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"Eenie, Meenie, Minie. . . NO!"
(Sometimes You Don't Have to Choose)
Making choices is a necessary part of life. The choice can be between two "evils" -- working on next year's budget or reviewing audiometric testing results. Or, it can be a choice between two "goods," say, the choice between chocolate chip or coffee ice cream. But often, there's no need to choose at all. For example -- your employees have fallen in love with a new line of designer protective eyewear. But some of the older workers still prefer the traditional type. No problem as long as everyone's adequately protected, right?
In recent years, the raging controversy in safety circles has pitted a strictly behavioral approach against a cognitive approach. In largely generalized terms, the behaviorists advocate a stimulus-response strategy, emphasizing observation and reinforcement of behaviors as the means to achieve desired change. The “cognitivists”, on the other hand, fear that once the reinforcement stops, the same old behaviors (i.e., taking shortcuts, failing to wear protective gear, etc.) will resurface as quickly as they disappeared. They favor strategies for changing unsafe attitudes and thinking--restructuring knowledge to fit new circumstances and problem-solving. Simply put, behavioral safety methods that lead employees to "think safely."
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As we come to the close of 2007 and the birth of 2008, it is a time to reflect on what we have accomplished as well as, what is incomplete. For many it is a time of celebration and for others it is a time of remorse or regret for what we didn’t do or what we did that didn’t work well for our own safety, health and well-being and that of others.
In the Safety, Health and Environmental arena, celebrating accomplishments usually results from achieving a goal, objective or the implementation of a program, process, safeguard or some other means of incident prevention and safeguarding the men and women in our workplaces.
This time can also be a time for guilt or remorse over incidents that did occur and their level of severity. Did I/We by my/our actions or inactions cause or contribute to another or others being injured, disabled or killed? In my experience in this field over the past 25 years, I have met and spoken with many people who live in the domain of “I should have….”, I could have….”, “Why didn’t I……”, “They should have….”etc. intervene, gone to this person in charge, gone to co-workers, union reps, friends or relatives to try and stop someone from behaving in an unsafe manner or have the company provide what was necessary to correct unsafe conditions or equipment to prevent incidents, and on and on and on. This of course, can apply to situations and relationships pertaining to off the job incidents as well.
Living in judgment of ourselves and others is normal and common, but doesn’t provide constructive outcomes for a safe and healthy present and future. Regret and remorse is not pleasant or productive What is needed is to accept the reality of what did occur and what we or others did or didn’t do, whether we like it or not, find it comfortable or not, or whatever range of feelings and emotions we experience, and shift over to what we can ask to learn from this incident and huddle together and discover what happened, how did it happen, what can we learn from this, how can we share this information with others, and what actions are we committed to taking that can prevent incidents like these from occurring for anyone else? Then of course, we need to take those actions and produce results. Then we can take unwanted incidents and turn them into opportunities for preventive actions.
Incident prevention can be brought about by reacting to an incident or tragedy as many companies have done throughout our history as an industrial nation. The more productive road to take is to prevent incidents before an incident or tragedy has occurred. Do we have to wait until another injury or environmental spill or release occurs or can we ask the kind of questions that need to be asked and implement the necessary actions to prevent them from happening in the first place? Are we just looking to be in compliance with government and company requirements or can we develop the kinds of attitudes and behaviors in all levels of employees to be proactively insuring that incidents do not occur?
Do we view safety as defined by Webster “free from injury or harm” as just meaning free from cuts, broken bones, burns and the like only? Or do we view safety to include our health and well-being. Do we view safety as applying to our environment and the air we breathe and the water we drink?
Do we wait to get sick and then go to the doctor? Or do we take care of ourselves in a way that we go to the doctor or practitioner when we are healthy and find out what we can do to stay in optimum health?
Are we providing our employees just with necessary PPE and proper procedures to stay “free from injury or harm” or do we provide them with the knowledge and skills to manage their stress, and maintain a healthy body with proper diet, nutrition and exercise in order to maintain the levels of health and well-being where we can enjoy the fruits of our labor with our families and friends?
Peter Senge wrote a book about companies that will survive in the 21st century. Those companies, he said are companies that become a “learning organization”. The key to Safety, Health and Environmental Excellence is to learn about what can occur and insure we take the resources and actions to prevent incidents of all kinds from occurring.
We have included articles and papers that we believe contribute to the kind of learning environment needed for a safe, health and environmentally sound New Year.
We at Topf Initiatives wish you a safe and healthy New Year and the commitment to take care of yourselves and your loved ones!
Safely First,
Michael Topf
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Thursday - January 21, 2008
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
“A State of the Art Crisis Management Plan”
This 2 presentation is designed to provide a glimpse of what should be included in a your “Crisis Management Plan”. We will address measures both to prevent a crisis from a unforeseen event as well as possible responses to a crisis including crisis management teams, media communications, behavioral approaches to crisis, and testing of your plan among others.
This presentation will be led by Dr. Vincent Marchesani, former VP of Health, Safety and Environmental Management for Basell USA. Dr. Marchesani has spent more than 30 years working nationally and internationally for the chemical industry. His past experience includes working for Rohm & Hass, Allied Chemical, ICI, Himont and Montell. Dr. Marchesani obtained a BA in Bioscience/Biochemistry and a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering and Science from Drexel University. He holds a Ph.D. in Health Safety and Environmental Management from Rutgers University. Dr. Marchesani has published several papers in national and international journals, and co-authored a book on air pollution management. Dr. Marchesani has also worked 10 years in government he has been a college professor, worked with environmental activist groups and is an innovator in the Health, Safety and Environmental measurement and management areas.
There is no charge for this audioconference but pre-registration is required.
PREREGISTER HERE
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Core Practices: Is Health a Part of Your Safety Process?
by Michael Topf, MA
Shortchanging good health practices in your workplace can have a dramatic impact not only on employees' health, but on their safety and productivity as well.
People watching is a favorite pastime of many, including myself and an associate I was talking to in the exhibit hall at a recent national safety conference. As we stood chatting about the latest in safety, health and environmental issues, we couldn't help but notice that so many of the attendees did not appear to be physically fit. Many people were overweight and out of shape. As we walked and talked, we observed quite a few people quickly exiting the building to have a cigarette. Attendees, huddled around tables at the food concessions, consumed large quantities of foods high in fats, sugar and artificial ingredients.
Our conversation shifted to an inquiry, not out of judgments of right or wrong but out of our mutual concern, regarding why this condition existed to such a great degree with people in general, not to mention people dealing in safety and incident prevention. Here we were at a conference where people came from a multitude of geographical areas and industries hungry to find out what more could be done to prevent accidents and resulting injuries, yet showed little awareness of how their health was being affected by their attitudes and patterns of behavior.
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Topf Initiatives is not offering on site services for those of you that may want to improve there S H & E culture and safety performance but do not have the time to implement a full 14-18 month safety initiative.
These modules can be facilitated at your facility at your convenience and within your budget as time allows.
Call Bill Bailer to learn more about the stand alone modules and how they can be implemented at your company.
· Culture Assessment & Alignment Surveys
· Topf “Leadership For Safety” Programs
· Safety Reinforcement Training — How to plan and run highly effective safety meetings
· S, H & E Strategic Planning Sessions — led by a Topf Initiatives Senior Facilitator
CALL 610-783-1776
For information
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Core Practices: Is Health a Part of Your Safety Process?
by Michael Topf, MA
Shortchanging good health practices in your workplace can have a dramatic impact not only on employees' health, but on their safety and productivity as well.
People watching is a favorite pastime of many, including myself and an associate I was talking to in the exhibit hall at a recent national safety conference. As we stood chatting about the latest in safety, health and environmental issues, we couldn't help but notice that so many of the attendees did not appear to be physically fit. Many people were overweight and out of shape. As we walked and talked, we observed quite a few people quickly exiting the building to have a cigarette. Attendees, huddled around tables at the food concessions, consumed large quantities of foods high in fats, sugar and artificial ingredients.
Our conversation shifted to an inquiry, not out of judgments of right or wrong but out of our mutual concern, regarding why this condition existed to such a great degree with people in general, not to mention people dealing in safety and incident prevention. Here we were at a conference where people came from a multitude of geographical areas and industries hungry to find out what more could be done to prevent accidents and resulting injuries, yet showed little awareness of how their health was being affected by their attitudes and patterns of behavior.
READ MORE
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