedness
- emergency response
- emergency supplies
- emotional training
- employee behavior
- employee engagement
- employee health
- employee safety
- employee training
- ergonomic consulting
- ergonomic design
- ergonomic risks
- ergonomics
- evidence collection
- EWI Works
- exoskeleton
- exoskeletons
- fall protection
- field experience
- field safety
- field safety services
- fire prevention
- first aid kit
- first week on the job
- first workplace injury
- fleet management
- fleet safety
- frontline safety
- Global Hazmat
- gravitational waves
- hand injuries
- handling hazardous materials
- hands-on training
- Hazard Awareness
- hazard communication
- hazard prevention
- hazard recognition
- Hazmat Management
- Health & Safety Podcast
- health and safety
- hearing loss prevention
- hearing protection
- heavy equipment safety
- hidden workplace hazards
- high voltage systems
- HR automation
- HR software
- human factors
- human vs machine
- human-centered design
- human-centered safety
- humor in safety
- ICBC certification
- immersive learning
- Imposter Syndrome
- incident data
- incident investigation
- incident prevention
- incident reporting
- Industrial Hygiene
- industrial safety
- Infrastructure Risk
- injury consequences
- injury prevention
- injury prevention tips
- injury recovery
- injury reporting
- injury response
- injury response plan
- instructor development
- internal audits
- invisible dangers
- Jeff Mulligan
- Jennifer Lastra
- job site accountability
- job site hazards
- job site risks
- job site safety
- Jody Young
- KBR Safety Training
- Kevin Swinden
- labor movement
- ladder safety
- Leadership
- leadership accountability
- leadership and empathy
- learning from incidents
- lifting techniques
- LIGO
- Linda Miller
- LMS
- lockout tagout
- lone workers
- mental health at work
- MI Safety
- minor injuries
- movement in workplace
- new workers
- no-blame investigations
- noise exposure
- Northern BC
- NRCA
- NSC Standard 13
- occupational fatigue
- occupational hazards
- occupational health
- occupational safety
- occupational therapy
- OH&S
- OHS
- OHSA
- oil and gas safety
- omni-training
- onboarding safety
- Online safety training
- organizational culture
- organizational safety
- OSHA compliance
- OSHA standards
- outdated practices
- overconfidence
- overhead crane courses
- pain awareness
- personal protective equipment
- Pharmaceutical Safety
- physics careers
- pipeline safety
- podcast
- post-accident review
- post-incident protocol
- PPE
- PPE enforcement
- PPE improvement
- pre-trip inspection
- predictive analytics
- pretrip inspection
- proactive safety
- proactive safety measures.
- Professional development
- protective clothing
- psychological hazards
- psychological safety
- real-time safety
- recordkeeping
- regulatory updates
- repetition in safety
- repetitive motion injuries
- respirator safety
- respirators
- risk management
- risk reduction
- road safety
- Robin Postnikoff
- root cause analysis
- routine task risks
- safe work habits
- safety
- safety accountability
- safety advice
- safety article
- safety automation
- safety awareness
- safety best practices
- safety communication
- safety compliance
- Safety Conversations
- safety culture
- safety data sheets
- safety documentation
- safety engagement
- safety follow-up
- safety gear
- safety gloves
- safety goggles
- safety habits
- safety incentives
- safety innovation
- safety insights
- safety inspection
- Safety Leaders
- safety leadership
- safety legislation
- safety lessons
- safety management
- safety management system
- safety management systems
- safety metrics
- safety mindset
- safety motivation.
- safety myths
- safety podcast
- safety procedure updates
- safety professionals
- safety reporting
- safety review process
- safety shortcuts
- safety software
- Safety Spotlight
- safety systems
- safety technology
- safety theater
- safety tips
- safety training
- safety transformation
- safety transparency
- Sarah Anderson
- Scott Lyall
- shipping documentation
- silent dangers
- silica dust
- Sinogap Solutions
- slow-building hazards
- smart helmets
- smart PPE
- space science
- Spencer McDonald
- storytelling and safety
- storytelling in safety
- supervisor training
- TDG
- team communication
- teamwork
- tech and ergonomics
- tech-enabled learning
- Thinking Driver
- Titan Environmental
- Total Recordable Injury Formula
- tough guy mentality
- toxic air
- training
- training courses
- training matrix
- training record management
- training records
- transportation
- transportation of dangerous goods
- Trust and Accountability
- unseen workplace threats
- Utility Safety Partners
- vehicle safety
- version control
- veteran advice
- Virtual Reality
- VR safety training
- VR Technology
- wearable technology
- WHMIS
- witness statements
- women in leadership
- work-alone training
- work-related injuries
- worker accountability
- worker advocacy
- worker fatigue
- worker protection
- worker safety
- worker safety habits
- worker safety tips
- worker trust
- worker wellbeing
- workers' rights
- workforce compliance
- workforce management
- workforce training
- workplace accidents
- workplace air quality
- workplace best practices
- workplace certification
- Workplace Culture
- workplace hazards
- workplace health
- workplace incident response
- workplace injuries
- workplace injury prevention
- workplace mindset
- workplace risk factors
- workplace risk management
- Workplace Risk Mitigation
- Workplace safety
- workplace safety culture
- Workplace Safety Leadership
- workplace safety rules
- workplace safety tips
- workplace safety training
- workplace stress
- workplace tiredness
- workplace wellness
- WSPS
Explore how outdated, paper-based safety practices put workers at risk, how real-time data empowers proactive prevention, and why predictive systems...
In safety-focused industries, document control isn't optional—it's essential. Discover how a DMS helps Canadian companies stay compliant, avoid confusion, and...
The paper era is over — and that’s a good thing. Learn how digital training record systems save time, reduce...
