One of the presentations at this year’s MSHA TRAM was on Professionalism. One must remember the importance of maintaining a professional image no matter what it is we do. For safety professionals this is extremely important. We must be careful not to compromise our reputation and should always lead from the front. Safety professionals are constantly talking the safety talk and it is vital that we ‘walk the walk’. A couple other key pointers are listed below.
Recognize all workers as professionals. Treat everyone you work with as an equal; each employee possesses a skill that they have been hired to perform. Recognizing employees and contractors as the professionals they are will give them cause to treat you the same way.
Respect those with whom you work. Remember to be courteous to both employees and contractors. This will give people a reason to ‘work with you’ and they will be more apt to reply positively than if you disrespect them.
Be kind. Sometimes people forget to use the proper PPE or follow the proper procedure because their mind was not on task. Give them a friendly reminder and make sure they understand the risk.
Don’t intimidate but EDUCATE. You won’t make any points by embarrassing someone. If a mistake is made, or a point not clear explain the WHY. Once people know why they have to do something they are more likely to comply and they will appreciate you taking the time to explain the point to them.
Maintain your focus. Remember everyone is trying to get through the day without an injury. People take chances because they do not see or understand the risk. People are not coming to work to get hurt…they are on our side. But it is up to the safety professional to keep everyone pulling in the same direction. Maintaining a positive attitude and working with people is the best way to achieve our goal.
Safety is the key that unlocks the door of success!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Tidbits – 12/03/07
Four things to remember to reduce injury (from SafeStart)
-Keep your Eyes on Task
-Keep your Mind on Task
-Keep hands, feet, and other body parts out of the Line of Fire
-Maintain your Balance Traction and Grip by using 3-points of contact.
Make time for the family!
“All children wear the sign ‘I want to be important NOW’, and many of our problems with them arise because nobody reads the sign.” --Dan Pursuit
Arrive Alive – Don’t Drink and Drive
Christmas is coming! Remember to Drink Responsibly at holiday gatherings; if you’re driving, don’t drink at all. Traffic accidents and deaths increase dramatically during the holiday season because of alcohol consumption. Remember the one-one rule -- one drink per hour. Watch out for drivers who may be under the influence, and if you over do it…call a cab.
Did you know…?
-Health care premiums increased 6.9% for companies with 5000 workers or more in 2006. Some smaller companies saw double digit increases.
-Arkansas and Michigan recently joined 19 other states in setting a minimum wage above the federal rate of $5.15. Washington rates number 1 with at $7.63.
-Falls from ladders injure more than 20,000 American workers every year.
-Workplace fires kill 200 people each year and injure more than 5000 people, annually. The cost to businesses is over $2.3 Billion a year.
-The largest snowflake on record measured eight inches in width.
70-80% of all hearing loss within the manufacturing industry is caused by compressed air.
-Yellowstone National Park has about 10,000 geysers; more than the rest of the world combined.
-50% of the world's fresh water supply is found in the Great Lakes.
Life…it’s not suppose to be easy
"It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top." --Arnold Bennett
BIG TV Alert
66% of U.S. households have three or more television sets. Many are positioned haphazardly leading to more than 7,000 children being treated annually after a TV mishap. Place TVs on a sturdy stand, not on a dresser, bookshelf, or stereo speaker. And one more thing, keep and eye on the kids, especially if you’re not used to having children in your home.
Quote of the Week: "Happiness is giving back a little more than you received. Peace is accepting what has been offered with thanks." --Ralph Arbitelle
-Keep your Eyes on Task
-Keep your Mind on Task
-Keep hands, feet, and other body parts out of the Line of Fire
-Maintain your Balance Traction and Grip by using 3-points of contact.
Make time for the family!
“All children wear the sign ‘I want to be important NOW’, and many of our problems with them arise because nobody reads the sign.” --Dan Pursuit
Arrive Alive – Don’t Drink and Drive
Christmas is coming! Remember to Drink Responsibly at holiday gatherings; if you’re driving, don’t drink at all. Traffic accidents and deaths increase dramatically during the holiday season because of alcohol consumption. Remember the one-one rule -- one drink per hour. Watch out for drivers who may be under the influence, and if you over do it…call a cab.
Did you know…?
-Health care premiums increased 6.9% for companies with 5000 workers or more in 2006. Some smaller companies saw double digit increases.
-Arkansas and Michigan recently joined 19 other states in setting a minimum wage above the federal rate of $5.15. Washington rates number 1 with at $7.63.
-Falls from ladders injure more than 20,000 American workers every year.
-Workplace fires kill 200 people each year and injure more than 5000 people, annually. The cost to businesses is over $2.3 Billion a year.
-The largest snowflake on record measured eight inches in width.
70-80% of all hearing loss within the manufacturing industry is caused by compressed air.
-Yellowstone National Park has about 10,000 geysers; more than the rest of the world combined.
-50% of the world's fresh water supply is found in the Great Lakes.
Life…it’s not suppose to be easy
"It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top." --Arnold Bennett
BIG TV Alert
66% of U.S. households have three or more television sets. Many are positioned haphazardly leading to more than 7,000 children being treated annually after a TV mishap. Place TVs on a sturdy stand, not on a dresser, bookshelf, or stereo speaker. And one more thing, keep and eye on the kids, especially if you’re not used to having children in your home.
