Toolbox Talk: The Dirty Dozen

“The Dirty Dozen “
We all know that there must be a cause for an accident to happen. Essentially there are root causes and direct causes. In order to avoid accidents, we must recognize and address the root cause either from an actual accident or near miss or from a hypothetical situation. We must also be able to identify and correct direct causes and these are usually a result of an unsafe act or unsafe condition. By recognizing the unsafe act or condition, we can effectively remove the exposure to them. The following “deadly dozen” are reminders to help you recognize unsafe acts or conditions.

Unsafe Acts
1. Unauthorized use or operation of equipment.
2. Failure to secure or tie down materials to prevent unexpected movement.
3. Working or operating equipment too fast.
4. Failure to issue warnings or signals as required.
5. Using defective tools or equipment.
6. Removing guards.
7. Improperly using tools or equipment.
8. Standing in an unsafe place or assuming an improper posture (as in lifting).
9. Servicing moving equipment.
10. Riding equipment not designed for passengers.
11. Horseplay.
12. Failure to wear the proper personal protective equipment.

Unsafe Conditions
1. Lack of proper guards.
2. Lack of a proper warning system.
3. Fire and explosion hazards.
4. Poor housekeeping.
5. Unexpected movements.
6. Protruding objects such as nails, wire, or other metals.
7. Improper clearance or congestion at aisles or passageways.
8. Poor placement, storage or arrangement of materials.
9. Hazardous tools, equipment or materials.
10. Poor lighting, high noise levels.
11. Hazardous atmospheric conditions.
12. Improper personal attire.

We must be able to recognize the conditions or acts stated and effectively correct or avoid them and reduce our personal exposure to these direct causes of accidents.

“Leadership is the wise use of power. Power is the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain
it.” – Warren G. Bennis

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