Numbers!
August 27, 2018Falls & Ladders
September 17, 2018It has been reported that 80 out of 100 accidents are usually due to an unsafe act. Unsafe acts cause four times as many accidents as unsafe conditions. When accidents are investigated there is a tendency to find some “thing” to blame because understanding the root cause is more difficult. More often than not, the root cause is actually in our own attitudes or behaviors. We become our own worst enemy when our attitude falls short of the actual requirements of any particular task. Below are seven common unsafe acts that lead to accidents.
- Taking Shortcuts: While we should always be looking for ways to increase efficiency in our tasks, we must never risk our own safety, or that of others, while doing so. A shortcut that has bypassed a safety requirement, will eventually lead directly to an accident. Where is the time saved then?
- Being Over-Confident: Having some confidence is good thing, but being overly-confident can lead to an accident. Thinking that “it’ll never happen to me” is an attitude that can lead us to using improper procedures, tools, or methods in our work. Make sure your confidence is bolstered by a solid foundation of applied safety habits.
- Not Understanding the Task: To do any job correctly you need complete information. After all, if you don’t understand the task, you probably can’t do it right or safely. It’s never dumb to ask a question to better understand something, it’s dumb not to.
- Poor Housekeeping: Sometimes our work areas reflect what our true attitude about safety really is. Poor housekeeping leads to all types of safety hazards. Good housekeeping involves both pride and safety.
- Ignoring Safety Procedures: Purposely failing to follow known safety guidelines will endanger you and your co-workers. They exist to keep you accident and injury free. It is in your best interest to follow them.
- Mental Distractions: Take your focus off the task at hand and bad things can happen. It only takes a split second for an accident to happen. Don’t let your mind wander while you’re performing your job, your safety depends on it.
- Failure to Pre-Plan the Work: In the same manner that you plan on the tools and materials needed for any particular task, safety requires the same focus. Identify and understand the risks and then come up with ways to do the work safely. Plan your work safely and then safely work your plan.
If you recognize yourself in any of the above unsafe acts, it’s time for a change. Don’t take risks with safety. Consider this quote; “It is better to be careful one hundred times than to be killed once.” In a previous email, I attributed this to Mark Twain, but find now that this is probably not the case. (Got to love the internet!) No matter who originally said it though, it couldn’t be more true. Let’s make sure that we are always 100% safety conscious by practicing it in a routine way.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Ray Moore
Dir. of Facilities Services