Are We Safe?

What does it mean to “be safe”?

Parents, Teachers, Employers all tell us to “be safe.”… but what do they mean?  What does it mean to us?

It is critical for employers to clearly understand what safety means to their employees.  After all, how often are employees told these days to, {“Come and talk to me if you don’t feel safe.”…”Be careful!”… “Safety first!”}?

As a practical working definition…Safety = not likely to be hurt.  Absolutely Safe = not possible to be hurt.

For most humans though, safety is and remains a mental perception…an emotion.  They feel safe, or they feel unsafe.

Some examples

1. A secretary working at an office with 5 years experience.  She feels safe.
   1. The first fire extinguisher is empty
   2. The hose reel has been blocked by the shipment of supplies just dropped off.
   3. Her colleague has draped his jacket over the back of his chair next to the radiant heater.
   4. She was never told, (or listened, or was reminded) where the alternate fire exits are.
   5. She feels safe
   6. A worker on a construction site with 10 years experience.  He feels safe.

3. You are walking down the street.   You feel safe.
   1. You know that walking out into traffic is unsafe.
   2. You know that the place to cross the road is at the cross walk.
   3. You know that cars must stop (if they can) for you to cross the road.
   4. You don’t take the time to pause and make sure that they do stop before you step out onto the cross walk.
   5. You feel safe.

Obviously there is a large degree of difference between feeling safe and actually being safe.  To be safe, we have to be aware of the risks, and then we have to take successful precautions to manage those risks.

Some things to think about…

• Do your employees know what is and isn’t safe about their job?
• Do they have the right safety equipment?  (is it renewed periodically)
• Have they been trained in the use of their equipment?
• Are they still working unsafely even when they have all the knowledge, training, and equipment 

If workers still aren’t, ‘getting it’.  It is time to consider some behaviour management advice.  Some times…even know it is risky…knowing a better (safer) way isn’t enough.  Old habits and human nature tend to make ‘being safe’ a challenge for making the work place ‘safe’.  When the frustration begins, is where the safety professionals can help.

Glen Omvig