21 Apr Unsafe Acts or Unsafe Practices

Unsafe Acts or Unsafe Practices

Many workplace incidents can be traced to unsafe actions, unsafe conditions, or a combination of both. While hazards in the workplace must be identified and corrected, employees also have significant control over the choices they make while performing their work.

An unsafe act may seem harmless because it has been done before without an injury. That does not make the action safe. Taking a shortcut, bypassing a safeguard, using the wrong tool, or ignoring required PPE can turn a routine task into a serious incident.

Guide for Discussion

“It Won’t Happen to Me”

One of the most dangerous attitudes toward safety is believing that an injury will happen to someone else.

Workers sometimes become comfortable with a task because they have performed it many times without an incident. Repetition can create a false sense of security:

• “I’ve done it this way hundreds of times.”
• “It will only take a second.”
• “I know what I’m doing.”
• “Nothing has ever happened before.”

Past success with an unsafe practice does not prove the practice is safe. It may simply mean that the conditions necessary for an incident have not occurred yet.

Shortcuts Create Risk

Shortcuts are often taken to save a few seconds or make a task easier. Examples include:

• Not wearing required safety glasses because the task will “only take a minute.”
• Reaching into equipment instead of shutting it down and following required lockout/tagout procedures.
• Removing, bypassing, or defeating a machine guard or safety device.
• Using the wrong tool because the correct one is not immediately available.
• Climbing on equipment or materials instead of using an approved ladder or access system.
• Lifting a heavy or awkward object alone rather than asking for help or using mechanical assistance.
• Failing to inspect tools or equipment before use.
• Working too quickly or rushing to finish a task.
• Ignoring barricades, warning signs, or established procedures.
• Using damaged tools or equipment rather than removing them from service.

Saving a few seconds is never worth risking an injury.

Recognize Unsafe Acts

Other unsafe behaviors may include:

• Operating equipment without proper training or authorization.
• Performing work without understanding the hazards.
• Failing to use required PPE.
• Horseplay or distracting another employee performing hazardous work.
• Standing or walking beneath suspended loads.
• Entering restricted or hazardous areas without authorization.
• Improperly lifting, carrying, or handling materials.
• Using mobile phones or engaging in other distractions while performing safety-sensitive work.
• Failing to maintain three points of contact when climbing.
• Ignoring changing conditions around the work area.
• Continuing work after recognizing an uncontrolled hazard.

If you realize that you are about to take a shortcut, stop and correct the situation before continuing.

Unsafe Conditions Matter Too

Not every incident results from an employee’s actions. Unsafe workplace conditions can also contribute to injuries and must be reported and corrected.

Examples include:

• Damaged tools or equipment;
• Missing or defective guards;
• Poor housekeeping;
• Inadequate lighting;
• Slippery walking surfaces;
• Exposed electrical hazards;
• Unprotected openings or edges;
• Defective ladders or scaffolds; and
• Unexpected changes in site or environmental conditions.

Employees should never be expected to work around an uncontrolled serious hazard simply to keep the job moving.

Stop and Think Before Acting

Before beginning a task, ask yourself:

• Do I understand the job and its hazards?
• Am I trained and authorized to perform it?
• Do I have the correct tools and equipment?
• Is the equipment in safe condition?
• Am I wearing the required PPE?
• Are guards and other safeguards in place?
• Have hazardous energy sources been controlled when required?
• Have conditions changed since the work was planned?
• Is there a safer way to perform the task?

If something does not look or feel right, stop the task and address the hazard before proceeding.

Remember

Knowing the safe way to perform a job is not enough—you must choose to follow it every time. Familiarity, production pressure, convenience, and the desire to save a few seconds should never replace established safety procedures.

Do not rely on “it hasn’t happened before.” Recognize the hazard, correct the condition, follow the procedure, and perform the job safely the first time.