Integrating safety - The deadly mushroom principle
Someone recently said:
“Anyone can eat a mushroom, but some mushrooms are only edible once”.
It tickled me at the time, but it has an underlying seriousness.
Just because something can be done, doesn’t mean it should be.
Making decisions relating to safety, as well as many other factors follow this same rule.
Other similar sayings “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me” and more will be explored here.
The Snow White Effect: When Danger Looks Harmless
Think about Snow White taking a bite of that perfectly red apple. On the outside, it looked delicious, but inside, it carried poison. In real life, danger rarely announces itself with flashing lights and warning signs. Sometimes, it comes disguised as routine, convenience, or pressure from others.
Take workplace shortcuts. A worker skips wearing a harness because “it’s just a quick job.” A driver texts at a red light because “everyone does it.” In the moment, these actions seem harmless—until they’re not. Just like Snow White, they take a bite without realising the consequences. As the saying goes,
“It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.”
You would be surprised at how many tribunal cases there have actually been because eyes have been lost.
The Labyrinth Lesson: Deception and Regret
In Labyrinth, (“You remind me of the babe”….now I know that’s stuck in your head! 🎶)
Sarah eats a peach, enchanted by the Goblin King, and loses herself in an illusion. She doesn’t recognise the danger because it’s wrapped in something that seems pleasant. How many times do people make bad choices under stress, fatigue, or pressure, only to wake up later realising they’ve been the mistake?
A worker who has never experienced an accident might think safety rules are unnecessary. They haven’t “eaten the bad mushroom” yet, so they assume all choices are safe. Like many new drivers. But those who have had a close call—or worse, seen tragedy first hand—view the world differently. They’ve tasted the consequences, and it changes how they approach risk forever. As the saying goes,
“A fool learns from his own mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”
Knowledge is the Antidote
Imagine a skilled forager in the forest. They know which mushrooms are safe and which ones spell disaster. In the workplace, experienced workers, well-trained teams, and strong safety cultures serve as guides, helping others avoid the mistakes that only allow for one lesson.
Unfortunately, some organisations operate like reckless adventurers, blindly eating whatever mushrooms they find. They only change after a disaster forces them to. A proactive culture, on the other hand, learns from the past—both its own mistakes and those of others. This aligns with the wisdom of
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
The Personal Side: Recognising Patterns in Life
This principle doesn’t just apply to safety; it’s deeply rooted in human behavior. Think of someone who has trusted the wrong person in a business deal and lost everything. Next time, they will scrutinise every contract, every handshake, and every promise. Experience teaches us caution. Just look at the volume of Tribunals because contracts were not tight enough.
But what about those who haven’t encountered such situations? Just like an untrained forager in the woods, they may not recognise the danger until it’s too late. The key is education—helping people recognise threats before they make irreversible mistakes.
“Look before you leap.”
Actionable Steps to Build Awareness
Awareness isn’t just about personal experience—it’s about sharing lessons before mistakes happen. Here are some simple, practical ways to cultivate awareness:
Storytelling & Case Studies – Share real-life examples of when things went wrong. Whether in workplace training or everyday conversations, learning from others’ experiences can prevent disaster.
Encourage a Questioning Mindset – Teach people to ask, “What’s the risk here?” “What might happen?” before taking action. Just because no one has been harmed yet doesn’t mean danger isn’t lurking.
Use Visual Reminders – Signs, posters, and simple checklists can reinforce good decision-making in both workplaces and personal life.
Role-Playing Scenarios – Simulating high-pressure situations helps prepare people to make better choices when stress clouds their judgment.
Promote a Culture of Speaking Up – Encourage people to point out risks without fear of judgment. Sometimes, a fresh perspective can prevent an irreversible mistake. As the saying goes:
“Better safe than sorry.”
Final Thought: Learning Without Tasting the Poison
The best lessons don’t have to be learned first hand. Not everyone needs to eat the bad mushroom to know it’s deadly. If we can build awareness, whether in workplace safety, decision-making, or personal relationships, we can help people avoid irreversible mistakes.
So the next time you’re about to take a shortcut, ignore a red flag, or brush off a safety rule, ask yourself:
Is this just any mushroom, or is it the kind you can only eat once?
Feel free to get in touch if you would like to talk more about safety in your organisation.
