Every workplace has rules. Rules are often put into place to help standardize practices, keep employees safe, and to simply help keep order within the general workplace. However, what happens when standardized rules just don’t seem to align with common sense answers? Even though rules and standards are put into place for a reason, they are not always the only answer to each and every situation. Sometimes different situations call for different responses or the utilization of common sense.

1. creativesafetysupply.com 1-866-777-1360The leaders in visual safety.
much about them; however, he does know that
it is not normal for a forklift to leak such fluid.
Technically, the employee should not have to report
the fluid leak as he is on a duty-free lunch break
and on top of it he doesn’t even work with forklifts.
Nonetheless, his common sense tells him to flag
down the forklift operator to inform him or her of
the fluid leak as the leak could lead to serious slips
and falls and even damage the forklift itself.
Should common sense or standardization hold precedence
in this situation?
A police officer is working an overnight shift and is
instructed to patrol a specified area as per the police
chief’s instructions. However, as he is patrolling
the designated area he spots some suspicious
activity going on a few blocks away. After a bit of
observation the police officer continues to follow
the individuals into another area. The officer has
reason to believe that the individuals may be
under the influence of drugs or alcohol and may be
trying to break into houses. The officer is now at a
crossroads, should he call for back-up and intervene
on the people who are engaging in suspicious
activity or should he simply turn his back and
instead follow the police chief’s strict instructions to
patrol only a specific area?
Standardization would insist that the police officer follow
the police chief’s initial instructions and continue to patrol
only the specified area, while common sense would say to
intervene on the suspicious activity which is happening
out of the defined patrol area.
Standardized rules and practices should be considered as
more of a guide. They should be followed as long as they
seem applicable and prudent. For instance, if there is a rule
about using appropriate PPE to enter an area, by all means
do so. This safety rule is in place to provide protection
When Common
Sense and
Standardization
Conflict
Every workplace has rules. Rules are often put into place
to help standardize practices, keep employees safe, and
to simply help keep order within the general workplace.
However, what
happens when
standardized rules just
don’t seem to align
with common sense
answers? Even though
rules and standards
are put into place
for a reason, they
are not always the
only answer to each
and every situation.
Sometimes different
situations call for
different responses
or the utilization of
common sense.
Common Sense versus Standardization
Take these scenarios into consideration and be the judge
of whether the standardized rules should be followed or
simple common sense.
A worker in die-casting is on his way to a duty-free
lunch break and notices that a forklift is leaking
some sort of fluid as it is traveling through the
warehouse. The employee understands that he
does not work with forklifts and does not know

2. Don’t take common sense for granted as it is a powerful
force to help provide protection and skills when necessary.
However, the simple fact is that common sense and
standardized rules can live harmoniously together. It does
not have to be one way or the other, instead it is usually
best follow the rules and use common sense as seen
necessary.
against harm. However, just because specific rules and
practices are in place does not mean that all common
sense should just be thrown out the window. Common
sense is a built in innate quality that usually supersedes all
thoughts and actions. Common sense provides protection
to people when they encounter uncertain circumstances
and also helps people to act quickly when faced with
emergency situations.
About the author
Antonio Ferraro On behalf of Creative Safety Supply based in Portland, OR, I strive
to provide helpful information to create safer and more efficient industrial work en-
vironments. My knowledge base focuses primarily on practices such as 5S, Six Sigma,
Kaizen, and the Lean mindset. I believe in being proactive and that for positive change
to happen, we must be willing to be transparent and actively seek out areas in need
of improvement. An organized, safe, and well-planned work space leads to increased
productivity, quality products and happier workplace
creativesafetysupply.com 1-866-777-1360The leaders in visual safety.
http://blog.creativesafetysupply.com/when-common-sense-and-standardization-conflict/