Hiding in Plain Sight: Strategies to Help Identify & Expose Hidden Risks

Even the safest operations can have hidden threats that remain unnoticed until they trigger a serious incident. With the right approach, these risks can be identified and addressed—before it’s too late.

What Is a Hidden Risk?

Not all safety risks are easy to spot. Hidden risks are those lurking beneath the surface—tucked into our routines, buried in our systems, or masked by success. They’re the issues no one notices until something goes wrong. These risks often build slowly over time, quietly growing until a near miss (or worse) forces them into view.

How Can You Identify Your Hidden Risks?

Every operation has them. Maybe it’s a shortcut that’s become standard practice. A piece of equipment that’s overdue for inspection. An employee who’s hesitant to speak up. Or maybe it’s that everything seems “fine,” and that assumption goes unchallenged. Hidden risks can take various forms, such as:

Normalized Unsafe Behaviors (e.g., forklift drivers routinely travel with raised loads, which is against policy, but no one questions it anymore)
Outdated Procedures (e.g., lockout/tagout steps haven’t been updated for newer equipment, so workers rely on memory)
Over-Reliance on Ineffective Indicators (e.g., “zero incidents” is celebrated, but systemic hazards go unaddressed)
Gaps in Hiring, Training or Communication (e.g., new hires get a quick overview but no hands-on training, which leaves them feeling unsure and at risk)
Silent Near Misses (e.g., an employee dodges a falling box but says nothing to avoid it from happening again)

Hidden risks must be proactively identified.

Why Do These Risks Exist?

Hidden risks develop out of the way we work every day. Common causes may include:

Familiarity with the job: When tasks become routine, we may stop noticing the hazards.
Fear of blame or inaction: If employees think raising concerns won’t help or might backfire, they may stay quiet.
Distance from decision-makers: Leadership may assume policies are followed as written, while frontline realities may tell a different story.
Complex systems: A small issue in one area can create a domino effect across the operation.
Complacency after success: When things are going well, it’s tempting to let our guard down.

How to Identify and Address Hidden Risks

Hidden risks must be proactively identified. The goal isn’t to find fault—it’s to stay proactive, build trust, and surface issues before they become incidents. Here’s how you can stay proactive:

Build Psychological Safety:
Encourage employees to speak up without fear. Make it clear that raising concerns is valued, not punished.
Look Beyond the Checklist:
Inspections are helpful, but don’t stop there. Ask open-ended questions and observe day-to-day work with curiosity.
Keep Procedures Current:
Outdated SOPs can create confusion. Review them regularly and involve frontline workers who know the job best.
Track Leading Indicators:
Don’t just count past incidents—monitor behaviors that help predict them, like training participation, and near-miss reports.
Make Safety Part of the Workflow:
Talk about safety daily—not just in meetings or audits. Integrate it into shift huddles, project planning, and team check-ins.
Learn From Every Close Call:
Review near misses and incidents to find root causes, system gaps, and prevention opportunities. Focus on learning, not blame.

Identifying hidden risks requires curiosity, transparency, and a proactive mindset. It also demands that leaders create an environment where concerns can surface before they become crises.

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^{IMPORTANT NOTICE: The information discussed during this webinar, including the presenters’ statements and opinions expressed, should not be viewed as a substitute for any legal or other professional advice on any particular issue, for any particular reason, or on any particular subject matter. The advice of a professional should always be obtained before purchasing any insurance product or any service, and the information provided during this webinar should not be relied upon for the prevention or mitigation of risks or as a full and complete explanation of coverage under any insurance policy or as a full and complete explanation of terms and conditions of any services offered. While the information discussed during this webinar has been compiled from sources reasonably believed to be reliable, no warranty, guarantee, or representation, either expressed or implied, is made as to the correctness or sufficiency of any representation made during this webinar. The presenters’ statements and opinions regarding the subject matter expressed represent the opinions, positions or beliefs of the presenters themselves and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, positions or beliefs of Acrisure, LLC or its affiliates.}

About the Author

Brian Fielkow

Acrisure Risk Resources

Brian Fielkow helps Acrisure clients grow their safety cultures and manage risk with his executive, operational, and safety leadership. Fielkow has published several books and articles, including Leading People Safely: How to Win on the Business Battlefield, co-authored with James T. Schultz.