Workplace loss incidents are an uncomfortable subject. For employers, they can trigger feelings of failure. For employees, they can stir embarrassment, fear, or even guilt. The traditional approach to safety has often leaned on blame, asking, “What went wrong? Who was responsible?”
But a new mindset is emerging, one that replaces shame with accountability and action. It acknowledges that loss incidents happen — even in the most well-run organizations — and shifts the focus to systems-wide analysis with a lens on process improvement.
“Accidents Are Going to Happen”
As Jack Nix, COO of Shelby Erectors, put it:
“Accidents are going to happen. But most of them are preventable. People take shortcuts. The camera sees it — and now we do, too.”
This statement captures a critical truth. No company can eliminate risk, but with proper management oversight and compliance with standard operating procedures, risk can be mitigated. Humans make decisions in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, and shortcuts, whether intentional or done subconsciously, are inevitable.
The shame spiral that often follows an incident doesn’t make workplaces safer. What makes a difference is visibility and proper implementation of timely and effective preventative action(s). The ability to identify risks, understand behaviors, and design systems that can nudge people toward safer choices all help prevent loss incidents before they occur. Technologies like AI-driven cameras, safety analytics, and proactive monitoring can reveal what was once unnoticed. When hazards and near-loss incidents are detected and addressed early, leaders and employees can work together to handle them — without blame, but with shared accountability.
From Reacting to Preventing
For too long, safety programs have been evaluated by lagging indicators, such as accident reports, claims filed, or lost-time incidents. However, once those numbers show up, the harm has already occurred.
Cathy Poliak, VP of HR (SHRM-SCP) at Pet Food Express, describes a different experience:
“We’re only six months in, but already CompScience is helping us change the conversation from reacting to accidents to preventing them.”
This shift — from reactive to proactive — removes shame by reframing accidents as learning opportunities. Instead of fixating on failure, companies can celebrate near-loss incidents caught early, behaviors corrected in real time, or hazards removed before they cause harm. The focus moves from “Who caused this?” to “How do we prevent this from happening again?”
Why Removing “The Blame Game” Matters
Conducting loss incident investigations only to assign blame to a person, a group of people, or a department ultimately is counterproductive and creates hostility. Poor workplace safety is more than a morale issue; it’s a barrier to progress. When employees feel blamed, they’re less likely to report near-loss incidents, hazards, or unsafe conditions. When managers worry about reputational damage, they’re likely to underreport incidents and/or resist transparency.
Benefits of Removing Blame/Shame:
- Encourages early reporting of risks before they escalate into more serious hazards or injuries.
- Improves root cause accuracy in an effort to uncover the true system deficiency and implement an effective preventative action.
- Reduces repeat incidents by affecting the entire workforce.
- Builds trust and engagement between leadership and frontline workers.
- Strengthens safety culture by reinforcing the core belief that safety is a shared responsibility, not individualistic.
- Normalizes learning from mistakes rather than hiding them.
- Drives cultural and behavioral change toward prevention as a shared responsibility.
By acknowledging that loss incidents are part of the human condition and by focusing on identifying system-wide deficiencies, companies can build safer, healthier, engaged, resilient, and trustworthy workplaces.
Leveraging Technology to Support Culture
Tools like CompScience’s Active Risk Management platform don’t just provide data; they provide confidence. AI-powered analytics, visual monitoring, and predictive risk scoring allow organizations to see patterns they couldn’t before.
For early adopters, this technology becomes a dynamic catalyst for change. It equips managers with insights, helps employees understand the “why” behind safety protocols, and turns accident prevention into a collective, ongoing process.
The technology doesn’t replace people — it empowers them. Cameras, dashboards, and AI are not there to shame, but to shine a light on blind spots and give teams the tools to make safer decisions together.
A Better Conversation About Safety
Loss incidents will never disappear entirely, but playing the blame and shame game should not be part of your organization’s story. By combining honest conversations with actionable data and monitoring, companies can reframe safety around prevention, learning, collaboration, and trust.
As these leaders remind us, loss incidents are inevitable, but prevention is a key factor in managing risks. With the right tools and mindset, organizations can protect both their employees and themselves, not by dwelling on what went wrong, but by focusing on what they can do better next time.
