March 03 2019
By: Terry L. Mathis
The more skilled a person is at doing their job, the more potential they have for doing it safely. That said, there are a number of other factors that can impact that safety performance, production pressure being among them. However, it still amazes me that most organizations don't have a metric for competency. I asked a recent client how the upcoming retirements would impact their overall competency and you would have thought I was speaking a foreign language.
I have argued for years that leading indicators are not all created equal and not all directly impact lagging indicators. If you measure your safety activities such as meetings, training, communication, etc., that is one form of leading indicator, but these do not directly change lagging indicators. 
They change competencies and culture, which changes performance, which THEN changes lagging indicators. If you don't have a metric for competency you are missing a critical part of your future balanced scorecard for safety.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
