A highly competent, experienced workforce is important to ensure quality and safety in forestry and wood products manufacturing — and building institutional knowledge and operational expertise takes years.

But there is a drawback to experience: complacency and overconfidence, which can result in an unsafe environment. Such environments inevitably have accidents and file insurance claims, leading to higher rates and greater restrictions on coverages.

The phenomenon is particularly prevalent in forestry and wood products operations, where it’s common to see long-tenured, multigenerational employees. Overconfidence can undermine even the safest of work environments and programs because human brains are hardwired to look for optimization of routines and efficiency.

And the more unsafe behaviors that occur without repercussions, the more affirmed individuals become in their decision-making process, no matter how risky their behaviors become.

When there is fallout, it can be devastating. An overconfident worker operating a half-million dollar log loader or a machine operator working an automated lathe can cause injuries, equipment damage, production delays and incur fines from regulatory agencies. A complacent attitude towards cleaning accumulated materials like wood chips can result in fires with disastrous consequences.1

Signs of complacency at work

It’s vital that employers learn to recognize the signs of complacency and overconfidence in their workforce so the behaviors can be promptly addressed. Some of the most common signs are:

  • Disengagement, such as multitasking or performing tasks while distracted
  • Action without thought or taking shortcuts
  • Frequent or repetitive mistakes
  • Lack of effort in safety
  • Neglecting tasks and overall carelessness

Steps to overcome complacent behavior

Even though overcoming a complacent attitude towards safety may seem daunting, you can take concrete steps to start:

  1. Audit job tasks: Introduce a second set of eyes into employee actions and behaviors. This will build hazard-identification skills and promote self-awareness in those being audited. Encourage constructive feedback and open communication to maximize audit effectiveness.
  2. Implement cross-training: Routine can be the death of attentiveness. Cross-training employees in different work areas forces employees out of routines, while improving workforce competency and flexibility. Peer-to-peer training is optimal, as teaching skills requires employees to focus on adherence to every step in a process.
  3. Perform risk assessments: Regular risk assessments reinforce awareness of known hazards and help identify new ones, which is particularly important in the wood industry’s dynamic work environments. When performing a risk assessment, it’s essential to critically evaluate both the work area and job tasks for continuous safety improvement while reinforcing a consistent focus on the hazard exposures present in the work being performed.

Ideally, these steps should be built into an effective workplace culture to address complacency and overconfidence before it becomes an issue — and before accidents, work stoppages and claims that ultimately drive up insurance rates.

HUB’s forestry and wood products specialists can help you protect against the safety perils posed by employee complacency and overconfidence.

1 HUB International, “5 Requirements to Mitigate Fire Risks From Hot Work Procedures in Wood Production,” June 28, 2023.