As Asiana Airlines Flight 214 flew into San Francisco International Airport on Sunday July 7, the Boeing 777’s 291 passengers didn’t know that the man at the controls had never landed this kind of plane at this airport before. Does it matter that the pilot at the time – aviation veteran Lee Kang-kuk – has only 43 hours of flying time in the 777? South Korea’s Asiana Airlines says Lee has flown the model nine times. It’s “highly significant,” former Department of Transportation Inspector General Mary Schiavo said Monday, particularly, how he came across the water and over the seawall, she said.
If the pilot were going to avert danger, Schiavo said, he needed to take action well before the plane reached that seawall. Lee knew how to fly. An experienced pilot for Asiana, Lee had more than 10,000 hours in other kinds of aircraft, the airline says. (Source, CNN.com) This pilot was very experienced generally but was conducting a non-routine activity (landing a plane that he had very little experience with at a location for the first time, even though he landed other types of planes there before).
This is exactly the situation that experienced workers may find themselves in when one or more aspects of a particular job changes and the new risks are not adequately managed. When the workday is going smoothly, and the work processes and tasks are being completed successfully, the hazards associated with them are somewhat predictable. However, it is just as important to ask, “What if…?”
- What if the process breaks down?
- What if the job suddenly changes?
- Have all the possible hazards been identified?
It is critical that we think pro-actively and find the hazards BEFORE they become an accident. Predicting the outcome of all possible scenarios is impossible. However, taking the time to ask “What If…?” questions may uncover hazards that would not be identified during the routine tasks.
Routine Work is a work activity that takes place on a regular frequency: the employee is always familiar with the job steps, work environment, PPE required, potential hazards and critical actions necessary to work safely.
Non-Routine Work is a work activity that:
- Takes place infrequently: the employee has not performed the work often enough to be completely familiar with the job steps, PPE required, potential hazards or critical actions necessary to work safely.
- Takes place outside the employee’s normal work area or in an area to which the employee is not very familiar.
- Takes place while job conditions change, for example, an industrial process that includes various metal forming and cutting machines works well when all machines and systems are operating properly.
The hazards associated with the machines, including machine guarding, are fairly predictable. But, what hazards MAY occur if the machine gets jammed, parts fail, or machine modifications are needed? Regardless of the work classifications described above all workers must ensure that all tasks are assessed and performed safely.
Methods of Controlling Hazards & Risks
A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a structured approach to identify and address the potential hazards of a specific job. A JSA considers all job steps, special PPE required to safely perform each step, the potential hazards of the work and the critical actions necessary to eliminate, reduce and manage hazards to safely do the work.
JSAs are developed for Non-Routine Work or High Risk Work. JSAs can be used immediately before performing Non-Routine Work or High Risk Work, reviewed routinely to maintain familiarization with job hazards or used as a task training aid for new and refresher training. Field JSAs may be developed on the spot to address Non-Routine Work or High Risk Work where a Formal JSA is not available. Once the work is completed a Field JSA may be converted to a Formal JSA if it is likely that the same job will take place again.
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a written step-by-step procedure for completing a given task, whether low or high risk. SOPs may include instructions related to operations, maintenance or other types of work. An SOP is used to provide a consistent approach to performing a specific task.
SOPs should be referenced to identify job steps and potential job hazards when developing JSAs. SOPs can be reviewed immediately before performing the work, reviewed routinely to maintain familiarization with job procedures or used as a task training aid for new and refresher training.
Always Think Incident-Free and Perform Self-Assessment before Task. Evaluate all tasks before starting work by reviewing and taking action on the:
- Planning
- Proper Tools and Equipment
- Training
- State of Mind
Hazard Identification
Inspect the work area prior to the start of the work shift or prior to the start of a job assignment. These inspections focus on identifying unsafe conditions in the work area. Personnel (typically equipment operators) perform inspections of mobile or major stationary equipment using a formal checklist to identify unsafe conditions or functional deficiencies. Other pre-use inspections should be made on all tools and equipment with a focus on unsafe conditions or functional deficiencies.
Mental Attitude
For some persons, safety only becomes an important consideration when they are doing a “dangerous” job or task. They rationalize that safety procedures can be bypassed or ignored when the task is simple, small, routine and seemingly presents little risk of injury. Unfortunately, this type of thinking is why many routine, and apparently safe tasks or jobs, end up resulting in the most serious of accidents.
Safe work habits should not be limited to those projects or tasks that are the most difficult or “dangerous”.
Safe work habits must be part of your everyday work routine.
If safety is not incorporated into every job or task you do, it’s really only a matter of time before an accident occurs.
Think about the job you’re on now and the tasks you and other employees do each day.
Maybe the project is just starting, or nearly finished. Both situations clearly make for less risk than at other times during the project, or do they? Or maybe it’s the size of the project.
The so-called “smaller” projects present less safety risks, or do they?
In both cases, the answer is NO. Safe work practices are required whether your project is just starting, or nearly finished. Safety is critically important no matter the size of the project. Smaller projects should not encourage you to take safety shortcuts. Another temptation is many times on smaller projects, often no one, including the supervisor, is around to see you. It also doesn’t matter that you may have done a particular task a thousand times without incident. If you’re not doing that task safely, it’s only a matter of time before an accident will occur and your number may be up. Safety is an attitude – and that attitude should be positive with no exceptions.
Do the right thing the right way and follow safety rules every day no matter the size or the stage of the project you’re on.
“We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own” Ben Sweetland
