A good start but no time for complacency

Valuing safety at work 2010

News

We are experiencing a very good start to the year as measured by Lost Time Injuries (LTIs). Up to Monday March 15th, there has been a total of four staff LTIs and one contractor LTI.

This significant improvement on previous years can be seen from the graph on the right.

Well done to everyone for achieving this safety performance improvement. There is a danger that we will sit back in the expectation that this improvement will sustain itself. Don’t even think of it! We are only a near miss away from a serious safety incident, if we don’t remain vigilant.

The majority of our safety incidents are caused by the errors and violations of ourselves or our colleagues. Errors can result from inadequate training and communications, poor workplace design, but also from inattention and distraction. Violations are knowingly avoiding compliance with safe procedures. As humans, we have a tendency to take the path of least effort. This often means taking risks where safety is concerned.

This conscious risk taking is something we all do. Examples are: crossing the road despite the availability of a pedestrian crossing nearby; exceeding the speed limit while driving etc. The reasons for this are often based on our past experiences of the outcome. If we carried out a task by knowingly violating the safe procedure and avoided injury, we get positive reinforcement of this method and are likely to do it again. The consequences are immediate and positive. If this method also reduces the time required to complete the task then a further positive outcome reinforces that behaviour for future similar tasks. However, if the consequences are negative in that an injury or other serious safety incident takes place, the punishment is likely to help us think twice before ignoring the safe procedure next time.

This model of behavioural safety will show us if we really value safety at work.

A Call to Action.
You might ask what you can do to help maintain this remarkable safety performance. There are some simple observable behaviours that you can help put in place and help develop habit strength.

  1. When you spot a hazard* that is not adequately managed either rectify it yourself if possible or else report it. Examples include wet floors in toilet and break areas, damaged tools, furniture and equipment.
  2. When you experience a Near Miss** report according to your local reporting procedures. A Near Miss is a Good Catch.
  3. When you observe a person who might be at risk of injury do stop and highlight your concerns. Examples include not holding handrails on stairs, not wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), rushing (running), spending long periods at their VDU workstation without taking a posture break.

Let us show we care.

* A hazard is anything that can cause harm e.g. Electricity, heights, underfoot conditions, vehicles, tools and equipment, water etc. Risk is the likelihood that the hazard will cause harm and the extent or severity of that harm.
** A Near Miss is a safety incident or accident which resulted in no physical injury e.g. slip and fall but no personal injury received, a skid on a bend while driving but no collision or personal injuries etc.