Breaking The Silence Part 6: Continuous Improvement and After-Action Reviews

Part 6 of A 7-part series on How Questioning Assumptions Enhances Workplace Safety. In Part 1, we discussed how assumptions creep into the workplace.

Continuous Training: Keeping Safety Practices Sharp

In our fast-paced, high-risk environments, safety training can’t be a one-time event. Safety isn’t a “check the box and move on” concept—it requires ongoing attention and reinforcement. Continuous training is key to keeping safety practices sharp and relevant, especially when it comes to challenging assumptions.

One of the most effective ways to make safety training stick is to use real-life examples that highlight the dangers of unchecked assumptions. Assumptions can fly under the radar because they become ingrained in our daily routines, especially for seasoned workers. But those assumptions can lead to complacency, and that complacency can create dangerous situations. That’s why it’s critical to keep reminding teams to question what they think they know, even with tasks that seem routine.

Incorporating real-life scenarios into training is powerful. For instance, sharing a story where a crew assumed a piece of equipment was safe because it had been inspected, only to find out it had worn down unexpectedly, can hit home. These examples remind us that no detail should ever be taken for granted and that vigilance is key to staying safe.

I get it—finding time for training can be tough. But continuous training doesn’t have to be a full-blown shutdown event. You can reinforce skills through quick simulations or five-minute meetings, all done right at the job site. One of my favorite on-site simulations is a pole-top rescue. After making sure the pole is safe, we place a rescue mannequin at the work site, allowing the crew to practice a real-world scenario. These quick, practical exercises keep the crew’s skills sharp without interrupting the flow of the workday.

To ensure your team has access to valuable training resources, it's important to leverage tools and information that keep safety practices sharp. For additional safety training materials and guidance, you can explore OSHA's comprehensive Training Resource Library.

After-Action Reviews: Learning from Every Job

At the end of every job, it’s essential to hold an After-Action Review (AAR) or Post-Job Brief. This practice allows the team to reflect on what went right, what didn’t, and what could be done better next time. The goal here isn’t just to look back—it’s to learn and apply those lessons to future jobs.

When I served as aircrew on the CH-53D in the Marine Corps, we never finished a flight or mission without a debrief. Every single time, we’d sit down as a crew and review what happened—what worked, what didn’t, and how we could improve. This wasn’t just routine—it was critical. Lives depended on our ability to learn from each flight and apply those lessons to the next one.

Just like in the military, our work in the field is complex and often hazardous. Safety is always on the line. A solid post-job brief lets us dissect the job, identify what worked and what didn’t, and catch any assumptions or risks we might’ve missed. By doing this, we make real-time improvements and ensure the team is even better prepared for the next job.

To learn more about how AARs can transform team performance and the key steps to making them more effective, check out A Better Approach to After-Action Reviews by Angus Fletcher, Preston B. Cline, and Matthew Hoffman in the Harvard Business Review.

Encouraging Open Dialogue: A Culture of Communication

Creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up is crucial for a successful After-Action Review. Just like during the job pause after the pre-job brief, it’s important to give every team member the chance to speak up. This ensures that all perspectives are heard, even from the newer or quieter members who might be hesitant.

Gong back again to my time on the CH-53D, it didn’t matter what rank you held—everyone was expected to speak up. I remember one flight where I was a Lance Corporal in the back of the helicopter, being flown by a Three-star General and a Lieutenant Colonel. Despite their ranks, they wouldn’t make a turn to the left until I confirmed, “Clear left.” It didn’t matter that they outranked me—the safety of that aircraft depended on every single crew member doing their part, and that included me.

This level of open communication didn’t end with the flight—it carried over into our debriefs. Everyone’s voice mattered, and we knew that by sharing our insights, we were improving the safety of future missions. That experience taught me the power of open dialogue and respect, regardless of rank or position.

To ensure participation from everyone in your After-Action Review:

• Start with Open-Ended Questions: Ask questions like, “What did you notice during the job?” or “What could we have done differently?”
• Acknowledge Every Contribution: Show that you value every comment, no matter how small. This encourages more participation and makes everyone feel heard.
• Rotate the Floor: Let different people start the conversation each time. This helps prevent the same voices from dominating the discussion and gives quieter team members a chance to speak.
• Use a Round-Robin Approach: Go around and ask each person for their thoughts. This ensures everyone has the opportunity to contribute.
• Provide Reassurance: Remind the team that the review is about learning and improving, not assigning blame. This can help ease any anxiety about speaking up.

By encouraging open dialogue, you create an environment where everyone feels empowered to share their insights, which is key for continuous improvement and a strong safety culture.

Stay tuned for Part 7. In the final part of this series, we’ll bring everything together and dive into the core message that underpins all these discussions—challenging assumptions. We’ll reflect on how questioning what we think we know isn’t just about avoiding mistakes, but about cultivating a mindset where safety is a living, breathing part of every action we take. I’ll also share some personal reflections from my own near-fatal experience that transformed the way I view safety, and we’ll explore how adopting a vigilant, proactive approach can create a safety culture that truly protects every worker. Stay tuned for the wrap-up!