We will be hurt and get irritated too when somebody points out our mistakes. This happens in our annual performance assessment report, audits, discussions (arguments?) with colleagues / partners / spouse / children / etc.
However, there is a saying, "It is easy to find mistakes in others, Difficult to find our own mistakes".
When we take it positively, look at it with a peace of mind, we feel we should thank those who find our mistakes because they have done our job.
As per another saying, " a problem found is as good as half of the work is done, we only have to find a solution". The problem is our inability to find the problem.
Recently, I watched a movie titled, "Hot Shots! Part Deux" in TV. A dialogue in the movie is, 'we all have permission to make mistakes. It is called learning".
A long time patient sometimes, is better than a doctor.
Learning from past accidents (mistakes) is what we should do. Like we can't have life long schooling, we can't be continuous learners, making same mistakes again and again. We have to learn from our mistakes and those of others who suffered.
Safety officers/inspectors during inspection / audit find the deficiencies and communicate to plant in-charges. Plant in-charges should thank these lot for finding the deficiencies and for helping them to work for a better workplace.
Apr 25, 2013
Apr 17, 2013
Apr 10, 2013
Near miss management from SafetySmart
The following link takes to SafetySmart article on '8 steps for effective near miss management'.
http://compliance.safetysmart.com/search-by-topic/recordkeeping-search-by-topic/8-steps-for-effective-near-miss-management?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bongarde
http://compliance.safetysmart.com/search-by-topic/recordkeeping-search-by-topic/8-steps-for-effective-near-miss-management?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bongarde
Apr 8, 2013
Actions speak the truth
People, particularly those in higher positions say, 'do what you speak and speak what you do'. But, we find many times in reality that only people speak and do not demonstrate. It is hypocrisy.
Audience, particularly those who are not from the same organization, feel and think great about the speaker by listening to the tall claims. But, insiders will have pessimism about talk by such leaders.
When some lower level employee speaks, nobody cares. But, when same of even lower level employee of some other organization speaks, people will be attentive and give respect. This leads to heart burn among the employees of the organization to which this leader belongs.
Sometimes, when talks are given by employees of same organization in which the show is conducted, higher level people go out to do their business, but this is not the case with talks from employees of other organizations. This leads to wrong impression among employees as participants that boss does not care about the speaker (and his work) and thus they too need not bother in future. This is particularly harmful to the organization when the speaker is from safety department. Similarly, questioning (or ragging) safety department employees in front of others for whatever reason it is, leads to wrong projection of importance to safety and this will only spoil safety culture.
Audience, particularly those who are not from the same organization, feel and think great about the speaker by listening to the tall claims. But, insiders will have pessimism about talk by such leaders.
When some lower level employee speaks, nobody cares. But, when same of even lower level employee of some other organization speaks, people will be attentive and give respect. This leads to heart burn among the employees of the organization to which this leader belongs.
Sometimes, when talks are given by employees of same organization in which the show is conducted, higher level people go out to do their business, but this is not the case with talks from employees of other organizations. This leads to wrong impression among employees as participants that boss does not care about the speaker (and his work) and thus they too need not bother in future. This is particularly harmful to the organization when the speaker is from safety department. Similarly, questioning (or ragging) safety department employees in front of others for whatever reason it is, leads to wrong projection of importance to safety and this will only spoil safety culture.
Apr 2, 2013
Accountability for safety
In an article in Safety Center on accountability for safety, Bob Lapidus, Safety Management Specialist gave following five steps.
Accountability means, in his words, praising when correct things done and correcting when things are done the improperly. It should not be like knee jerk reaction to punish people when something goes wrong.
While writing safety policy and safety procedures, I feel, it should be written by involving all concerned employees. If it is written by manager or consultant in his office without interaction and active participation of employees, the ownership for the document will not exist with the concerned shopfloor employees and it is likely that they may not like to read and follow.
- Create written safety policies and procedures
- Train employees on the safety policies and procedures
- Provide all the necessary equipment to do the assigned work
- Hold everyone accountable for compliance
- Both supervisors and employees provide feedback as to how work is being done Corrective action is taken as necessary
Accountability means, in his words, praising when correct things done and correcting when things are done the improperly. It should not be like knee jerk reaction to punish people when something goes wrong.
