"Better safe than sorry. It makes sense (and is certainly safer) to take precautionary measures before anything bad happens." This saying is attributed to Samuel Lover, an Irish novelist, in the story "Rory O'More" circa about 1837.
We've all said the first sentence, but did you know the rest of the quote, or the author? We didn't. But we like it, and it is certainly reasonable and useful. You might even say it is "practicable," something that is able to be put into practice successfully and with limited cost or effort.
We also like the quote from former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. "Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan."
When we look at our jobsites, it is definitely better to be safe for that day, than to be sorry that something happened, whether a near-miss incident or an incident where someone got injured. How can we make that happen? We can follow the advice of Madam Thatcher. You start with a plan, and then put that plan to work.
Many of us do that at our jobs. We call it a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) or a Job Safety Analysis (JSA). A JHA is a written work plan where we look at each task for the work to be performed. List each step, find the hazards, and write down what the controls would be to accomplish the goal of finishing the job safely.
Let's say that the work assignment for the day is to go to a client's site where we will change a light bulb. The light bulb that is not functioning is on a 12-foot ceiling in the middle of a small machine shop. What are some of the hazards? Here is a partial list:
- Making sure you have the right equipment (ladder and correct light bulb).
- Getting to the client site safely.
- Unloading the ladder.
- Carrying the ladder into the shop.
- Moving any equipment that might be under the light.
- Setting up the ladder.
You get the idea. And then some of the hazards involved would include:
- Driving in traffic.
- Getting the ladder onto the truck, off the truck and into the client's shop.
- Slips, trips and falls while carrying the ladder.
- The heaviness of any equipment that must be moved.
- Ensuring the equipment that must be moved is deenergized.
Here are a few controls:
- Inspect the vehicle that will be driven to the client site.
- Inspect the ladder, making sure it has the proper rating for the job and of sufficient length to safety reach the work area.
- Drive defensively to the site.
- Use safe lifting technics, using assistance or the buddy system to carry the ladder.
- Watch where you are walking while carrying the ladder.
- Use of LockOut/TagOut (LOTO) before moving any equipment in the shop.
And on and on your list goes. When creating a JHA for a client, we use a form that has three columns, so we can write the task, listing the steps in the first column, putting the corresponding hazards in the middle column, and then we list the controls in the third column. It all lines up and creates a clear picture of what the work plan is.
One step that is important and is sometimes forgotten is an end of the day or end of the task debrief. Whether you were working by yourself or with a crew, stop for a short review of the plan. Did it work? Did anything happen that was not in the plan? Did anything surprise you? How was that handled? How would you do things differently the next time? To use our example, when you got to the shop, someone was using a piece of equipment right where you needed to put your ladder, and they were in a hurry. They had work to do and did not want to pause while you changed the light bulb. How did you handle it?
For work to be done consistently in a safe manner, you need to have a plan, and work that plan. It is always better to be safe than sorry. "It makes sense (and is certainly safer) to take precautionary measures before anything bad happens."