Greetings Brothers and Sisters,
With a couple changes at the Training Center recently, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Tom McEvoy on his new position with the IUOE and wish him well. I would also like to congratulate Tyler Moore on becoming an instructor at the Engineers Training Center and look forward to working with him.
This month’s safety corner is about complacency on the jobsite and a reminder to operators about the hazards involved during equipment operation. In workplace safety, complacency is a mindset where you become comfortable with an existing situation and stop looking for potential hazards. Complacency leads to what is called, “mind not on task.” Once you have developed a skill where fear is no longer preoccupying your thinking, your mind will go on autopilot and will drift off to another topic, creating a higher risk of injury. The most familiar example to most people is the way you go on autopilot during your commute. If nothing goes wrong, you may not even remember the drive. If something goes wrong, you may be so checked out that you don’t see the danger in time to avoid it.
What Causes Complacency?
- Familiar, routine, and repetitive tasks that don’t require active problem solving
- A long track record where nothing has gone wrong (or almost gone wrong)
- The prioritization of productivity, efficiency, or cost reduction over safety
Examples of complacency can include:
- Taking shortcuts with safety protocols
- An increase in risky behavior and near misses
- A lack of concern or initiative for their work
How Do You Combat Safety Complacency?
- The quickest way to reduce complacency is to shake up safety routines and have safe work practices as your priority when on the jobsite.
- One popular way this is accomplished is with weekly—or even daily— toolbox talks. These are short, informal training sessions focused on practical application of the tasks at hand.
Stay safe out there!
Peter Carpenter, Co-Safety Officer
Source: OSHA.com/Blog/Complacency-Safety