Safety is one of those interesting occupations where everyone feels they know what it is that you do even if you are not always sure yourself. I will admit that safety practitioners, as we call ourselves, are not blameless in giving that impression. We kind of have our own language with words that sound like common ideas but for which we have precise definitions and applications.
Here’s a good example. We talk about hazard identification like it’s something special yet everyone knows you don’t stick your finger in the door opening and then shut the door. Right?
Not my two-year-old great grandson. He’s still learning those things. It took a bit to stop the tears but he’s fine.
Okay, you can say that he’s just a child. But isn’t that really just a way of saying that he didn’t recognize a danger or hazard and got in it’s way? You could also say that if I was watching out for him it wouldn’t have happened.
So; maybe we have identified a supervision issue. Or, perhaps I should have spent more time teaching him about the dangers around door closing.
Let’s move this example into the workplace. In the workplace we have any number and types of exposures, which is a fancy way of talking about the hazards and dangers that can bite the unwary. For the workers who have been around for a while (I?m trying to say that politely), that is just ‘common sense’. Stuff that is as simple as keeping your finger away from a closing door opening.
When did you learn that stuff? You were not born knowing about the hazards in your workplace. That’s acquired knowledge. Which is why we talk about doing hazard identification in every workplace. It enables us to make sure we are remembering to tell the new or young worker about all the little things we take for granted. .
We call that ‘orientation’ and it’s that knowledge that will enable them to recognize the hazard. But what then? Knowing that a thing is hazardous and understanding what to do about it are still two different things.
As we go through life we pick up all sorts of great methods of dealing with just about everything. Looking back at my great grandson, I can see that he hasn’t had much chance to pick up anything beyond innumerable toys and the odd potato. How much has our new, or worse, young worker been able to pick up?
It is up to us to see they get a good understanding of how to deal with the hazard properly.
The last hazard is one that we have created by having the new or young worker on our worksite. This is a hazard we need to recognize for ourselves. It’s called ‘the shortcut’.
Any time we have an inexperienced worker performing a job we have taught them to do, there is always the risk that they will see a better way of getting the job done. Remember that word, ‘inexperienced’. That means they do not have the depth of knowledge to see how a short cut can be placing them or others in danger’s way. It also means they are in need of some good supervision and coaching to bring out their best.
I’m finding that the more you know (or the older you get) you also get handed the job of showing the new guys around. Whether it’s official or not, it really is part of our job. Watching someone struggle through a job when we can help is just wrong, and it’s even more wrong to allow someone to place themselves at risk.
Remember – at some point in time that was you. And even if no-one was there to help you, here is your opportunity to make things right. Maybe safety really is that easy!
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