Quote of the Week: "Happiness is giving back a little more than you received. Peace is accepting what has been offered with thanks." --Ralph Arbitelle
Tip 49 - Gambler – Who me?
Do you ever ‘Play the Lottery?’ Of course you do everyday, right!
Every time you get in you car, cross the street, go to work or the grocery store there is risk involved. Routine tasks like throwing a breaker, driving nails, chopping wood, or putting up Christmas lights can get you hurt especially if your mind and eyes are not on task.
Our choices and our actions can have a huge influence on the risks we face and the eventual outcomes when a chance exposure meets a waiting hazard. The right choices can make all the difference.
Various hobbies can increase the risk factor
Kayaking, skydiving, and other extreme sports involve a lot of risk that can lead to serious injury. Simply taking a motorcycle or four-wheeler for a spin, or stock car racing on Saturday night can also lead to injury. Bicycles and skateboards pose risk for our children as do cars and cell phones.
Many people are ‘tuned out’ now days with MP-3 players and other distractions. Just crossing the street is risky but if you’re jamming to Black Sabbath or Willie Nelson on your iPod or MP-3 player you’re asking for it. Similarly, using power tools or working around the house also poses a certain amount of risk. In fact workers are six times more likely to get hurt at home. And whether on the job or off, the more experienced we become the more chances we are willing to take. Complacency is a key factor in a lot of injuries and the consequences can be fatal. Remember Eyes on Task/Mind on Task.
Daily choices can have a lasting impact
Simply choosing not to Buckle Up can end up being a death sentence. Leaving the confines of the vehicle increases your chance of death by 300%. Choosing not to wear PPE can also have dire consequences. Some say it is a modified version of Russian roulette. You may luck out and avoid injury for years but as time goes by the odds stack up against you. Remember hazards vary; some things (e.g. electricity) can cause harm with one exposure others (e.g. welding fumes) cause serious health problems over time. Be smart reduce your risk, look for ways to reduce the hazard(s) and when you have no other options Wear the proper PPE. Proper inspection, maintenance, and storage of PPE is vital to maximize your protection.
Use the proper tool for the job
Falls are the No. 1 killer in the home! So buy a good industrial ladder (avoid the inexpensive aluminum ones you can get at Wal-Mart – they have a 200 lb. limit). It will cost you a little extra, but so will being laid up at home for 6 weeks when that cheap ladder fails.
Take Workplace Exams and Equipment Inspections seriously
Required inspections are tools to identify hazards and reduce risk so don’t pencil whip them. Conduct thorough exams of your work area and the equipment you operate to uncover hazards before an exposure occurs. Report issues as you find them and get deficiencies corrected in a timely fashion.
Safety...it's your job too!
Every time you get in you car, cross the street, go to work or the grocery store there is risk involved. Routine tasks like throwing a breaker, driving nails, chopping wood, or putting up Christmas lights can get you hurt especially if your mind and eyes are not on task.
Our choices and our actions can have a huge influence on the risks we face and the eventual outcomes when a chance exposure meets a waiting hazard. The right choices can make all the difference.
Various hobbies can increase the risk factor
Kayaking, skydiving, and other extreme sports involve a lot of risk that can lead to serious injury. Simply taking a motorcycle or four-wheeler for a spin, or stock car racing on Saturday night can also lead to injury. Bicycles and skateboards pose risk for our children as do cars and cell phones.
Many people are ‘tuned out’ now days with MP-3 players and other distractions. Just crossing the street is risky but if you’re jamming to Black Sabbath or Willie Nelson on your iPod or MP-3 player you’re asking for it. Similarly, using power tools or working around the house also poses a certain amount of risk. In fact workers are six times more likely to get hurt at home. And whether on the job or off, the more experienced we become the more chances we are willing to take. Complacency is a key factor in a lot of injuries and the consequences can be fatal. Remember Eyes on Task/Mind on Task.
Daily choices can have a lasting impact
Simply choosing not to Buckle Up can end up being a death sentence. Leaving the confines of the vehicle increases your chance of death by 300%. Choosing not to wear PPE can also have dire consequences. Some say it is a modified version of Russian roulette. You may luck out and avoid injury for years but as time goes by the odds stack up against you. Remember hazards vary; some things (e.g. electricity) can cause harm with one exposure others (e.g. welding fumes) cause serious health problems over time. Be smart reduce your risk, look for ways to reduce the hazard(s) and when you have no other options Wear the proper PPE. Proper inspection, maintenance, and storage of PPE is vital to maximize your protection.
Use the proper tool for the job
Falls are the No. 1 killer in the home! So buy a good industrial ladder (avoid the inexpensive aluminum ones you can get at Wal-Mart – they have a 200 lb. limit). It will cost you a little extra, but so will being laid up at home for 6 weeks when that cheap ladder fails.
Take Workplace Exams and Equipment Inspections seriously
Required inspections are tools to identify hazards and reduce risk so don’t pencil whip them. Conduct thorough exams of your work area and the equipment you operate to uncover hazards before an exposure occurs. Report issues as you find them and get deficiencies corrected in a timely fashion.
Safety...it's your job too!
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