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Stupid Workers

Stupid Workers

December 08 2019
By: Terry L. Mathis

When organizational leaders blame their poor performance on stupid workers, I wonder if they selected stupid workers to hire or if they hired intelligent workers and turned them stupid after they came to work. Competence is not something to be assumed in almost any job. Workers need their skills developed and continuously improved, and most organizations don't do a very good job of either.

Stupid Workers

Safety training is often more education than training. Simply giving workers information is not sufficient to build and improve skills. Turning information into skill requires real-time and real-workplace experiences. Perhaps in the near future we will be able to simulate those in virtual reality, but for now we need to take training further than the classroom. A worker who does not have the skills to do work safely and intelligently is a direct reflection on the organizational leaders and systems.

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.