PURPOSE: To ensure unsafe or unhealthy work conditions or procedures are corrected in a timely manner.
Accidents happen…but often they can be avoided by using our common sense and good judgment. As a matter of rule, all employees must immediately report to management any situation where there may be a likelihood of accident or injury. It is simply the right thing to do.
When you think of safety hazards, think of things like:
• Spills or cords on the floor that could cause tripping
• Frayed cords, missing ground pins or improper wiring that could cause electrocution
• Being asked to do a task that is not properly explained to you and you feel may put you in harms way
• An unusual odor such as smoke, unrecognized chemical, or vapors
Ways to correct hazards and prevent accidents include:
✓ Quickly wipe up any identified spills to prevent a potential slip
and fall incident. Find out how the spill got there and how you
can prevent it from occurring again.
✓ Always report and lock and tag out broken pieces of equipment
to prevent injuries
✓ If you witness a “near miss” incident, find the root cause, report
it and/or fix it. A “near miss” is a minor accident or close call that
has the potential for loss or injury
o All “near miss” must be reported in Incident Tracker.
If you recognize a situation that could cause an injury remember to:
STOP what you are doing and clear the area if necessary.
THINK about how to correct the issue while assessing any possible safety risks. Ask for help.
ACT wisely and safely to correct the issue
ACTIVITY:
- Discuss with your team some hazards you have seen in your work areas that may have been overlooked and come up with a way to resolve it. For example, last month we discussed storage safety and not storing items in front of an electrical panel. One way to resolve that hazard is to mark the floor in front of the panel with yellow paint or safety tape.
- Discuss a near miss accident you have had or you have witnessed and could have been prevented. For example, on a rainy day an employee walks in the front door and slips on the wet floor but does not fall.