It Was a Matter of Time
General Safety | 10-15 min
Summary
After many workplace incidents, investigators hear the phrase 'it was just a matter of time.' Coworkers often knew that unsafe conditions or behaviors existed but assumed nothing would happen, or that someone else would address the problem. This hindsight recognition that an incident was predictable raises an important question: if it was a matter of time, why didn't anyone act to prevent it?
Members get the full script, discussion questions, English + Spanish printable PDFs, and email delivery.
Start your 7-day free trialKey Points to Cover
- Many incidents are predictable but not prevented
- Hazards become normalized when nothing bad happens
- Past success doesn't guarantee future safety
- Report hazards even if they've existed for years
- If you can predict an incident, you can prevent it
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should this safety talk take?
Plan for about 10-15 min, with extra time for questions and site-specific examples.
Can I tailor the discussion to my workplace?
Yes. Use the key points as a starting place and connect them to the tasks, equipment, and procedures your team uses.