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Make Safety a Personal Thing: Adopt a Safety Code of Conduct

The reason why workers don't follow thewith it. Other times they are unwilling
safety rules is that they don't taketo take measures such as retraining or
personal responsibility for safety.disciplinary action to assure that
Ensure that your personal approach toworkers know the importance of following
safety is at the highest level so youthe rules.
can go home every day to your family4. Workers publicly accept a rule and
without injury. Make safety a personalprivately disregard it.
thing and adopt a code of safe conduct.Sometimes it's difficult to see that
By Carl Potter, CSP, CMC and Deb Potter,workers are nodding in agreement when a
PhD, CMCrule change is communicated, yet
WHEN SAFETY ISN'T PERSONALchoosing to ignore the rule or
Far too often, workers ignore even theimproperly apply their own "rules."
most basic, yet life-saving safetyIt's a passive resistance to following
procedures - procedures like usingthe rules.
machine guards, apply appropriate5. Workers don't think the rules apply
protection when working aroundto them.
electricity, and wearing proper personalThe number one reason that workers don't
protective equipment. On furtherfollow the rules is they don't think
investigation, we often find that thesethey need the rules to stay safe. They
workers just simply don't like the safethink they are experienced enough, smart
work procedures of their company. Theyenough, or strong enough to withstand
consider safety something that someonethe risk of injury. This kind of
is "doing to them" rather than a way toattitude is at the root of many
protect themselves, their co-workers,injury-related incidents.
and their families. They don't takeADOPT A SAFETY CODE OF CONDUCT
safety personally.Whether you are a leader or a follower,
REASONS WHY WORKERS DON'T FOLLOW THEsee if you recognize any of the
RULESattitudes and behaviors described above.
Often we talk with managers andChances are, you do. Maybe safety just
supervisors who are very frustrated withisn't a personal thing for you. But, if
workers who blatantly ignore safe workyou are injured, it will become very
procedures. While it seems very simplepersonal to you and your family. You
that a company would establish safe workdon't want that to happen! Take a
procedures based on the known hazardsforward-thinking approach to safety and
associated with producing its productsadopt a code of safe conduct. A code of
or services, it is not thatsafe conduct is a set of personal
straightforward. Consider these reasonsparameters that you will always follow;
that some workers ignore or fail tothey are the standard by which you
adopt work procedures:operate day in and day out. Here are a
1. Safe work procedures are developedfew ideas for your consideration:
without appropriate worker input.1. Safety is my number one
Many companies have safety committeespriority.
and rule committees. Sometimes2. I will look out for others and
employees are included in thesemyself.
committees. When employees aren't3. I will immediately stop any job
included, the rules and work proceduresor task that I believe is unsafe.
are not suitable for the work. This is4. I will seek excellence in my
the best way to ensure that rules arework.
ignored!5. I will always behave as a
2. New rules or work procedures areprofessional and will learn all I can
not well-communicated.about my work.
When a work procedure or safety rule is6. I will recognize and manage
adopted, it may not be communicatedrisks appropriately.
effectively. Sometimes a rule or work7. I will always address any
procedure change is announced in ahazards when I become aware of them.
safety meeting and merely glossed over8. I will adhere to the company's
without appropriate discussion to ensuresafety rules.
complete understanding. This is a greatYou can certainly adopt this list "as
way to make sure that people aren'tis" for your code of safe conduct; it
fully aware of the purpose of a rule.will be an even more meaningful list if
3. Work procedures and changes are notyou make it personal by adding a few of
adequately enforced.your own parameters. Ask yourself what
We often see that supervisors, crewyou need to do every day, in every job
leaders, and foremen don't taketo keep yourself and others safe. This
responsibility for enforcing a new rulewill ensure that your personal approach
or work procedure change. Sometimesto safety is at the highest level so you
such leaders are not comfortable withcan go home every day to your family
the change themselves, or do not agreewithout injury.



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