14 Jul Landman and the Three Cs for Safety

The Three Cs for Safety:  Compliance, Competence, and Commitment:  A Comprehensive Approach

The Paramount + series, Landman, is a fictional portrayal of the drama that enfolds when there’s an explosion at a Texas oil rig killing four workers.  While Landman is a fictional show with plenty of embellishments, co-creator, Christian Wallace, who has a background in the Texas oil industry, states that some of the elements related to workers compensation in the oil industry are accurate.

The bottom line is that every worker deserves to go home safe, but frequently that is not what happens.  Each year there are more 2.8 million injuries in the U.S., with temporary workers facing a 36% higher risk than their permanent counterparts.  With over 11 million temp workers in the workforce, the need for a modern, strategic safety framework has never been greater.

Enter The 3C’s for Safety: Compliance, Competence, and Commitment—a comprehensive approach to creating safer, more responsible, and more resilient work environments.

This article is adapted from a training presentation by Barrow Group’s Kevin Kilcoyne, who collaborates with organizations to promote workplace safety and manage workers’ compensation premiums.

Why the 3Cs Matter

Workplace safety isn’t just about avoiding accidents—it’s about building trust, morale, and operational continuity. Every injury affects more than just the worker—it ripples across families, teams, and businesses. The 3C’s framework moves safety from a checklist item to a shared organizational value.

The First C: Compliance

“The legal foundation.”

Compliance ensures that companies meet OSHA and industry-specific regulations, but it’s not just about obeying the rules—it’s the bare minimum. A strong compliance program includes:

• Clear Documentation: Contractual safety terms, insurance requirements, and liability assignments.
• Defined Roles: Both staffing agencies and host employers have responsibilities—and those must be written down.
• Ongoing Audits: Safety policies and procedures require constant updates and inspections to keep pace with regulations.

Key takeaway: Without compliance, everything else falls apart. It sets the baseline but isn’t the ceiling.

The Second C: Competence

“The know-how to stay safe.”

Competence is more than basic training—it’s the ability to identify risks, adapt to change, and perform work safely under any conditions. It includes:

• Knowledge & Skills: Understanding both the “why” and the “how” of safety.
• Hazard Recognition: Identifying potential dangers before they become incidents.
• Adaptability: Training workers to handle evolving worksite risks.

This is especially critical in temporary staffing, where job sites change frequently. Shared training responsibilities between staffing agencies and host employers must be clearly defined and thoroughly documented.

Best Practices:

• Pre-assignment training with verification
• Site-specific orientations
• Language-appropriate content
• Regular refreshers and cross-training

The Third C: Commitment

“Transforming safety from rules to values.”

Commitment is what separates a compliant workplace from a truly proactive safety culture. It’s what builds trust, encourages transparency, and creates an environment where every voice matters—temporary or permanent.

True commitment includes:

• Leadership Example: Safety must be modeled from the top down.
• Open Reporting: Workers must feel safe reporting concerns without fear.
• Recognition: Celebrate safety milestones to reinforce good behavior.
• Collaboration: Staffing agencies and host employers working as one team.

Commitment also means equitable treatment—temporary associates must be included in safety briefings, investigations, and celebrations. There is no “us and them” in a zero-harm culture.

Introducing the 4th C: Collaboration

While not officially part of the original trio, Collaboration has emerged as the force multiplier. Without it, the 3C’s exist in silos. With it, they thrive.

Here’s what great collaboration looks like:

• Written Agreements outlining shared responsibilities
• Joint Safety Planning with emergency protocols
• Daily Briefings that include temp workers
• Quarterly Site Reviews to refine safety strategies together

When compliance is the floor, competence is the engine, and commitment is the culture—collaboration becomes the glue.

Final Thoughts: Safety is a Shared Journey

Safety isn’t static. It requires attention, ownership, and teamwork at every level. The 3Cs for Safety—Compliance, Competence, and Commitment—aren’t just pillars of a program. They’re the foundation of a future where every worker is protected, no matter the badge they wear or the job they perform.

In 2025 and beyond, let’s make safety a shared priority. Because when it comes to protecting lives, good enough is never enough.

Protect your staffing agency with insurance solutions built for your industry. Kevin Kilcoyne has been serving temporary staffing clients at Barrow Group for more than 20 years. As a Certified Risk Manager and a Certified Staffing Professional, he consults with clients on ways to improve their risk management (including workers’ compensation and liability) programs. Complete an application or call direct at 770-338-7392.

https://www.barrowgroup.com/staffing/