Safety Management Series – It’s Time To Change
<br />By Alan Quilley</p> <p>Another three Canadian workers died today from a work related injury or illness. At least statistically, that's the average. One of those now dead most likely succumbed to a work related disease after many years of exposure to one or more toxic substances in their workplace. No doubt they passed away with their loved ones by their bedside either at their home, in a hospital or at a long-term care facility.</p> <p>Another unfortunate worker died because of injuries suffered in a vehicle crash while they were driving for their occupation or traveling between worksites. Statistically, driving is one of the most dangerous parts of our workday. Sadly, the third worker died from a dramatic workplace incident such as being burned severely, falling from a height, being caught in a trench cave-in or being crushed by a heavy falling object. There are truly some horrific ways to die.</p> <p>I find it extremely sad that I can write these comments with the confidence that I'm accurate. You see, we've failed over the past several decades to do anything significant in changing this daily death rate. The problem with this kind of record is that over time it becomes the norm, the expected. We tend to resign ourselves to these statistics as facts that we can't really do anything about. Here are some things I'm going to do to help change the outcomes:</p> <p><strong>Less paper time, more people time</strong></p> <p>Dan Petersen's famous quote rings true here... "Paper doesn't make people safe... people make people safe." Although we all need paper to record our safety efforts, and to establish resources for activities such as new employee training, real safety comes through our interactions.</p> <p>So the next time I'm motivated to create a new procedure, I'm going to spend a great deal more time talking with people that the procedure has an effect on.</p> <p>Since 1978, in Canada at least, we've increased our desire to collect paper to prove our "due diligence" thanks to a Supreme Court of Canada ruling. One more memo isn't going to save anyone.</p> <p><strong>Take the time to be someone's behaviour activator</strong></p> <p>The ABC model of human behaviour (Activator, Behaviour, and Consequence) tells us that activators set the stage for behaviour and consequences re-enforce the behaviour through both positive and negative results of our behaviour. If I do see someone taking unnecessary risks I'm going to react.</p> <p><strong>Provide someone with a consequence</strong></p> <p>The outcomes that we experience after our behaviours are the consequences. Consequences are powerful motivators. They can be both positive and negative and can increase or decrease the chance our behaviour will be repeated. A positive comment to a co-worker for behaving safely increases the chances that they will do it again.</p> <p><strong>Follow-up until it's done</strong></p> <p>Action items that come to mind to make a place safer need to be followed up. Good ideas are a dime a dozen. It is follow-up that gets them done. I'm going to hold myself accountable more often for my "to do" list.</p> <p><strong>Watch the energy</strong></p> <p>This to me is the most important unpolished gem of safety. The diamond in the rough if you wish. Watch where the energy is and protect yourself against having harmful energy coming in contact with you. If you can't remove the harmful energy then put barriers in place to stop the energy from hitting you.</p> <p>The future will be different only if we create it that way!</p> <p>Alan D. Quilley is the author of The Emperor Has No Hard Hat - Achieving REAL Safety Results and the President of Safety Results Ltd. a Sherwood Park Alberta OH&S Consulting Company. You can reach him at: <a href="mailto:aquilley@safetyresults.ca">aquilley@safetyresults.ca</a>.</p> <p>Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Quilley <br /><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Safety-Management-Series---Its-Time-To-Change&id=7632329" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?Safety-Management-Series---Its-Time-To-Change&id=7632329</a>
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