Workers don’t plan to put themselves at risk, but sometimes they do when a procedure that was originally safe changes over time. PotashCorp created a process to find these hidden dangers, to reduce serious injuries and fatalities (SIF).

The program – dubbed “SIF in the Routine” – was recently awarded the prestigious 2017 Green Cross Safety Excellence Award from the National Safety Council in the U.S.

“SIF in the Routine” is a safety auditing process in which a team of workers observe their colleagues performing routine tasks. When done well, the SIF audits are a blend of investigation, conversation and observation.

Audit team members speak up when their gut tells them something may not be right. “People familiar with the task are not uneasy. They won’t see SIF exposure the same way the person with a fresh set of eyes will,” says Rob Bubnick, PotashCorp Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment.

Keeping workers safe is a core value at PotashCorp, which is striving to continually improve its injury rates and avoid life-altering injuries.