In our previous column, we explored why traditional injury metrics, including total recordable incident rate, fall short for preventing serious incidents and fatalities.
Now, let’s focus on the next step: How to identify high-hazard activities, conditions and events, and how to ensure critical safeguards are in place, verified and backed by layers of protection to prevent a SIF.
What are high-hazard activities, conditions and events?
Not every job carries the same level of risk. A twisted ankle and a dropped object both may result in recordable injuries, but only one has the potential to be life-altering or fatal. High-hazard scenarios – such as working at height, in confined spaces, during powerful storms or with mobile equipment – involve dangerous conditions or uncontrolled energy. These situations require special attention because they have the potential to result in a SIF if multiple safeguards fail.
Identifying high-hazard activities and conditions isn’t just paperwork. It’s a systematic, organizationwide effort to anticipate and plan for all high-hazard scenarios. The goal isn’t to eliminate the work; it’s to ensure hazards are eliminated or controlled with robust, verified safeguards.
The power of critical safeguards and layers of protection
Every high-hazard activity, condition or event must have critical safeguards: physical barriers, energy isolation systems, gas detection, fall protection, verified confined space permits, or other protections that isolate energy or dangerous conditions. Just having safeguards isn’t enough. We must ensure they’re present, effective, verified and backed by layers of protection.
When one safeguard fails, a critical safeguard must still stand between the hazard and worker. This “layers of protection” approach builds resilience into the system, ensuring no single failure leads directly to a serious outcome.
For every high-hazard task, ask: “Are the safeguards present, effective and verified, and are layers of protection in place?” If the answer is “no,” the work must stop until it’s safe to proceed. This mindset prevents SIFs. (Here are some examples of critical safeguards and layers of protection.)
Engaging the workforce
SIF prevention isn’t just about checklists and systems. It’s about conversations that build trust, drive improvements and reduce risk. Those performing the work – whether they’re employees, contractors, subcontractors, temporary workers or gig workers – often have the most direct insight into the hazards they face, even if they’re not under your direct supervision in a shared work environment. Leaders must engage directly by listening, learning and asking questions such as, “What’s the worst thing that could happen here?” and “What safeguards are keeping us safe?” The answers can reveal gaps that metrics alone would not.
Building a culture of trust and learning is critical. Workers must feel safe speaking up about risks, and leaders must respond with support and action – not blame.
Building resilience through critical safeguards and layers of protection
Resilient safeguards aren’t just installed – they’re verified, maintained and tested over time. Systems must catch weak signals, near misses and potential SIFs that indicate a safeguard could fail. A near miss or pSIF is a free lesson if we’re willing to learn and improve.
Organizations that excel in SIF prevention are proactive. They identify high-hazard activities and conditions, verify critical safeguards, ensure layers of protection, engage workers, and learn from weak signals – ultimately building resilience into their safety systems.
What’s next?
In our next column, we’ll explore how to build engagement at all levels of the organization – from frontline workers to executives – to create a culture where everyone feels responsible for preventing SIFs.
Together, we can move beyond compliance, build resilience and save lives.
Let’s get to work.
