So many want to accuse Heinrich of being too heavy on "unsafe acts" and claim that he held the workers too responsible for their injuries. This is just pure hogwash! I have shared many passages from Heinrich's writings from the 1920s-1930, and each one clearly shows that he was more a fan of what we call today the "Latent Organizational Failure(s)" (James Reason).

In this week's message, Heinrich again stresses the importance of MANAGEMENT's role in safety, specifically the FRONT-LINE Supervisor/Foreman.

NOTE: Please look past his choice of words. In the 1920s- 30s, the workforce, especially heavy labor, was almost always filled by men, and their supervisors were definitely men.

Role of Foreman/Supervisor

"As a foreman, you know your men; you personally instinct and train them; you are on the job and have the best opportunity in the world to correct improper practices before they cause trouble.

Don’t make the mistake of dodging responsibility—and bear in mind that that goes for everything that happens in the conduct of the work under your supervision. Accidents, for example, are your responsibility just as much as errors are, for, in fact, accidents really are errors. Production and quality of work are your responsibility, and so are discipline, order, morale, and good housekeeping."

Source: Industrial Accident Prevention - A Scientific Approach, H. W. Heinrich, Assistant Superintendent Engineering and Inspection Division, The Travelers Insurance Company, 1941