Over the years, I’ve come to realize that most serious incidents on high-risk jobsites don’t happen because of a lack of knowledge, they happen because of what we think we know.
That’s why I’ve created this series: The 10 Safety Paradigms That Changed the Way I Lead. Each paradigm comes from hard-won lessons. Some from my own experience, others from working alongside crews who’ve faced the unthinkable.
My hope is that these paradigms challenge the way you approach safety, leadership, and team culture. Because surviving this work isn’t just about having the right tools. It’s about having the right mindset.
You Don’t Forget a Day Like This
October 19, 2015.
The day my career and my life took a hard turn.
It started like any other job; the kind you’ve done a hundred times. Familiar site. Familiar process. Same crew. Same rhythm. Nothing looked out of place. But one moment of trust, one assumption nearly cost me everything.
I assumed things were as they always have been.
I was wrong.
The next thing I remember is the sound of electricity, the feeling of my body locking up, and the realization that I might not make it home.
Now, I’m writing to tell you something I’ve spent the last decade screaming from the rooftops:
Assumptions kill. Verification saves lives.
This Paradigm Isn’t Just a Lesson. It’s a Warning.
Most of us don’t wake up thinking today’s the day something goes sideways.
We rely on what we think we know. We rely on what the last guy said. We rely on our routine. And most days, we get away with it.
Until we don’t.
When I made that assumption in 2015, I wasn’t being reckless. I wasn’t taking a shortcut. I genuinely believed the conditions were safe because they always were in the past. But I hadn’t verified for myself.
That’s the trap: the brain starts filling in gaps with comfort instead of clarity.
Why Assumptions Are So Dangerous in the Field
Here’s the thing about assumptions:
They’re invisible.
They’re quiet.
And they feel completely safe, right up until they’re not.
In high-risk work, making an assumption is like leaving the door cracked on a high-voltage cabinet and turning your back on it. You may walk by 100 times without an issue. But all it takes is once.
Common field assumptions that lead to serious incidents:
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“We’ve done this a hundred times.”
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“Everyone knows the plan.”
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“That equipment is good to go.”
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“It’s just a quick task. We don’t need full PPE.”
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“We don’t need a spotter.”
Here’s the thing: we don’t usually realize we’re making an assumption. That’s why this paradigm matters so much. It puts language around something that can be fatal without warning.
Assumption Is the Silent Killer in Your Crew
You can walk a whole job with perfect tools and a strong crew, and one unchecked assumption can unravel it all.
But let me tell you what makes this even worse:
Assumptions spread.
If the crew leader assumes, the apprentice eventually assumes.
When one person skips verification and keeps moving, others often assume it’s already been done, so no one double-checks.
Before long, you’ve got a crew that’s moving fast, working hard, and hanging by a thread.
And when it snaps, everyone asks the same thing:
“What happened? It was just a normal day.”
The Shift: From Trusting to Verifying
Here’s the paradigm in action:
Old Way: “It should be fine.”
New Way: “Let’s make sure.”
Verification is not a sign of mistrust.
It’s not disrespectful.
It’s not slowing things down.
It’s the habit that keeps your people alive.
Here’s what I tell crews now:
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You don’t get paid to guess. You get paid to know.
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If something matters enough to assume, it matters enough to verify.
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When in doubt—check it out. And then check again.
Because you know what’s expensive?
A hospital bill.
A life-altering injury.
A funeral.
3 Ways to Apply This Paradigm Right Now
This isn’t just philosophy. It’s field ready. Here’s how to make it real:
1. Use the “Assumption Filter” Before Starting Work
Train yourself and your crew to pause and ask:
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What am I assuming right now?
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How do I know it’s true?
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What haven’t we verified?
You’d be amazed how many things we “just think” are handled until someone finally voices it.
2. Build Verification into the Pre-Job Brief
Don’t stop at “Are we clear?” Go deeper:
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Did anyone test? Who?
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Do we have written confirmation?
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Has the setup changed since the last shift?
Build it in. Make it standard. That extra 60 seconds might be the most valuable part of your entire day.
3. Create a Culture Where It’s Safe to Ask
If a worker doesn’t feel comfortable saying, “I’m not sure,” that’s not a crew; that’s a landmine.
Leaders, listen up: you set the tone.
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Celebrate when someone double-checks.
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Thank the guy who asks, “Are you sure?”
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Make it clear that speaking up is not only allowed but encouraged.
Real-World Example: The M-Code That No One Questioned
On April 18, 2025, a crew installed a new Viper switch on a 21 kV circuit. They did the tailboard. They verified the material M-codes. Everything looked good.
But here’s what no one caught:
The potential transformers (PTs) were only rated for 12 kV. Not the required 21 kV.
When the switch was energized, one of those PTs exploded.
It caused a relay trip and triggered multiple outages.
No one was hurt. But make no mistake, this was a near miss.
And the root cause? It wasn’t laziness. It wasn’t recklessness.
It was a design error that slipped through and assumptions that went unchallenged.
Everyone trusted the M-codes. Trusted the process. Trusted that if something were wrong, someone else would have caught it.
But no one did.
And that’s the danger of letting silence speak louder than verification.
What Assumptions Are You Trusting Today?
Today may feel routine.
Maybe you’ve done this work a thousand times.
You may know your crew, your process, your site like the back of your hand.
But let me ask you:
What assumptions are you trusting right now that you haven’t verified?
Because those are the ones that’ll catch you.
Those are the ones that don’t show up in the JHA.
Those are the ones that wait until you’ve let your guard down.
Closing: Make This Paradigm a Daily Habit
If there’s one thing I want you to carry with you today, it’s this:
Assumptions are comfortable. Verification is courageous.
You don’t need to guess. You don’t need to hope. You don’t need to trust a routine that hasn’t earned it.
You need to verify every time.
I may not have a scar on my body, but I carry the weight of that day and a fire in my soul to make sure it never happens to someone else.
So, the next time your gut says, “It’s probably fine,”
I want you to stop.
Check.
Ask.
Verify.
And then get back to work knowing you’re not gambling with your life, your crew, or your future.
Stay Vigilant, Stay Humble, Stay Alive
Lito
