After more than 15 years, I have discovered the truth about safety.

The Truth About Safety Management: It’s Not What You Think

For over 15 years, I’ve dedicated my career to workplace safety. I’ve worked as a safety manager, director, compliance consultant, and trainer, and in all those roles, one key truth about safety became clear to me. This truth is the foundation of every successful safety program.

But first, let’s debunk some common myths about safety.

Safety is NOT Common Sense

You’ve probably heard it before: "Safety is just common sense." It sounds good, but it’s completely wrong.

If safety were just common sense, people wouldn’t take dangerous shortcuts. They wouldn’t rush a job and get injured. The reality? Most workplace accidents happen because people are in a hurry and take risks they don’t even realize are unsafe.

If safety were common sense, nobody would get hurt.

Safety is NOT Just Compliance

Some companies believe safety is just about following OSHA regulations. If that were true, all we’d need to do is enforce more rules and hand out punishments for violations.

The problem? Rules don’t guarantee safe behavior.

Think about a new driver with a learner’s permit. They follow every rule precisely, but they lack real-world experience. A seasoned driver, on the other hand, understands when to adapt to situations beyond what’s written in the handbook.

In safety, blindly following rules without understanding their purpose leads to rebellion, shortcuts, and, ultimately, more accidents.

Safety is NOT Just More Knowledge

In today’s world, information is everywhere. If knowledge alone made people safer, workplaces would be injury-free.

But knowledge isn’t enough. You can give employees a binder full of safety procedures, but unless they apply that knowledge in real situations, it’s useless. Real safety isn’t about what’s written in a book—it’s about action.

The #1 Secret to Workplace Safety

After 15 years in this field, I can tell you:

👉 Safety isn’t what you know. Safety is what you do.

It all comes down to behavior.

You can have all the written programs, compliance policies, and training in the world—but if your employees aren’t acting on them, your workplace isn’t safe.

How to Create a Safety-First Culture

To change workplace safety, you need to make safe behavior the easiest choice.

✅ Remove Barriers – If employees don’t have easy access to PPE, lockout/tagout equipment, or training, they’ll take unsafe shortcuts.

✅ Lead by Example – If supervisors ignore safety protocols, employees will too.

✅ Explain the “Why” – People resist rules they don’t understand. Show employees how following procedures protects them and their coworkers.

✅ Reinforce Positive Behavior – Reward and recognize workers who follow safety best practices.

Take the First Step Toward Safer Workplaces

Want to ensure your company is OSHA-ready? Download my FREE OSHA Audit Checklist at HelpWithOSHA.com. It’s your step-by-step guide to preparing for an OSHA inspection and improving workplace safety today.

Remember: Safety is about action. Make it easier to do the right thing than the wrong thing. Let’s build a workplace where no one gets hurt.

Until next time, stay safe!