Tom was carrying tools to his truck after a long day on the job and stepped in a hole that was not visible because of relatively tall grass. When Tom stepped in the hole, he fell and not only suffered a twisted ankle but also injured his wrist when he reached out his hand to try to break his fall. Two of his coworkers saw Tom fall and helped him to his feet. As they were helping him limp back to his truck, one of the men said, “Yeah, I stepped in that hole this morning and nearly fell.” Tom thought to himself, that it certainly would have been nice if his coworker has spoken-up and made him aware of that hole.
Effective communication is critical to every aspect of a successful job. