Attitude is Everything

Nobody wants to get hurt in the workplace, and we take precautions to make sure our workplace is a safe environment for both employees and visitors.  But as any self-improvement professional will tell you, attitude is everything.  Unfortunately, an unsafe attitude toward workplace practices can be like walking the high wire without a safety net; you may complete the job without incident, but one slip can kill you.

Following are six phrases, each of which reflects an unsafe attitude that could lead to workplace disasters.  If you hear one of these phrases, or something similar, while on the job, take a closer look at the situation.  You may be able to stop an accident before it happens.
 

1. “We don’t have time.”  Safety training requires an investment of time, but it ultimately saves more time than it loses for any employer.  Any time an employee is injured, work time is lost and that employee’s expertise is removed from the workplace.  An employee death due to a workplace accident is especially tragic.  There is always time to train to work safely.  Regular safety meetings reinforce the safety mentality among your employees.  Ask your AMLJIA Risk Control Specialist about how to participate in monthly safety teleconferences; thirty minutes a month is all it takes.
2. “I know a shortcut.”  People who take shortcuts are playing the odds, betting on the hope that nothing bad will happen.  But shortcuts can lead to complex problems.  Say, for example, that an employee uses too short of a ladder to reach the roof because he doesn’t want to find a longer one and transport it to the worksite.  Disaster follows.
3. “I think this is the right way to do it.”  When in doubt, always look up the regulations.  Guessing or believing hearsay is always unwise.  If you don’t have a designated safety specialist, or you don’t know where to find the regulations, call your AMLJIA Risk Control Specialists.  They are happy to help you with the information and training you need to get the job done safely.
4. “Regulations don’t change that often.”  Government regulations actually change on a fairly regular basis.  Think of regulations as works constantly in progress.  It is up to the employer to stay updated on the rules that affect their business.
5. “We’ll fix it later.”  No employee should be allowed to work with damaged equipment or forced to work in a potentially unsafe environment.  Defective equipment needs to be taken out of commission immediately.  Safety hazards, such as a broken window or cracked floor, should be immediately repaired or steps taken to prevent employee accidents until permanent repairs can be made.
6. “It’s not in the budget.”  Safety is always a worthwhile investment.  A small investment in training, proper safety equipment and proper repairs can avoid big expenditures in lost time, medical expenses, and possible OSHA fines.  The AMLJIA Safety Savings Account can help you stretch your budget and purchase necessary safety items; contact your AMLJIA Risk Control Specialist for more information.

Safety training ultimately leads to greater safety awareness and fewer work-related illnesses and accidents, resulting in lower medical expenditures and insurance costs, higher productivity, and happier employees.