We smile when we see a sign claiming, “Our HSE policy is common sense.” Then, we grimace. Are these organizations brave, or simply ignorant?
While individuals bear the primary responsibility for their own safety, they do not carry that burden alone. Businesses that adopt a “common sense” policy make a fundamental mistake: they assume everyone possesses an equal measure of it. This policy functions perfectly until someone leaves their judgment at the gate and a serious accident occurs. An accident is a brutal, expensive lesson—a risk no responsible business should take.
The Illusion of Low-Risk Environments
Even office-based organizations—where the most critical risks seem to be RSI or paper cuts—cannot hide behind “common sense.” Every workplace harbours hidden dangers:
- Fire hazards and blocked exit routes.
- Faulty electrical appliances and data-cabling trip hazards.
- Traffic risks as workers navigate parking lots and commutes.
Relying on common sense suggests an organization has lost control of its critical risks. It indicates a leadership team that relies on luck or is simply too lazy to manage safety proactively.