Process Safety and Our Next Generation Workforce

The skills gap between the current, aging workforce and the next generation of workers is well documented. But what may be less widely known is how generation gaps can affect workplace safety and skills gaps for our next generation workforce and the frontline leaders, particularly when new workers have fewer capable and seasoned personnel working alongside them—people who could share their practical safety and technical knowledge. This lack of one-on-one support can, and does, result in more workplace incidents, damaged equipment, wasted resources and time. The problem is compounded when leaders prioritize results without reinforcing safe work practices and operational processes. As a result, younger, less experienced workers feel they must get the job done without really understanding how to best mitigate risk, or attempt a task without fully understanding what they are undertaking.

Process Safety has just started to really get embedded in the workplace here in the U.S. since its rollout as law in 1992. Now, those with all the process safety knowledge have either left your company, getting ready to leave or will be leaving in the next decade.

• What has your company done to capture your tribal process safety knowledge and - practices?
• Who will be there to guide the hearts and minds of a much younger and inexperienced workforce?
• What are you doing now to manage this risk right now?

We’ll show what the experts in the field of human learning and develop say, especially for those who must have the required skills working in high hazard environments where knowing and understanding process safety is critical to safe and reliable operations, regardless how much technology you have in place to minimize human error.

Keywords: safety culture, competency, leadership, next generation workforce