07 Jul General Safety – It’s Your Decision

General Safety – It’s Your Decision

Every day, employees make decisions about how to perform their work. We naturally want to complete tasks efficiently and with the least unnecessary effort. Finding safer and more efficient ways to work is a good thing—but efficiency should never come at the expense of safety.

A shortcut becomes dangerous when it bypasses a safety rule, eliminates a protective measure, or exposes someone to an unnecessary hazard.

Shortcuts Can Have Serious Consequences

Most unsafe shortcuts seem harmless at the time. We may tell ourselves:

• “It will only take a minute.”
• “I’ve done it this way before.”
• “Nothing happened last time.”
• “I’m almost finished.”
• “Getting the right equipment will take too long.”
• “I can handle it myself.”

The problem is that getting away with an unsafe act does not make the act safe. It only means an incident did not occur that time.

Consider an employee working from a ladder who needs to reach just a little farther to finish the task. The employee has two choices: climb down and reposition the ladder or overreach and take a chance.

Repositioning the ladder takes additional time. Overreaching may save a few moments—but it could also result in a serious or fatal fall.

The safest decision is clear: climb down and move the ladder.

Recognize Unsafe Shortcuts

Unsafe shortcuts can occur during almost any task. Examples include:

• Using the wrong tool because the proper one is not nearby.
• Using makeshift equipment instead of an approved ladder or work platform.
• Overreaching from a ladder rather than repositioning it.
• Lifting a load that is too heavy or awkward instead of getting assistance or using mechanical equipment.
• Removing, bypassing, or defeating a machine guard or safety device.
• Working at height without required fall protection.
• Performing electrical work without following required energy-control procedures.
• Working without required eye, face, hearing, hand, or other personal protective equipment.
• Walking beneath suspended loads because it provides a shorter route.
• Skipping equipment inspections because the equipment “worked fine yesterday.”
• Rushing through a task without identifying changing conditions or hazards.

If doing the job correctly seems inconvenient, that is not a reason to bypass the safe procedure.

Stop and Make the Safe Decision

Before taking a shortcut, ask yourself:

What could happen if something goes wrong?

Consider whether you are about to:

• Violate a safety rule or procedure.
• Use equipment for something it was not designed to do.
• Work without required PPE.
• Bypass a guard, barricade, warning device, or other protective measure.
• Enter an area without proper authorization.
• Perform work for which you are not trained or qualified.
• Lift, climb, reach, or position yourself unsafely.
• Continue working with defective equipment.
• Place yourself or another employee in the line of fire.

If the answer is yes, stop and correct the situation before continuing.

Past Success Does Not Prove a Shortcut Is Safe

One of the most dangerous attitudes in the workplace is:

“I’ve done it this way a hundred times and nothing has happened.”

Previous success with an unsafe practice does not eliminate the hazard. Each repetition creates another opportunity for something to go wrong.

A ladder may not slip every time someone overreaches. A grinder may not cause an eye injury every time someone works without eye protection. A suspended load may not fall every time someone walks beneath it.

The consequences can still be severe when that one failure occurs.

Supervisors and Employees Have a Role

Supervisors should plan work so employees have the appropriate time, tools, equipment, PPE, and resources to perform their jobs safely. Employees should follow established procedures and immediately report conditions that prevent work from being performed safely.

Employees should never feel that production, schedule, or convenience requires them to disregard a safety requirement.

If you are unsure how to perform a task safely, stop and ask your Supervisor before proceeding.

Questions for Discussion

Consider your work activities:

• What shortcuts are employees most likely to take?
• Why might someone choose the shortcut instead of the safe method?
• Do employees have the correct tools and equipment readily available?
• Are there tasks where workers may be tempted to bypass PPE or other protective measures?
• What should you do when the safe method takes longer than expected?
• Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “It will only take a second”?
• What can we change to make the safe method the easiest method?

Remember

Every employee makes safety decisions throughout the workday. Saving a few minutes is never worth risking an injury.

When faced with a choice between the shortcut and the safe method, choose the safe method—even when it requires additional time or effort.

You have a choice. Make the decision to work safely every time.