Common Sense and Safety

I was reading an article by Ron Joseph from Dayton Power and Light called "Safety and Common Sense."It brought to mind some of the accidents that have happened in the metals industry in the last year. Accidents caused by someone obviously not thinking before taking on a task, sometimes an unusual task, sometimes one that they had performed hundreds of times. For instance, reaching around, under or over  a guard; or standing on the top step of a stepladder. One of the most frustrating endeavors is getting employees sufficiently motivated towards safety to take the time to analyze the job in front of them and ensure their own safety. I have said many times that if we all take care of ourselves that we will all go home safely, but that really needs to go one step further and include looking out for our workmates also. Howard Mavity of Fisher and Phillips LLP, said that we need to develop a "pause and think mindset" within our employees that will help them to take that brief extra moment to make sure that their job can be performed safely not only for themselves but also for their coworkers.

With all of that said, we could come to the conclusion that the relationship between common sense and safety is defined by just thinking about what we are doing before we do it. Common sense also tells me that if I have an accident, I will be the one to suffer the consequences such as loss of income and PAIN!

 Common sense also tells us that we should always pay attention to our surroundings, wear appropriate PPE, practice good housekeeping, ask for help when needed and above all be serious about safety. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing so. There are those that say that safety is just common sense and others that say that safety has nothing to do with common sense. I fall somewhere in the middle of that conversation. Safety is not common sense, but "practicing" common sense is a large part of the safety equation. Just to illustrate, if I step out in front of a moving forklift suddenly, I very possibly will be hit by it, thus demonstrating a lack of common sense. By waiting and making eye contact with the forklift operator I would be displaying common sense thereby avoiding a really bad day for me. Unfortunately, we are not born with common sense, we have to develop or acquire it. When you think about it, common sense results from our using life experiences along with training we receive to cope with situations we face on a daily basis. The sad fact is that when we analyze the causes of accidents we find that 80% or better were caused by unsafe acts, which would reflect a lack of, or, failure to use common sense.
It has long been said that;
“No job is so important and no service is so urgent that we cannot take time to perform our work safely.”

   For some interesting reading, follow the link below for 28 common sense safety tips.

http://www.safetyawakenings.com/common-sense-safety-tips-rules-practices-workplace-occupational-download/

Refocus on Safety in 2015

Refocus on Safety in 2015

 In order to regain our focus on safety it is necessary to “refocus on safety.”  To refocus on safety, we have to create an environment where individuals accept personal responsibility for their safety and their co-workers safety, too. There are three critical elements that are needed to promote a progressive safety culture.

• A commitment to the resources necessary to achieve the goal of “No Accidents, No Injuries.”
• We cannot afford to cut corners when it comes to safety improvements. We spend a lot on safety incentives, but are we spending enough on safety process improvements. Sometimes even what seem to be small inexpensive improvements can be overlooked or sidelined because, “we are so busy.”
• An atmosphere/culture that encourages open, honest communication and feedback between all levels within the organization.
• Provide multiple paths for employees to bring suggestions, concerns, or problems forward.
• Use the chain of command and ensure no repercussions.
• Hold supervisors and middle managers accountable for being responsive.

• A clear understanding of the price that can be paid when safety is not the number one priority.
• What price will I pay with my body parts if I ignore safety matters?
• What will be the price I pay with my standard of living, i.e. income, property, family time, etc..?
• What will be the price my family will pay?
• What will be the price my co-workers pay?
• What will be the price my employer will pay?

It is a matter of setting our standard high;

"Safe production is our only standard!"

A key ingredient is Employee Involvement. The most effective safety programs are the ones that are driven by the responsibility for safety being shared by EVERYONE in the workplace. In addition the employees' unique knowledge of problems in the production process is the best tool to use in resolving safety concerns. Think about this, no one else has as much at stake to avoid accidents as the employees who are likely to be injured. The more they will appreciate the potential hazards that exist at the worksite, the more likely that they will avoid unsafe behaviors, thereby strengthening the overall safety culture of the company. Without employees' involvement and cooperation, accidents are difficult to prevent. In one of OSHA’s publications on its website it discusses the why and how of employee involvement.

What are the advantages of getting employees involved?

• Employees are the ones in contact with potential hazards and will have a vested interest.
• Group decisions have the advantage of the group's wider field of experience.
• Research shows that employees are more likely to support and use programs in which they have had input; employee buy-in for the needed changes is more likely.
• Employees who are encouraged to offer their ideas and whose contributions are taken seriously are more satisfied and productive.
• The more that employees are involved in the various facets of the program, the more they will learn about safety, what is causing injuries at their site, and how they can avoid be injured. The more they know and understand, the greater their awareness will be and the stronger the safety culture of the organization will become.

How can employees get involved?

• Participate on joint labor-management committees and other advisory groups.
• Conduct site inspections.
• Analyze routine hazards in each step of a job or process, and prepare safe work practices.
• Participate in developing and revising safety rules.
• Participate as trainers for current and new hires.
• Participate in accident/near miss incident investigations.
• Participate in decision making throughout the company's operations.
• Participate in pre-use and change analysis.
• Participate as safety observers and safety coaches.
• Report hazards and be involved in finding solutions to correct the problems.

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/safetyhealth/index.html

The 3 C’s of Safety Culture:

Compliance, the necessary foundation

Commitment, requires visible leadership and associate ownership

Company culture, which takes time to mature the safety culture, and is constantly evolving

           

Ken Woodlin, vice president, logistics asset protection, compliance & safety,

Walmart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, Ark

Steve Bargeron

I intend for this blog to be a forum for those of us that want to make a difference regarding the safety of our fellow workers and our environment. Having been involved in the field of Environmental, Health and Safety for several years now, I have come to realize that one person can make a difference, but it takes empowerment, buy-in, teamwork and a willingness to get involved in motivating others to realize that they can make a difference also. While this Blog will primarily be addressing safety in the workplace, comments on environmental matters are always welcome. We use the phrase "raising awareness" constantly regarding safety; that is the primary purpose of this blog, to "raise awareness" of how all industries can pull together to create a safer workplace. My first posting considers how we all can refocus on the upcoming year regarding safety improvements in industry.

Steve Bargeron