The transportation industry remains one of the deadliest in the United States, according to the U.S. fatal injuries count released last month. In fact, 2019 was the deadliest year for each industry since 2003.
This data must be a wake-up call. We can do better. Much better. We can no longer accept injuries and fatalities as part of “the cost of doing business.”
Admittedly, some incidents are completely non-preventable. For example, consider a professional driver who is performing perfectly but is struck by a distracted driver. That said, most incidents are preventable. Individual and company behaviors are at the root of most safety failures.
Honest mistake or deliberate decision?
Professional drivers must govern their own behavior. Regardless of laws requiring seatbelts or prohibiting handheld phone use, an individual employee may decide to do otherwise. The employee knows better, and his/her decision is unacceptable. There is no rule or SOP that will correct misaligned behavior.
When I deal with a behavior-based safety issue, my first inquiry is whether the employee made an honest mistake or engaged in deliberate behavior. You can coach employees who make honest mistakes.
However, employees who flagrantly violate safety rules must be escorted out of our organizations immediately. Speeding, following too closely, using handheld devices, and not wearing seatbelts are examples of unacceptable, deliberate behaviors. It is no coincidence that they are also important reasons for preventable deaths and injuries. If employees care so little about their own safety, how can we expect them to care about their co-workers or the public?
