Is paranoia good for H&S?

I’ve written articles in the past about the consequences of poor mental health in the workplace. I fully support the view that when someone is faced with depression or anxiety, they should seek help.

Being paranoid is entrenched in our state of being; living in South Africa, we have grown up with a heightened sense of awareness for danger. When driving to an event or returning home, we consider the best route and check our surroundings for possible hijackers. I cannot sleep without ensuring the windows and doors are locked and the alarm is on. Simply put, “Stay Alert, Stay Alive” is the mantra we must practise daily. 

If we review occupational injury case studies, we see a thread of numerous preventable incidents. When chatting to some older folks, though, they are of the opinion that what is meant to happen will happen: it is one’s destiny. Well, this is a debate for another article.

Being paranoid has negative connotations; depending on a person’s tolerance levels, it can increase anxiety or other mental health conditions. On the other hand, however, paranoia can keep us alert and aware of our surroundings. I’m certain that a paranoid person will watch out for risks or be aware of colleagues’ actions that may endanger them. I suppose it would be healthy to have effective communication protocols in the workplace, for example, allowing workers to vent their concerns without being ridiculed.

I believe that we need to entrench into the workforce’s mindset the need for a philosophy of staying alert and staying alive. However, simply having this mindset does not guarantee that an incident will not occur.

A few years ago, I witnessed a motor vehicle accident. A car had broken down in the middle lane of the highway, with its hazards on. Most vehicles slowed down and overtook it, but there was one bakkie that, unfortunately, rear-ended the broken-down vehicle. To me, it seemed like the driver was fatigued and had not reacted in time to the danger.

No matter how well trained or safety conscious a person is, fatigue can decimate these key traits, resulting in an accident. The quality and duration of sleep is highly important for good H&S practice; I believe more research is required into teaching people about being aware of potential hazards.

In simple terms, while motivation adds value, discipline is a game changer for any sport or workplace. Hence, a disciplined workforce – like a sports team – may perform better with a lower probability of incidents.

Saiosh soared in March

Saiosh hosted various national in-person, free-to-attend Saiosh CPD OHS Seminars during March in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. All events were fully booked. The Saiosh council would like to thank the sponsors and everyone that attended the events. The recording of the presentation is available on the Saiosh YouTube channel.