Happy Father’s Day – And Safe Living Practices

Good Morning Team,

I trust all you fathers out there had a Happy Father’s Day. Back when I became a father (almost 40 years ago!) I realized that I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Sure, I’d had a good upbringing, which gave me some insight into what I as a dad did, and didn’t, want to do when raising my own children, but I was woefully unprepared for the actual reality of that screeching, squirming, terrifyingly beautiful bundle of joy just handed to me. In the very first moment I held my newborn daughter, I can remember clearly thinking that my heart couldn’t possibly hold anymore more love than at the very moment. In the very next moment, I felt an almost overwhelming sense of dread, because I suddenly believed, that I was going to fail at being a dad. I simply just didn’t know enough to be the father that little life would need and was meant to have. It was absolutely one of the most profoundly unsettling couple of minutes I had had up to that point in my own life. Now, with a total of 6 children, 15 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild – to date anyway – I can say that it is all working out somehow. Did I make mistakes? No question. Did I have successes? Most definitely. The one thing that I think that truly mattered, and made a difference for me then and now, was just the desire to do the best that I could every day.

Working safely is just like that. (Nice segue….?) You have to want to do the best you can. All the training in the world will never amount to a hill-of-beans if it isn’t followed up by a desire to apply that knowledge. Having all the equipment necessary to work safely can’t protect you even a little bit if it’s gathering dust in the corner and never donned. And all that written safety rules and regulations ever did, for anyone ultimately hurt or killed because they weren’t adhered to, was fill up paper and electronic screens with meaningless lines and squiggles. Will accidents and injuries ever be totally eliminated from our workplace lives just because we want them to be? Unfortunately, that may be a bit out of reach, but we can do our part to reduce their impact significantly. Following are a few ways that you can increase the odds in your favor:

• STOP!: (S)top: Don’t blindly rush into any job. (T)hink! Consider safety concerns and needs. (O)rganize: Gather everything needed to do the job safely. (P)lan: Lay the project steps out in the safest manner possible.
• Report and investigate every accident or injury as well as those that result in only in a near miss. What is uncovered can be used to protect you and others in the future.
• Encourage others by thanking them when they are working safely. Could we incorporate their processes into our own?
• Take responsibility. Did you just notice that you aren’t wearing your gloves as you start your work? Stop immediately and put them on. Did you feel the ladder move slightly when you first stepped on it? Reposition it before climbing to your working height.
• Watch out! Others just may not share the same view of safety as you and expose you to accident or injury because of it. See someone doing something dangerous? Speak up!

There will probably be the occasional mistake, but we can always learn from, and then not repeat them. Life is often about choices and ultimately you have the power to make good and bad ones. Choose to do, whatever it is you do, safely every day. Whether you’re a father, or mother, with children still at home or they have all grown and left the nest, your continued beneficial impact on their lives is important. (Even when they tell you differently!) Make sure you can go home in the same shape that you went to work in by choosing safe work practices at every opportunity.

Have a very safe and productive week.

Sincerely,

Ray Moore
Director of Facilities Services