Getting to ZERO

"Do what you can with what you have where you are." Theodore Roosevelt
Wise words, indeed! We can't fix all the safety problems, today…but we can get started on the list! We must be persistent and we will make great strides over time. This has been proven over and over again at mining operations and cement plants across the country. Remember: The Great Wall of China was started with a single brick.
You can lead a man to safety, but you can't make him think…or can you? I say you can... with quality training, coaching and supervision. We need to all work together; it's time to step up to the plate and watch out for each other, work with each other and hold each other accountable. At-risk or unsafe acts occur around us everyday…it is time to speak up! Sure some co-workers may get mad at you for reminding them to tie off or to lock out a breaker…but at least they will still be here. And, they will get over it.
Can we stop all the accidents and all the injuries in the workplace? YES! Will we ever get to zero fatalities in the mining industry? YES! …it is a tall order, but it is acheivable. One thing is certain though…we'll get there sooner if we all see safety as a value that cannot be compromised. The more people pulling the wagon, the faster we'll get it up the hill. So those of you still sitting in the wagon…get out and help us out. Push or Pull, either will help! Only by pooling our efforts is the goal attainable.
Safety is not a spectator sport…everybody needs to carry their share of the load. Plan your work, work your plan. See something that needs attention, take the initiative and DO IT (or at least report it to somebody so that it gets addressed). See an unsafe condition, take action immediately. See an unsafe act, SPEAK UP! We all have lapses of judgment; and need a co-worker to set us straight now and again. Safety is a choice…it is choosing to do the right thing. So, I will leave you with a couple questions questions:
'When it comes to Safety, I've got your back! -- Do you have mine (are you watching out for coworkers)? Or to put it another way, are you looking out for your co-workers? Why or why not? Think about it and Do the right thing!

Wise words from the Web
If there is anything I would like to be remembered for it is that I helped people understand that leadership is helping other people grow and succeed. To repeat myself, leadership is not just about you. It's about them. -Jack Welch

Maturity begins when we're content to feel we're right about something without feeling the necessity to prove someone else wrong. -Sydney J. Harris