The Perils of the Normalization of Risk in the Utility Sector
In an industry where safety and reliability are essential, the normalization of risk creates significant challenges. Utilities, including electricity, water, and gas sectors, are the backbone of modern infrastructure. Any compromise in their safety or reliability can have devastating consequences. This article explores the normalization of risk in the utility sector, providing insights into its causes, a real-world case study, and strategies to mitigate its impact.
Understanding the Normalization of Risk
The normalization of risk occurs when repeated exposure to hazards causes individuals or organizations to accept them as normal. Over time, this shift in perception leads to complacency, increasing the likelihood of serious failures. The process is gradual, making it particularly dangerous, as risks become routine without immediate consequences.
Psychologically, humans become desensitized to repeated stimuli, and workplace risks are no exception. Employees who witness minor safety violations without repercussions may begin to perceive them as harmless. This cognitive bias, known as the normalization of deviance, contributes to overlooking potential dangers.
Systemic factors also play a role. Organizations prioritizing efficiency and cost-cutting over safety may delay maintenance or ignore warning signs. In utility companies, financial pressures can make decision-makers more likely to overlook risks, reinforcing a culture where unsafe practices become accepted.
Moreover, a lack of open risk discussions within an organization can further embed unsafe behaviors. Employees who fear retaliation for reporting issues may remain silent, inadvertently allowing hazards to persist. Insufficient feedback mechanisms also contribute, as organizations focus on resolving immediate failures rather than addressing root causes.
The normalization of risk in the utility sector has severe consequences. Aging equipment may remain in use past safe limits, safety protocols may weaken, and risks may accumulate unnoticed. Ultimately, the result can be catastrophic failures, endangering lives and causing significant financial and reputational damage.
Addressing this issue requires changing both individual mindsets and organizational systems. By understanding how psychological and systemic factors contribute to risk normalization, utility companies can implement proactive measures to prevent complacency and enhance safety.
Case Study: The Flint Water Crisis and the Normalization of Risk
The Flint water crisis illustrates how the normalization of risk can lead to disaster. Initially a cost-cutting measure, the crisis escalated due to a failure to recognize and address growing hazards.
In April 2014, Flint, Michigan, switched its water source from treated Lake Huron water to the Flint River to save money. The river’s water was more corrosive and required treatment to prevent contamination. However, officials failed to add necessary corrosion-control chemicals, setting the stage for a public health emergency.
Shortly after the switch, residents reported foul-smelling, discolored water and health issues, including rashes and hair loss. Despite these warnings, officials repeatedly assured the public that the water was safe, demonstrating risk normalization in action.
The untreated water corroded aging pipes, leaching lead into the water supply. Lead exposure, particularly in children, can cause irreversible neurological damage. Independent researchers, including Virginia Tech scientists and local pediatricians, presented evidence of dangerously high lead levels. Still, officials downplayed the findings, further entrenching the normalization of risk.
Systemic failures allowed the crisis to worsen. State environmental officials misinterpreted regulations, leading to flawed advice that minimized the problem. Additionally, emergency managers overseeing Flint’s finances prioritized cost savings over public health. Instead of revisiting their decisions in light of new evidence, they continued justifying prior actions.
Public outcry, scientific pressure, and media attention finally forced officials to act. By late 2015, Flint reverted to its previous water source. However, irreversible damage had already been done. Thousands of residents suffered exposure to toxic water, leading to long-term health consequences.
Legal battles ensued, with multiple lawsuits and criminal charges against officials responsible for the crisis. The incident underscored the dangers of risk normalization, emphasizing the need for stronger oversight, transparent communication, and proactive risk management in public utilities.
Techniques to Prevent the Normalization of Risk
Utility companies must take decisive steps to prevent the normalization of risk and maintain safe operations. Implementing the following strategies can help foster a culture of risk awareness and accountability:
- Prioritize a Safety-First Culture: Organizations should reinforce safety as a core value, ensuring leadership communicates its importance. Employees must feel empowered to report unsafe practices without fear of retaliation.
- Regular Training and Education: Continuous training helps employees recognize hazards and understand the importance of following protocols. Repetition reinforces vigilance, preventing complacency.
- Routine Audits and Inspections: Conducting frequent inspections identifies potential risks before they escalate. External audits provide an unbiased perspective, uncovering overlooked hazards.
- Encourage Whistleblowing: Establishing confidential reporting systems ensures employees can raise concerns without fear. Those on the front lines often detect early warning signs, making their input invaluable.
- Use Advanced Risk Assessment Tools: Technology, such as real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, can detect risks before they become critical. Data analytics improve decision-making by highlighting patterns of emerging hazards.
- Transparent Communication: Honest discussions about risks within an organization build awareness and accountability. External transparency fosters public trust, ensuring stakeholders stay informed.
- Strengthen Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to strict regulations prevents risk normalization. Regulators should conduct regular reviews to confirm ongoing compliance with safety standards.
Conclusion
The normalization of risk in the utility sector poses severe threats, as exemplified by the Flint water crisis. When risks become routine, organizations and individuals may fail to recognize or act upon warning signs. This complacency can lead to life-threatening failures, financial losses, and eroded public trust.
By fostering a safety-first culture, conducting regular audits, leveraging technology, and encouraging transparency, utility companies can prevent risk normalization. Addressing these challenges proactively ensures the long-term reliability and safety of critical infrastructure.
Recognizing the perils of risk normalization allows the utility sector to build a more secure and dependable future. Lessons from past failures must inspire continuous improvement, ensuring that safety and public health remain top priorities. Only through vigilance and commitment can utilities prevent history from repeating itself, safeguarding communities from avoidable harm.
About the Author
James A. Junkin, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO is the chief executive officer of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, LLC and the chair of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and the past chair of Professional Safety journal’s editorial review board. James is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP). He is Columbia Southern University’s 2022 Safety Professional of the Year (Runner Up), a 2023 recipient of the National Association of Environmental Management’s (NAEM) 30 over 30 Award for excellence in the practice of occupational safety and health and sustainability, and the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) 2024 Safety Professional of the Year for Training and Communications, and the recipient of the ASSP 2023-2024 Charles V. Culberson award. He is a much sought after master trainer, keynote speaker, podcaster of The Risk Matrix, and author of numerous articles concerning occupational safety and health.
