Fall Safety!

Please do your part to ensure employees maintain their focus in order to reduce the potential for injury. Remember, Safety isn’t a Spectator Sport… we need everyone in the game!

Fall Brings Additional Hazards

Fall is in full swing which means the days are getting shorter, which reduces visibility – remind equipment operators and truck drivers to keep an eye out for ground personnel.

Temperatures will soon be dropping, which means we’ll soon see ice and snow in many parts of the country, increasing the potential for slip and fall hazards. To reduce the likelihood of injury, workers should take smaller, deliberate steps and follow the 3-points of contact rule while walking across the site or mounting & dismounting equipment.

Maintain the Focus

The holidays are rapidly approaching and minds may start to wander as people think about holiday shopping & travel or family commitments. We must remind employees, often, about the importance of focusing on the task at hand. Loss of Focus is one of Four Critical Mental States that can lead to injury or property damage. The other three critical mental states are: Fatigue, Frustration, and Complacency.

These four critical states can also cause problems for employees off the job. Examples include: driver fatigue and texting while driving. DOT reduced the number of hours truckers can drive per day to combat driver fatigue. Now, DOT is partnering with OSHA to consider regulations to combat distracted driving by workers (truckers and carrier service personnel). However, these issues don’t only affect professional drivers; they also affect ‘off the clock’ drivers like our employees and their families. Holiday travelers, including college students, often face fatigue and distractions. Remind employees to maintain their focus even when not at work. Avoid talking on cell phones or texting while driving (or pull over to the side of the road). And remember, on a long drive, taking a 10-15 minute break can enhance mental alertness.

Another fourth quarter, off-the-job concern involves the task of putting up holiday decorations. Many people sustain personal injury while decorating their homes for Halloween and/or Christmas. Some start electrical fires or even burn down their homes due to a loss of focus, complacency or by unknowingly overloading electrical circuits. So remind employees to: Practice Safety 24/7 (at home, at work and at play).