We sat down with our Health and Safety Advisor Tony Putter, to hear about some helpful approaches and considerations when it comes to safety in the workplace.
Always room for improvement
You may have heard the joke about the travelling salesperson who approached hotel reception during a busy season, knowing no rooms would be available.
Salesperson: “Hello, I’d like to book a room for tonight.”
Receptionist: “Do you have a reservation?”
Salesperson: “No, I don’t.”
Receptionist: “I’m sorry, but we’re fully booked.”
Salesperson: “Do you recognise me?”
Receptionist: “Please, tell me.”
Salesperson: “My name is Improvement, and there’s always room for improvement.”
This joke is worth keeping in mind, particularly when it comes to health and safety.
Addressing uncertainty
Many consider the ABC of health and safety to be the primary maxim to consider: “Always Be Careful”. “But this can be an unhelpful approach to achieving optimal health and safety outcomes,” explains Health and Safety Advisor Tony Putter. “In every aspect of our workday, advance planning is crucial. We must consider who will be involved, what tasks need completion, when they should occur, where they will take place, and how they will be accomplished.” However, achieving our goals is seldom straightforward. The challenge arises because the path to completing a task safely and healthily is rarely a straight path; the uncertainty of the unknown is ever-present. If we anticipate and plan for uncertainty, we are more likely to succeed than if we do not. As the saying goes, “An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing.” The reality is that uncertainty is inherent in every task we undertake throughout the workday. “Despite our best efforts to plan, there’s always a level of unpredictability. This uncertainty can pose risks, but can also provide opportunities for improvement,” says Tony. It can be helpful to actively recognise and address uncertainty to ensure we achieve our desired outcomes by the end of each working day.
Everyone involved
A whole-team dedication to Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) is vital for improving health and safety practices in the workplace. This organisation-wide commitment also fuels progress. The creation of a culture by management that values excellence and encourages input from all levels, will in turn support continuous growth in health and safety practices.
Safety advocate Sidney Dekker stresses the importance of seeing team members as key contributors to solutions rather than just potential challenges to manage. This mindset recognises the valuable knowledge and experiences that people bring, which can be vital in identifying and tackling safety issues and operational hurdles. By actively involving workers in decision-making and encouraging an environment of trust and teamwork, organisations can tap into their team’s expertise to enhance health and safety, productivity, and overall success.
Progress to success
It’s a fundamental truth that there is always a way to improve the way we work. Will Rogers, an early twentieth-century actor, is often credited with saying, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
“Frequently a disciplined approach takes precedence over inspiration in securing success,” explains Tony. “This is because discipline offers consistency, structure, and perseverance in reaching workplace goals.” While inspiration ignites short-lived actions, it is malleable. Discipline enables individuals to remain focused on their objectives, overcome challenges, and ensure progress toward success, irrespective of external factors or fluctuations in motivation. “Ultimately, discipline fosters habits and behaviours that pave the way for enduring achievements and long-term success in promoting health and safety,” says Tony.
“Improvement doesn’t occur in a moment of inspiration but through disciplined work habits embraced by everyone, in everything, every time.”