While writing safety policy and safety procedures, I feel, it should be written by involving all concerned employees. If it is written by manager or consultant in his office without interaction and active participation of employees, the ownership for the document will not exist with the concerned shopfloor employees and it is likely that they may not like to read and follow.
Apr 1, 2013
Safety: Can You Have Too Much of a Good Thing? » SafetySmart
Safety: Can You Have Too Much of a Good Thing? » SafetySmart
The article is about the experience of Australian psychologist during his interaction with employees of a corporation. Some opined that too much safety (directives, guidelines, procedures, initiatives, etc) will lead to safety saturation and employees may try to take short cuts like those in traffic jams where motorists try to ignore signals out of frustration of feeling obstructed, that they are unable to make move, and so on.
How much is too much is a debatable point and requires efforts of all heads in important positions along and CEO of the organization, I feel, should be biased towards safety rules and regulations, while taking a final call for implementation of safety systems, so arrived.
Being a safety professional, I am unable to agree with the statement that too much safety (is there really such a thing) works against safety culture. But, I should be open to ideas and lack of knowledge or understanding should not make me not to listen to ideas.
The article is about the experience of Australian psychologist during his interaction with employees of a corporation. Some opined that too much safety (directives, guidelines, procedures, initiatives, etc) will lead to safety saturation and employees may try to take short cuts like those in traffic jams where motorists try to ignore signals out of frustration of feeling obstructed, that they are unable to make move, and so on.
How much is too much is a debatable point and requires efforts of all heads in important positions along and CEO of the organization, I feel, should be biased towards safety rules and regulations, while taking a final call for implementation of safety systems, so arrived.
Being a safety professional, I am unable to agree with the statement that too much safety (is there really such a thing) works against safety culture. But, I should be open to ideas and lack of knowledge or understanding should not make me not to listen to ideas.
Mar 27, 2013
Domestic LPG cylinder leak - lights ON - explosion - deaths and injuries
In an incident of LPG leak from domestic gas cylinder five days ago, 8 persons died and 3 more are undergoing treatment.
In a housing complex, sensing gas leak in the opposite house, neighbors opened the house by getting the keys from the house owner and when switched ON the lights, the sparks caused gas explosion.
Gas detectors are the need of the hour and any gas leak detection should lead to display of warning sign of "DO NOT USE ELECTRIC SWITCHES-DO NOT USE MOBILES-SPARKS CAN CAUSE EXPLOSION" prominently so that even in panic condition one will not try to use electric switches.
Gas cylinder / piped gas distribution agencies can distribute do's and don'ts along with the cylinders by printing behind the bill or if somebody is paying online, these instructions should be displayed on the billing page and only after checking the boxes on each of the instructions, should lead to payment page. Further, distribution agencies and community centers may take up periodical training of residents and those who fail to attend the training programmes should be penalized by way of higher billing or in the worst case, cutting off of gas supply.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Entire-family-wiped-out-in-Vikarabad-gas-leak-blast/articleshow/19233935.cms
In a housing complex, sensing gas leak in the opposite house, neighbors opened the house by getting the keys from the house owner and when switched ON the lights, the sparks caused gas explosion.
Gas detectors are the need of the hour and any gas leak detection should lead to display of warning sign of "DO NOT USE ELECTRIC SWITCHES-DO NOT USE MOBILES-SPARKS CAN CAUSE EXPLOSION" prominently so that even in panic condition one will not try to use electric switches.
Gas cylinder / piped gas distribution agencies can distribute do's and don'ts along with the cylinders by printing behind the bill or if somebody is paying online, these instructions should be displayed on the billing page and only after checking the boxes on each of the instructions, should lead to payment page. Further, distribution agencies and community centers may take up periodical training of residents and those who fail to attend the training programmes should be penalized by way of higher billing or in the worst case, cutting off of gas supply.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Entire-family-wiped-out-in-Vikarabad-gas-leak-blast/articleshow/19233935.cms
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