Everyday safe means applying the principle of safety on and off the job. It means wearing safety boots, hearing protection, and safety glasses when mowing the lawn. It means wearing your seatbelt, driving defensively, and not texting or answering emails while driving.
Everyday safe means thinking about what you need to do a job safely before starting work. It’s about thinking through potentially dangerous jobs like cleaning gutters or using a chainsaw. It means stopping and thinking about safety when what you are doing or your conditions change. If you’re doing something you have never done before or doing a routine task, think about how to avoid getting hurt. The only thing each of us has control over is ourselves. Make a choice not to take a risk with your life. This is the level of safety we should all expect from the people around us.
Regardless of where you are working, at home or on the job, ask yourself these questions:
Do I know what it takes to do this job safely? Talk through what you will do, how you will do it, and what you will do to control any hazards. If you saw someone you love doing it the way you describe, would you let them?
What personal protective equipment (PPE) do I need? Is it in good condition? Is there a way to control the hazard without using PPE? Can I do it another way or use a different material?
What tools and other equipment do I need to make the job safe? Are they the correct ones? Are they in good condition? Do I know how to use them?
Are there other risks to my safety or the safety of others around me? What if something happens quickly or unexpectedly? Do I know how to respond to avoid getting hurt?
Make your safety an all-day, everyday habit. It only takes a few minutes to think about what you are doing and how you can do it without getting hurt. It only takes a few seconds to suffer an injury that changes your life forever.
