It’s an easy question; are you a safety star?? Hopefully all of us are safety stars and perform our tasks safely each and every time we start the job.
It’s easy to become a STAR, and it doesn’t take much time or effort, but what it does take is common sense. The STAR in Safety Star is an acronym that stands for S-Safety, T-Trained, A-and, R-Responsible. To be a STAR you must first eat, drink, and think safety, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Safety is not something you can only think about while on the job, it must be part of your decision making process no matter what you do, or where you are. Whether you are driving your car, relaxing at home, or at play, safety and common sense are your most ardent defenses against accidents and injuries.
To be safe on the job you first must be safety trained for the job at hand. Too many times I receive accident and injury reports from workers who state they have done this kind of work for years, and they can’t understand how the accident or injury occurred. Remember that familiarity breeds contempt, and even though you have performed this type of work all your life; each job, and each employer has its own pit falls and hazards, and it is the employee who thinks they know it all that usually end up trying to figure out just what happened while they are healing from and accident or injury. It is your responsibility to make sure that you know the job and what is expected of you while performing the job. This is completed by asking questions and seeking out information relative to the job. Remember the old adage; the only stupid question is the one you failed to ask. Make sure you seek out all of the information you need before starting the job so you can perform the required work in a safe and timely manner.
This also means that you take the time to prepare for the job at hand by following a few simple steps. Make sure that you have the appropriate equipment and tools to perform the job before you start. Make sure that the area in which you will be working is safe and clear from any and all hazards or dangers. This may involve the use of spotters when moving platforms or lifts, by making sure you have the proper clearance before operating equipment, by utilizing proper “Lock Out” and “Tag Out” procedures when working with energized or active circuits and equipment, by following all guidelines and requirements when working in hazardous or confined spaces, and the list goes on, but you get the idea. By being prepared, it means being alert and ready for changes that can take place in and on the job site at any time. Responsibility means being responsible, not only for your actions, but the actions of others as well. Remember you might be the most safety conscious person on the job, with the best safety record in the business, but all this can change in an instant should another employee make a mistake. It’s important to remember that you are not only responsible for your actions, but you must keep a watch out for the other person working along side you as well.
Remember the basics of on and off the job safety. Be safety trained and be responsible both on and off the job. Make sure you always stay alert, be prepared for any and all dangers that should become a problem, and always work safely. Become a safety STAR, not a statistic.
24 Hour PDS Safety Hotline for reporting accidents and unsafe condition
1-866-528-9691
