The Take 5 For Safety Process

The Take 5 For Safety Process

The take 5 for safety process is becoming very popular as a simple and effective way to increase safety awareness. There are a few variations like StepBack 5 x 5 and I saw a Take 4 For Safety Program just yesterday. Here is a really good document from an unknown sources that explains it very well and very simply: [Download not found]

You may see safety slogans around the workplace like: TAKE 5 – STAY ALIVE or awareness posters.

The process is basically about taking 5 minutes to think about the job and the hazards. And before the cynics say “we haven’t got time for this $%#@!%&” – ask them to think about a time when with a little more thought and planning a job could have been done quicker, easier, cheaper AND safer. I always remember the time I climbed all the way to the top of a silo to do a dip and when I got there realized I had forgotten the key to open the inspection hatch. Had I done a Take 5 – would have saved 20!

The basic process is:

1. STOP – engage brain before you act
2. LOOK – identify any hazards
3. ASSESS – what damage could those hazards causes
4. MANAGE – implement controls, tell others
5. SAFELY – complete the task