Click Here to read this week’s Safety Tidbits and Enjoy the Message below!
The Sense of a Goose
This Fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in a “V” formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. It makes sense to stay in formation with those people who are heading the same way we are headed.
When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. Nobody expects you to shoulder the whole burden by yourself, but everyone is counting on you to do your fair share and that means you may have to be out front leading the charge from time to time. Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What message do we give when we honk from behind?
Finally – and this is important – when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by our friends and family members in their time of need.
As I entered the stairwell the other day, I was sending a quick text (I knew better, but was trying to catch up on emails). Thankfully, a co-worker reminded me to be watch the multitasking and be careful – he said something like ‘hey we don’t need the safety guy falling down the stairs’. That was just the friendly poke I needed to get me to put the phone away and Focus on my descent (it is virtually impossible to maintain 3-point control on the stairs if your Mind, Eyes and Two Hands are all on your blackberry).
Please have the sense of a goose and Speak up when you see someone doing something that doesn’t look safe. Thanks Roger for watching out for My safety! Have an awesome Labor Day!
Safety Wayne
Think Positive
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace & gratitude. -Denis Waitley
Thanks, WK
