Episode 162: It Can Happen

Leading and Learning Through Safety

Dr. Mark French discusses a personal injury incident as a way to illustrate how even experienced safety professionals can momentarily lose focus and get hurt. French describes how, during yard work, he accidentally burned and cut his leg with a chainsaw after finishing his task and thinking the danger was over. He reflects on the psychological factors that led to his lapse in judgment, such as fatigue and the desire to finish the job quickly. The incident highlights the importance of always staying vigilant, even when tasks seem complete.

French uses his story to emphasize a broader lesson: safety cannot be assumed, and leaders must continually remind their teams of its importance. He draws parallels between his experience and workplace safety, noting how easily accidents can happen when people are tired or distracted. French also explores the concept of psychological safety, wondering if his family hesitated to point out his risky behavior because he’s a safety professional.

He concludes by reflecting on the Swiss cheese model of accident causation, acknowledging that multiple layers of protection—personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls, and administrative measures—failed him in this case. French encourages safety leaders to build a culture where people feel comfortable calling out unsafe behavior and stresses the need for constant vigilance in both personal and professional settings.