Why Employees Stop Reporting Workplace Hazards (And How to Get Them to Start)

By Tyler Doupe'

Hazard reporting is a crucial component for organizational success. When safety issues are promptly identified and subsequently addressed, businesses can reduce the volume of workers’ compensation claims and minimize injury-related downtime. That’s a win for everyone involved. Despite that, many employees shy away from speaking up when they notice a safety concern in the workplace. There are a number of reasons why workers may think twice before reporting a hazard, but there are a few simple steps organizations can take to ensure that employees at all levels feel safe speaking up.

Employees Might Hesitate to Report Hazards for These Reasons

There are a number of reasons employees might think twice before calling attention to a safety misstep:

• Some may be reluctant to weigh in about their concerns because they are not familiar with the reporting process and feel uncomfortable asking.
• Or, perhaps, the process is needlessly cumbersome and discourages workers from reporting because they don’t want to get lost in a flood of paperwork.
• Others still might worry that their supervisor will not take their report seriously.
• And yet another commonly cited fear is retaliation.

Each of those hesitations is understandable but building a strong and supportive safety culture will ultimately alleviate those concerns and encourage proactive reporting. 

You might be asking yourself exactly how to achieve such a culture. Well, I’m pleased to report that there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that employees at every level of your organization feel empowered and encouraged to voice their concerns as it pertains to workplace safety. 

Creating a Culture Where Employees Feel Empowered to Speak Up Regarding Safety

If you’re not sure where to start, a great first step is to allow anonymous reporting. Providing access to an anonymous online form removes fears of retaliation and often directly correlates with an uptick in reporting.

Next, it’s time to simplify the reporting process and make sure that all employees know how to report a hazard. When the process is simple, intuitive, and clearly explained to employees, they are far more likely to utilize it.

Another crucial step is to ensure that members of the workforce know that there is no greater priority than their well-being. When employees understand that their safety is more important to their organization than profit, productivity, or convenience, they will be far more likely to report hazards.

Now you’re building some serious momentum, but you’re not quite done yet. The final piece of advice we have for you at this juncture is to ensure that every employee knows that any actionable items will be addressed. This piece can be tricky with anonymous reporting, but we’ve got you covered.

One of the most effective ways to provide visibility to follow-through is to offer a rundown of reported issues and the status of each report at safety meetings. This allows anonymous reporters to maintain their anonymity, but it also communicates that their concerns have been received and investigated.

With a little effort, organizations can overcome common concerns like those outlined above and begin building a culture where every employee knows that their safety is second to none.

When you’re ready to take a closer look at hazards in the workplace, OSHAcademy Course 122: Introduction to Hazard Controls is a great resource.