Burnout is the result of someone’s attempt to cope with overwhelming and prolonged
stress or discontentment – it’s like burning a candle at both ends, and the impact can be
devastating on both employees and employers.
Common effects include increases in job site accidents and injuries, greater absenteeism, dips in employee morale, and a variety of health problems.
Safety Burnout?
We’re all familiar with the phrase “job burnout,” but what about “safety burnout?”
Job burnout and safety burnout are closely related and both are equally important. If an employee is burned out with their job it will affect most every aspect of their work and those around them. Vital areas such as safety can
even become compromised.
Fortunately, there are warning signs:
- Complacency is a significant indicator of safety burnout and an injury or accident could
be imminent. Do employees ever say, “We’ve always done it this way” or “That’s close
enough?” - Breaking the rules is another sign to watch out for. Do people often say, “The boss isn’t
around to see” or “We were just kidding around”? If so, management must reinforce
the fact that rules need to be followed all the time (no matter who is/isn’t around);
management must also take corrective actions in response to safety infractions. - Employees’ moods and attitudes can be a big indicator of burnout, so attention should
be paid to them both. Do certain team members seem disengaged, unmotivated or
express a negative and critical attitude at work? Have other employees complained
about certain co-workers or voiced concerns?
Avoiding Burnout
As an employer, you can prevent both job and safety burnout among employees in several ways:
- Conducting regular meetings to promote inclusiveness and awareness
- Encourage employees to speak out about concerns or problems
- Maintain visibility so team members know you are accessible
- Review workloads and job responsibilities regularly to ensure proper balance
- Recognize good performance and desirable behaviors publicly