Look for the Lesson and Learn from it!
We all have the opportunity to learn and benefit from our daily experiences. Many times we are too busy to look for the lesson in those experiences. The good news is if we don’t learn from our mistakes (experiences) we will make them again and eventually we ‘get it’.
Learn from Others
Remember the wise person learns from the mistakes of others. In safety as in life it is generally less painful if the other guy is the one receiving the lesson, so why not get a freebie while you can.
Experiences my family had during the last quarter of 2007 and the Lesson of each
Experience 1: My teenage daughter in a rush to go to Wal-Mart ran out to her car to unlock it for her and her mom. She opened the driver’s door, stuck the keys in the ignition, pushed the lock button and closed the door. Oops…was that the lock button? Oops are those my spare keys in the center console? Hey dad…
Lesson: Rushing can cost you time (an hour wait) and money ($45 for a locksmith). Tip: It can cost you a lot more than that. Rushing (or cutting corners can lead to injury or death) Slow down, focus, think about what you’re doing and remember to keep yourself out of harms way.
Experience 2: My son was hot-rodding his truck and blew his engine…he got mad and hit the windshield breaking that too.
Lesson: Getting mad about a problem often times magnifies it. Tip: When things go wrong as they often do…Think and take action to minimize the damage. Let me clarify, THINK before taking action!
Experience 3: I left the house on Friday morning (12/28) with a migraine (still tired from the back and neck ache that kept me up most of the night). Then, I had the pleasure of getting pulled over for a California stop just off Oklahoma Highway 69 at 6:00 am.
Lesson: Failure to come to a complete stop in Oklahoma will run $206.50 (fatigue can lead to a lot more than tickets…your brain takes micro-naps when you are up too long -- ever wake up and not remember driving home after working 16 hours?). Tip: Both on and off the job, obey the posted signs and never underestimate the value of a good nights sleep. Posted signs are the rules that help keep you safe, but if you push yourself too hard…you could be heading for trouble because you may miss the sign.
Experience 4: We spent a few weeks this fall tearing down our barn that was damaged by a wind storm. The girls were talking and her mind and eyes were not on task. My daughter got complacent or distracted and stepped on a rusty nail.
Lesson: Distractions can lead to injury and injuries can be painful. Tip: Keep your focus on the task at hand especially when performing non-routine tasks and mundane tasks…no matter how many times you’ve done it.
Remember the four critical states that lead to mishaps
-Rushing -Fatigue
-Frustration -Complacency
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