Safety Tidbits 10-01-12

Fourth Quarter means increased Risk

Environmental conditions are changing in many parts of the country as we move through the Fall and move steadily toward Winter.  Operations personnel must be keenly aware of the increased hazards to reduce their chances of injury. Just a few things to think about.

-Working outside in cold weather can be tough on the body, especially early in the shift, if we do not take time to stretch muscles and ligaments – making us more prone to strains and sprains be careful and avoid overexertion.

-Cooler temps mean we have to don additional clothing – gloves reduce dexterity, coveralls/overalls, coats/hoodies increase our chances of getting caught by moving machinery/equipment.  Make sure guards are in place and maintained in good condition.

-Equipment and vehicles need time to warm up and to allow windows to defrost (or we need to physically scrap the glass) to ensure we have the visibility we need to avoid accidents.

We all need to be aware of the fact that areas will soon be icing up which means an increased risk of a slip or fall – Parking lots can be extremely dangerous, making just getting from your vehicle to your work station a major undertaking.  Be careful – use walkways/paths that are salted/de-iced. Take smaller, deliberate steps, and follow the 3-points of contact rule on ladders and stairways, equipment accessways, etc.

-Wet/Icy roads mean it takes longer to stop – adjust your speed accordingly and pay attention to traffic (avoid texting while driving).

Maintain Your Focus

It seems like every October, the mining industry sees an increase in fatal accidents.  This appears to be true in other industries as well.  So now is a good time to remind employees, one again, 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.  We tend to make poor decisions when we are tired and/or frustrated – bad decisions increase the risk of injury.  Complacency is another problem – when things are going good people tend to think we have it all figured out and begin to believe that accidents won’t happen to them.  But if we fail to remain diligent, if we let our guard down – we become vulnerable!.  Remember it doesn’t matter how good we were yesterday.  Today is a new day and we have to be at our best TODAY!  Honest Abe got it right. –see his quote below.

Safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone must carry their share of the load. Please do your part to ensure employees maintain their focus so we can finish the year strong.  Remember,

Safety isn’t a Spectator Sport… we need everyone in the game!

Click here to download the safety tidbits from 10-01-12.

And a bonus quote from Abraham Lincoln:

“I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.”

Thanks for the share, WK!