With the Olympics currently grabbing global attention, one contrast has come to mind—the lighting of the Olympic flame in Paris reminded me of the fire in the Notre Dame Cathedral.
In a published article, Jérôme Bathélemy, Professor of Management at ESSEC Business School, suggests that the Notre Dame fire was a “predictable surprise” that could have been avoided.
The article identifies four characteristics that distinguish predictable surprises from events that are truly impossible to predict.
Leaders know that problems exist… but they do nothing to address them.
Employees realise that the problems are getting worse… but no one listens to them.
Resolving these problems would incur significant spending.
Solving these problems would require challenging the status quo.
Implementing a management system such as ISO 45001:2018 provides a framework for identifying and addressing hazards and risks while providing a process for consultation and communication to capture employee knowledge and experience.
In many cases, a well-planned course of action can help reduce expenditures by identifying and prioritising based on risk. Considering unexpected outcomes to foresee potential issues also assists in not having to continually make changes, as unplanned and uncontrolled risks occur through a poorly or unmanaged change.
By identifying risks and utilising the skills and knowledge of your whole workforce through consultation and communication, implementing the process, and monitoring the performance of the change, organisations can identify and address predictable surprises.
Is your organisation ready to implement an effective OH&S system? Follow Jesrik’s 10 steps to implement the ISO 45001:2018 system smoothly or contact us today for a tailored plan.
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