It’s one thing to talk about workplace safety and how everyone needs to do their part. But it’s another thing entirely when it comes to ensuring all employees are adequately trained with the skills and knowledge to assess their environment and go about their work in a safe manner.
Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, physical strength or skill. It will make or break a company, church or home.
If you could think of two of the most dangerous things… what would they be for you?
Heights come to mind for me…. seeing as I fell 2ms to my quadriplegia… you can read about that here! Yet combine heights with electricity… and that, in my opinion, is Danger!
I was lucky to get back to the property we were working on when I got injured. Andrew Rutherford who is doing my old job took us over to the John Deere tractor I was using to get some photos.
For most of us, going to work is the same day in and day out. We just do the job. Over time we can become immune to the safety risks involved. Particularly if you take pride in your work and put effort into what you do. You get good at it. Perhaps you just forget to pay attention to the “little things” you do.
That is the still the point of having a Guest Speaker today! To share experiences, popularize safety ideas,change culture, shift attitudes and tech others to look out for each other and stay safe.
Injuries result from at-risk behaviours. If you decrease these behaviours, and increase safe behaviours you will prevent injuries. Two decades of a variety of behaviour based research has verified this premise.
“Love is like fire, whether it will warm our heart or burn your house down, you never know.”
I CHOSE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY by Don Merrell. (Video below)
I could of saved a life that day but I chose to look the other way It wasn’t that I didn’t care I had the time and I was there but I didn’t want to seem a fool or argue over a safety rule.
Sometimes, we think we know what we are doing…
Yet our actions can have dire consequences if we don’t ask!
I am a C7 Quadriplegic – which means I have very little balance and need to be aware of obstacles when wheeling. Like everyone I need to exercise, today I went to a park which is 1 KM around the path. I like this particular park, because there is a nice flat even concrete path to wheel on.
Even though your people may be physically present – their minds may not necessarily by on the job. Yes, I know.. not your guys and gals, – they are dedicated, hand picked, serious workers – professionals even.
Recently Hawk did a presentation for a company, who had just employed a new Safety Manager. Speaking about the safety culture at the organization, they indicated that the perception of Safety Manager was – “maintenance”.
On the 28th and 29th November, 2013, we had the privilege of presenting at the Woodside Gas Plant, Karratha WA. We totally enjoyed our trip last week, where we were presenting for Savcor & Woodside crews as part of their effort to get everyone to focus on the job especially coming up to Christmas.
Actually these safety videos are clever commercials for products and not your usual OSHA Videos. However they highlight the effect of a bad safety attitude and the consequences. These short video clips are a light heartened look at something a lot more dangerous. Good for a laugh, not that safety, or an accident of any kind are a laughing matter.
After my safety presentations at work places, I often get asked about the negative consequences of my injury, people find it hard to believe when I tell them how lucky I am also.
As you know, preventing injury in the workplace is the purpose of a risk assessment. It is there to help remove a hazard or reduce its level of injury risk by adding precautions or control measures. It identifies those hazards and what the best precautions or control measures are for the given situation.
How important to you is working in a safe place?It was a glorious day on December 4th, 15 years ago.I was feeling a little under the weather, but there was work to be done. As you listen to my story, and the events of that day, ask yourself, Who could benefit from hearing this story, seeing the consequences and meeting this man.
This week we were fortunate to attend the official opening of “Civil Safety“. A Safety and Training facility based in Yatala and Moranbah.
So when looking for a guest speaker in Australia, Asia or the USA, turn to Hawk.
Joe says “He shares so much of his life, so we can change ours…”
Difficult to imagine that at some point in our day.. we lose focus. Especially when we are committed, dedicated, enthusiastic workers. Always with our minds on the job. Far easier, I imagine to realise that we do zone out of Workplace Health and Safety, though we may never admit it.
Between Christmas & New Year I was at a small shopping centre and a person who knew me in my previous role as an Advocate approached & asked if I could give him some money. After giving him some money, I enquired how his Christmas was. He replied it was good because he got something to eat.
You have been given a gift as a Life Saver
The boys comment about things you made them aware of in your presentation
Choices and consequences I could see it made an impact on the ladsYou are an inspirationYour message was very clearLEGENDMate you are an insperation keep it up.,