Passion for Safety
Written by Steve Owen on . Posted in Safety Management.
We have a responsibility to care for ourselves. In the utility business, for example, safety is about using proper personal protective equipment and approved safe work methods in a controlled environment. When we have a true passion for safety, we not only care for ourselves, but also take responsibility for influencing others in the use of safe practices.
Passion for Safety is a management system that uses tools to develop communications and help interpret information. Each time information is interpreted, some of it is altered due to influences in our lives such as personal interest, experience and emotions.
Passion for Safety will influence communications of known possible hazards and risks. These discussions will identify means to reduce a risk before it becomes an accident. Identifying exposure to risk and making correct decisions to minimize the risk reduces incidents. The system will help create a continuous safety plan by identifying areas of risk, developing conduct to prevent incidents and determining who is responsible.
The Passion for Safety management system begins with three simple tools developed and owned by employees:
• Monthly peer observations to improve on through review and action.
• Monthly supervisor observations of hazard identification, questioning and recording hazards and solutions.
• Monthly logs to interpret communication and identify training needs, required review of practices, and successes and progress.
We all know that experience and education, tools and training can help reduce injury. For example, flame-retardant clothing will lessen the severity of burns; personal protective equipment such as grounds, gloves, glasses, traffic signs and cones reduce risk; and operating practices cover usual safety situations.
The rest of safety, though, is about people. Emotions won’t make people safe. Being sorry won’t rationalize accidents. Crying about it won’t make accidents better. Urgency to get the job done will not provide a justification for accidents.
YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER
We should share responsibility with others. People often voice such thoughts in words like “be safe,” “take care,” or “see you later.” But telling someone to be safe is much easier than sharing responsibility for their safety. Shouldn’t we take responsibility for influencing others beyond an expression or phrase?
What is the significance of influencing others? It has been said, “Authority may shape what you do, but influence will shape what you are,” (J. McNabb, 2008). Influence comes in premium, good, average, poor and bad performance ratings.
Indy racecar drivers know that their performance is the result of the fuel they put in their tanks. Similarly, we perform according to the fuel in our tank. Our fuel is influence, most of which comes from other people. All people are like fuel stops. We are the supplier to all those willing to open up, hook up and fill up. With our communications we create value and help others to perform.
All employees and work areas should be resources where others can fill up on premium, safe fuel. Champions know their performance is the result of preparation. Our performance values will transform depending on the nature of our influence.
Taking personal responsibility for safety is your commitment to “seize the duty” to minimize the probability of an unexpected event. Do we take responsibility for the safety of others and ourselves seriously? Taking responsibility to share and influence others is our defining attribute.
We can all have a great effect on improving safety in the workplace. The amount of responsibility you accept will affect how soon it improves. iP
Steve Owen, Distribution Supervisor, Power Delivery, Oklahoma Gas and Electric, is responsible for Northwest Oklahoma City and the north and west suburb’s district project leaders,
engineering, line construction,
troubleshooters and servicemen.
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