Risk Management Magazine

When the abnormal starts to feel normal, risk can hide in plain sight. It’s exactly this kind of subtle environmental setup that breeds overconfidence. A small oversight, made in good faith, can have serious consequences when assumptions go unchallenged.

This incident wasn’t an isolated case. It was a stark reminder of how quickly a seemingly innocuous situation can escalate into a life-threatening crisis.

Just about every Soldier has experienced the CS grenade. While the gas may be uncomfortable, it's an effective training tool and everyone is OK after a short period of time — especially if they’re wearing a protective mask. I learned, however, that these types of grenades can be dangerous if you lose focus during training.