Breaking the Silence: Part 4: Breaking Free from Complacency

Breaking free from complacency begins with the awareness that our assumptions can be our biggest blind spots. These assumptions are often woven into the fabric of our daily routines, making them hard to recognize, but that doesn’t mean they’re harmless. In fact, they’re some of the most dangerous things we face because they stop us from seeing potential risks.

The first move to combat complacency is simple but powerful: question your assumptions. Whether it’s about the safety of a task, the condition of the equipment, or the knowledge of your team, it all needs to be examined. Now, I’m not saying you should doubt everything to the point where you can’t make a move—but you should build a habit of asking the right questions. Try starting with, “What could go wrong?” or “Are we missing anything here?” These simple questions can help reveal the dangers hiding in plain sight.

I learned this lesson the hard way. My near-death experience came down to one big assumption: I assumed a pre-inspection had been done. It wasn’t. And that assumption nearly cost me everything. If I had stopped to ask one question—one simple question—about whether or not the inspection was complete, we could have caught the risks before things went sideways. That moment taught me never to take assumptions for granted, especially when lives are on the line.

Hazard recognition is one of the most critical elements in maintaining a safe workplace. When we fail to identify the risks that are present—or could be anticipated—we put ourselves and our teams in danger. OSHA provides a comprehensive guide on hazard identification and assessment, outlining key steps to proactively recognize and address hazards before they lead to incidents.

Shift Your Thinking: Treat Every Task Like It’s New

Breaking out of the assumption trap requires a shift in mindset. You have to approach every task with fresh eyes and a curious attitude. I get it, routines are easy, especially when you’ve done the same thing over and over. But if you want to create a truly safe work culture, you have to treat each task like it’s the first time you’ve ever done it.

This means you can’t lean solely on past experiences. You’ve got to look at each situation as it stands today. What’s different this time? What’s changed? Are there new factors that could affect safety? By treating every task like it’s brand new, you’ll pick up on those small details that could have massive consequences.

A practical way to build this mindset into your routine is by adding pauses into the workflow. Take a quick pause after your pre-job brief and look ahead at what’s coming. Ask the team, “Does anyone see something we might’ve missed?” These moments of reflection help catch issues before they become problems and send a message to the crew that safety is everyone’s responsibility, every step of the way.

Complacency isn’t something that happens overnight—it builds slowly over time. In fact, I’ve explored this topic in depth in a previous post where I share how small habits can lead to dangerous situations on the job. Take a look and learn how you can stay ahead of complacency before it takes hold.

Vigilance is Your Best Defense

The main point here is that vigilance kills complacency. When you challenge assumptions and stay alert, you reduce the chances of accidents happening. Vigilance is more than just following rules—it’s about being fully engaged in making sure the team stays safe, day in and day out.

Everything I do is grounded in this belief: that every worker deserves to come home safely. Read more about my story and why I’m so passionate about making workplace safety a priority.

Safety is never a “set it and forget it” thing. It’s a living, breathing process that demands your attention at all times. By staying vigilant, asking the right questions, and never assuming things will just work out, you build a safety culture that’s not only strong but adaptable—ready to handle whatever comes next.

In the next part of this series, I’ll dive into real strategies you can use to challenge assumptions and improve safety. We’ll walk through how teams can make this mindset a regular part of their routine, creating a workplace that’s always moving forward, always alert. Stay tuned, because we’re just getting started on building a safer, stronger work culture.