If you walk into a five-star restaurant in South Louisiana and order Cajun gumbo, you expect it to taste the same every time. The rich flavors, the perfect balance of seasoning, the deep, slow-cooked roux, none of that happens by accident. It all starts with an old Cajun saying: “Mise en place” which means “everything in its place.” Before cooking even begins, all the ingredients must be chopped, measured, and ready. The chef follows a plan, executes each step precisely,and ensures quality through constant checks.
Serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) prevention should follow the same approach. Just like in Cajun cooking, there must be a plan that everyone understands, preparation before execution, real-time checks during the process, and a final review to ensure it was done correctly.
1. Plan Like a Chef Prepares for a Signature Dish
Before cooking, a great chef gathers all the ingredients and understands every step in the process. In the same way, serious injury and fatality prevention requires thorough planning before work begins. Workers must know the direct controls (fail-safes that prevent harm if something goes wrong) and indirect controls (procedures that still ensure safety even if things deviate from the original plan).
For example, when driving pilings, it’s not enough to just set up the equipment. Workers must ensure that everyone is outside the fall radius in case something unexpected happens. A strong plan doesn’t just tell people what to do—it ensures that even if something fails, no one gets hurt.
2. A Recipe for Predictability: Reducing Cognitive Overload
A skilled chef doesn’t rely on memory alone. Both the head chef and the apprentice follow a written recipe. It’s documented and followed to ensure the dish comes out the same every time. Why? Because memory is unreliable, and cognitive overload can cause mistakes.
This is one of the missing links in ensuring success in SIF prevention. It’s not enough to have a standard operating procedure; it must be easily accessible at the time of need.
Workers shouldn’t have to rely on memory alone, especially under stress. The same page needs to be in front of everyone, whether that’s:
- A BootLink pocket guide
- A digital Pocket Toolbox
- A download to their phone
- A printed pre-job checklist
When stress levels rise, having instant access to the right steps removes guesswork and eliminates variation between individuals. A written and accessible process ensures predictability every time, just like a great chef’s recipe.
3. Execute with Discipline, Every Step Matters
In a professional kitchen, execution is everything. Apprentice cooks follow a recipe while famous chefs oversee the process, making adjustments as needed. Throughout cooking, they taste, stir, and check the temperature to ensure everything is going according to plan.
The same principle applies to SIF prevention. Each worker must carry out their role predictably and carefully to ensure flawless execution. If something is off, stop and check, just like a chef wouldn’t serve a gumbo that doesn’t taste right. If a procedure isn’t being followed as intended, adjustments must be made before continuing.
4. Validate the Process and Check Before You Serve
Before a dish reaches the customer, a chef takes one final look. Did everything come together perfectly? Is the seasoning right? This last check ensures consistency and quality.
In SIF prevention, this is where an after-action review comes in. Once a task is complete, teams
should review:
- Did everything go as planned?
- Did we encounter any unexpected issues?
- Do we need to adjust the process for next time?
5. Flawless Execution: The Same Safe Outcome, Every Time
When you visit a restaurant, you expect the gumbo to be just as good as the last time. That’s what keeps customers coming back. Similarly, SIF prevention must deliver consistent and predictable safety outcomes, regardless of who is on the job.
The key steps remain the same:
- Plan – Ensure everything is in place and workers understand direct and indirect safety controls.
- Prepare – Gather the right tools, resources, and personnel before starting.
- Execute – Follow the process step by step, ensuring precision.
- Stop & Check – If something is off, pause and correct before moving forward.
- Review & Improve – Conduct an after-action review to refine the process.
By following this structured approach, life-saving rules won’t just be guidelines, they’ll be an ingrained culture of safety, just like the time-honored traditions of Cajun cooking.
At the end of the day, whether it’s gumbo or safety, the goal is the same: flawless execution, every single time.
