Tool Box Talk: Hazards,Taking Hazards for Granted

Taking Hazards for Granted

Workers may safely negotiate a slip and trip hazard 99 times, but the 100th time – when they’re in a hurry – may get hurt.

“What happened to Ed?” Safety Director Gale asked supervisor Wick.

“Just a dumb accident,” Wick said. “Coming into the building, he tripped on that high curb at the back entrance and fell down. Broke his shoulder.”

“Ever since Ed started doing our contract plumbing work at this facility, he’s used that entrance without any problem,” Gale said. “Did the curb suddenly leap up and grab his ankle this time?”

Haste makes waste

Wick couldn’t help cracking a little smile, even though he felt sorry for Ed. “No,” he said. “But here’s the thing: Ed was in a hurry because we had sprung a bad leak in one of the water heaters.

There was literally water everywhere, and when we called him we told him it was a rush-rush job.

“I guess in his haste to fix the leak he forgot about stepping up extra high to get over the curb, even though, as you say, he’d done it dozens if not hundreds of times,” Wick concluded.

Closing the barn door?

“Maybe,” Gale said. “So now I’ll go have a look at the curb. We probably need to cut it down to avoid future accidents, although this particular horse has already left the barn.”

Takeaway.

Although this case involved a non-employee – Ed the plumber was an outside contractor – the safety point it makes is equally applicable to employees.

That point: People may work around a slip or trip hazard safely for a long time, then, one day, fall victim to the hazard in a moment of haste or inattention.

What can be done to prevent accidents such as this one?

Identify slip and trip hazards in our work area and take appropriate actions to control (eliminate, isolate, highlight, etc.)

Fight complacency, by retraining and/or reemphasizing slip and trip hazards. In Ed’s case, lots of people – including the safety director himself – knew the curb posed a hazard.

But people got used to it.

Commend employees who draw attention to new slip or trip hazards as they develop.

And a bonus quote from William Arthur Ward:

“It is wise to direct your anger towards problems — not people; to focus your energies on answers — not excuses.”

Thanks to TO for the share!