We have been receiving advice about safety for years. We have listened to it, read it and watched television spots on it, but some maybe never thought about it much. We might even think, “Accidents can’t happen to me”.
Then your best friend, who is in a hurry to get out of the house, has a bad accident that costs him/her a leg. Everyone is impacted – especially you. You can see what it means to your friend – physical pain, emotional shock, lost time. Things will be different. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are long and usually painful procedures with this type of injury. In the aftermath, you notice your attitude has really changed. You make a point of staying alert to possible hazards. You take the extra time to use special personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety procedures. You are more willing to listen to suggestions that might protect you. So what exactly are the elements of a good safety attitude?
FOCUS
A good safety attitude means you focus on the task. How well are you concentrating on the job? If you have other things on your mind, you may be distracted and if you are not focused, an accidental slip is easy.
STRENGTH
No, this doesn’t mean muscle strength. What it means is the strength to do the right thing the right way, even when you are under pressure to take shortcuts. A good safety attitude means you have the strength to stick with the procedures and not compromise or break the rules of safety.
TIME
A good safety attitude means taking the time to do things correctly and using the right PPE and tools for the job. Is saving a few minutes worth a lifelong injury? If you add up the life costs due to injuries, it is obvious that it is cheaper to do the job the right way the first time.
RESPONSIBILITY
If you care about yourself and your co-workers, you will take responsibility even when a task “isn’t my job”. A good safety attitude means thinking of yourself as part of the team.
“TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF OUR LIFE”