Just as a small child learns to not touch the stove after being burned, many worksite safety rules are put into effect after an incident occurs. This is called taking a reactive approach to safety. While this is a necessary part of a safety culture process – many Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations are born this way – businesses should aspire to take a more proactive approach to safety.
We all try to be proactive in our personal lives … Replacing that old dishwasher before it breaks down and floods the kitchen. Padding our savings account in case of an emergency. Putting training wheels on our child’s bicycle as they learn to ride a two-wheeler. However, this proactive nature doesn’t always carry over to the jobsite. The key is to recognize and eliminate any onsite hazards before work begins – not after.
Lessons Learned
A recent incident mentioned by Amerisure AVP of Loss Control, Dave Galbraith, details how not taking a proactive approach on a jobsite cost a worker his eyesight. Cutting cement board using a dry power saw caused a significant amount of dust in an area of a jobsite. When a gust of wind sent the cement board particles through the air, a worker soon experienced an eye irritation. The irritation resulted in a corneal abrasion that progressed to a corneal transplant and then vision loss in the affected eye.
An investigation uncovered that even though the worker was wearing eye protection, it lacked side shield protection. Also, the manufacturer’s recommendations for cutting the cement board was to hand cut it or to use a dust collection system. Neither recommendation was followed. Investigators also found that jobsite maintenance was subpar.
A proactive approach to this worksite including the proper eye protection, following manufacturer’s recommendations and a properly maintained jobsite would have saved this worker’s vision. While each oversight on its own can seem small, collectively they can add up to a life-altering incident. But what causes companies to have a more reactive vs. proactive approach on the jobsite? Time and money are usually the two main factors.
Get Proactive
Creating a strong and proactive safety culture takes planning – which can often translate to time and dollars. More often than not, however, a three-minute conversation is all it takes to reduce potential jobsite hazards and could save companies thousands of dollars in the long run.
Amerisure’s Loss Control Consultants are dedicated to taking a proactive approach on jobsites. Our Loss Control services include online employee safety training, Hogan Behavioral Safety Assessment, safety culture surveys, safety communication and education materials, our Observational Safety Program and more.
Infographic: Reactive Safety vs. Proactive Safety On the Jobsite
For more information or to schedule training, please contact your agency or local Amerisure Loss Control Consultant at (800) 257-1900 or [email protected].
