Everyone on that job knew.
The footing wasn't right. The scaffold wasn't right. The trench wasn't shored properly. Something was off and everyone could see it.
And nobody said anything.
Not because they didn't care. Because the job needed to get done. Because the gaffer was watching. Because they'd done it like that a hundred times before. Because it probably wouldn't happen today.
In 25 years I've sat with people after serious incidents and heard the same thing more times than I can count:
"We all knew."
The thing that stops people speaking up isn't ignorance. It's pressure, habit, and the very reasonable fear that saying something will make their working day harder.
If your safety culture depends on people being brave enough to speak up in that moment, it isn't a culture. It's a wish.
On a side note: you can now try RiskCompli FREE — no card needed: riskcompli.safecompli.co.uk
For the full range of health, safety and compliance support, visit www.safecompli.co.uk.