Healthy Respect for Hazards

Behind my office, there is a new subdivision being built. The local construction company has a staff of about 10 crew and a variety of machinery like excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks, etc. They started by clearing the land and are now putting in the critical infrastructure, like water and sewer pipes. I find myself often looking out the window to see what the construction crew is up to.

Over the past month, I have watched in awe as these massive machines move land and create a brand new neighbourhood from scratch. These employees work day in and day out seemingly right beside these large and incredibly hazardous machines, and have yet to observe or witness any incidents. It has me thinking – this is highly hazardous work – how do they work so closely to this machinery safely?

If you recall, last month’s newsletter article was about complacency – the baseless thought or belief that the work is safe and hazards don’t apply to me. To really break it down, it’s the lack of respect for what could hurt you. What I have observed on this construction site has almost been the exact opposite of complacency; this crew appears to have a healthy respect and acknowledgement of the hazards around them.

This crew diligently arrive with their high-visibility vests, their hard hats are on before they leave their vehicles, and they are taking accountability for safety. I’ve witnessed clear communication from equipment operators to those working around the area. I’ve seen the crew back up and give space for the equipment to maneuver. The site foreman brings a new case of water and a few bags of ice each day to the worksite, as we are in the thick of the summer heat. And this has me thinking – if this can be done in highly hazardous conditions, what can be done in situations with less hazardous conditions?

There is something to be said or learned from this crew. I wonder if that healthy respect for such dangerous work could be translated into retail, long-term care, or even offices? We know workplace violence and harassment, and musculoskeletal disorders are common, so what can we do to address them? What about entanglement in machinery, like a key cutter or a conveyor belt? How can we develop a healthy respect for the hazards around us?

Perhaps it starts at the top. Having leaders who demonstrate the need for health and safety will trickle down to staff. By providing the policies, procedures, effective training, and the ability to ask questions and talk about the hazards present in an open and honest manner can help to dissolve complacency and start to build a healthy respect for hazards.