Awareness vs. Complacency: The Value of Reviewing Safety Moments

No matter what industry you work in, it's always helpful to use safety moments to stay up to date with safe work procedure.

Most accidents happen to people who know the hazards of their job but stop taking those hazards seriously. Safety moments are refreshers that place the importance of working safely at the forefront of the worker's mind.

This article will go over the importance of safety moments and suggest starting points for delivering your own.

Keep a Safety Moment Database

Halliburton, one of the largest multinational companies in the world, has over 27 pages of safety moments for their people to learn from.

Why so many?

Well, imagine being transferred overseas and being introduced to all the new and foreign equipment that you'll have to start using. It might get real confusing, real fast. That stack of detailed safety moments is there to bring new workers up to speed and to make sure there are no excuses for working unsafely.

(Learn 6 Ways a Permanent, In-House Safety Trainer Can Benefit Your Organization.)

You don't need to be in a company with Halliburton's size or global reach to take the same strategy. Consistently delivering refreshers about safety topics big and small will keep everyone focused on safety. After working incident-free at the same task for months on end, it's easy to grow a bit complacent and not bother replacing a damaged machine guard or skipping the logout/tagout procedure. Reviewing safety moments combats that kind of complacency and does it without being punitive.

Basic Starting Points

If you don't have a 27-page database of safety moments, where do you start?

If you're not sure, take a look at this list and start dipping into any topic that strikes you as especially relevant to your workplace.

• Lifting and Hoisting — Save your back and prevent injuries by learning the proper techniques
• Hand Tools — Learn more about the hazards posed by hand tools prior to operation
• Dropping Objects — Dropping heavy objects can hit a toe, or a co-worker, so get in the know!
• Heights — Gravity is a powerful force, so harness up!
• Chemicals — Chemistry and carelessness don't mix! Don’t mix chemicals unless you know what you are doing
• Confined Spaces — Learn about the dangers of confined spaces
• Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) — This is a must for any job!
• Permit to Work — Learn about the requirements needed to work in an area
• Driving Safety — Driving safety on the worksite is different than it is on the road
• Securing Loads — Learn about what determines a secure load
• Know Your Signs — Signs are critical to safety, so learn about the important information they convey
• Pressure Awareness — Learn about the various levels of pressure to know what is harmful
• Know Your Exits — Knowing where to exit an accident zone is of the utmost of importance
• Stop Work Authority — Who has the authority to stop work?
• See it, Own it — See a problem, fix it, and don’t wait for someone else to do it (a great reminder of the importance of safety culture)
  
• Distracted Driving — Distracted driving can include a number of things, so get up to speed
• Ladder Safety — Careless ladder use is a common cause of accidents
• Driver Fatigue — Taking a rest can be crucial to safety behind the wheel, even when workers believe they can just power through their fatigue

Safety Always Comes First

Cutting corners can be tempting, but remember that safety always comes first. All the hard work employees put into their jobs could be in vain if an accident takes place.

So, take the time to prepare relevant safety moments and review them with your team. In the end, everybody will benefit.