I was mowing my lawn yesterday (Yes, Vancouver weather means
mowing begins in mid-February some years) when a passing neighbour noted my hearing and eye
protection with a “thumbs up”. I guess
wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to mow the lawn says something to
others about a person’s attitude toward safety.
When I reflect on how
I mowed my lawns decades ago, I’m certain my behaviour back then also said
something about my inner values and beliefs; safety might not have been the message I was
sending . The battery-powered electric
mower I use today is arguably safer than the old gas mowers I used years ago, but back then I didn’t always wear the PPE or
disconnect the sparkplug terminal before clearing the blade. Today, wearing the PPE is second nature and
removing the power key to “lock out” the motor when clearing the blade is
something I always do. I do it now for
myself but I remember making that a consistent part of my routine around the
time the kids were old enough to want to help.
I recall wanting to set a good example.
I realized that my actions communicated something about my inner values
and beliefs. Kids are perceptive; you can talk about safety but what really gets
through to them and becomes part of their way of thinking is not what you say
but what you do.
My attitudes and beliefs about safety have changed over the
years; that changed mindset has altered the way I think about hazards and the way I act to manage risks at work, at home, on the road and at play.
The connection between the way we think (our attitudes,
values and beliefs) and the way we act (what we do-including what we chose to
consider in decision-making) is important.
What we do is mediated by what we think.
Periodically assessing our underlying personal attitudes and beliefs can
provide a valuable perspective on how “safety-minded” we are. But how can you assess your own “safety-mindedness”?
Most people will say
they are “safety conscious” but being “safety-minded” is more than being merely
safety conscious or aware. You can’t
directly observe a state of mind but because your mind mediates your actions
action, you can observe your own actions—what you actual do when it comes to
certain safety-oriented situation that arrive in everyday life. The pattern of your actions across your work
and non-work life reveals your current level of safety-mindedness.
Categorize your current safety behaviours across the
following safety statements in this Safety-Mindedness Self-Assessment. Be honest with yourself about the frequency
of each behaviour and you may get some valuable insights into where you are on
the” safety-minded continuum”. Just fill
in the blanks with the most appropriate word to describe the pattern you follow
in these common situations with a safety component.
Use the following terms to complete the ten sentences below:
Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Usually, Almost always,
Always
1)
I ______drive
within 10% of the posted speed limit in normal conditions.
2)
I ______ignore
text messages on my handheld or wrist device while I am driving.
3)
I ______use
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE- safety glasses and hearing protection, for
example) when it is recommended (hard-hat at work, hearing protection when
mowing, etc.).
4)
I ______ visibly pay attention to the airline pre-flight
safety presentation.
5)
I ______read the safety card provided on
commercial flights I take.
6)
I ______walk further to the marked intersection
to cross the street rather than cross elsewhere.
7)
I ______dispose of tools / appliances /
furniture pieces that may work but are
unsafe.
8)
I ______use the recommended PPE when I engage in
sports activities (cycling, skiing, skating).
9)
I ______ wear high visibility, reflective
clothing or accessories when walking after dark.
10)
I ______ give safety-oriented products/accessories
as gifts (first aid kit, earthquake kit, helmet, CO detector, fire extinguisher,
safety helmet with bike).
Scoring: Count the number of times you selected each of the following terms. Multiply count times the value assigned each term and then total the points to determine your score.
Term Point Value X Count Points
Never 1 x ______ = _______
Rarely
Sometimes
Usually
Almost always 5 x ______ = _______
Always
____________________________________________________
TOTAL Score _______
56-60 Safety is part of your belief system. You “walk
the talk” at home, on the road, at work and play. Safety is part of the way you think. You
automatically assess the environment for hazards, continuously manage risks
even in changing circumstances and adjust your behaviour to eliminate or
minimize risks.
51-55 You almost always act safely and recognize the
hazards in most activities. You know you
have some blind spots and you often make the effort to overcome them. When you make a conscious decision to act
less safe, you are highly aware of the potential risks, often resolving to
change behaviour in the future.
41-50 You are aware of safety most of the time and
act to reduce risks in most circumstances.
You are sometimes surprised by near misses and injuries that happen to others and will
consider changing your behaviour based on new information about hazards and
risks.
31-40 There are gaps and contradictions in your
behaviour. You don’t have a negative attitude
towards safety but believe risks are sometimes overblown. You frequently wonder if safety behaviour is
worth the effort and cost over what else you could do with those resources. You also believe that some risks don’t apply
to you.
21-30 You may comply with required safety
activities but don’t believe the risks are real for someone like you with your
knowledge and experience. With few
exceptions, safety is extra work, not a way of thinking and acting. You can see the point of a few specific
safety measures but rely on design and procedures to have taken other hazards
and risks into account. It takes a real
effort to think about possible hazards and risks beyond that.
15-20 The immediate objective dominates your way of
acting. If you think about hazards at
all, you minimize the risks/costs or you don’t believe the risks apply to
you. Safety is mostly passive and
external to you. You may comply with
safety laws if you perceive the risk of being caught is more than minimal and
penalties are high enough, otherwise the value of safety is just not
there.
10-14 Safety is not a consideration in what you
do. You rarely think about safety,
hazards or risk. Your safety relies on
the innate design of the equipment you use, the actions of others and the environments
you encounter. If you are caught
violating a safety rule, you are not likely to change your behaviour unless the
cost of not doing so are very high.
Safety-mindedness is not a static trait. You can change. You can become more safety-minded. And that change will be reflected in
increased frequency of behaviours that increase safety, reduce risk, and communicate to others something about the
importance of safety to you. Something
to think about next time you mow your lawn.
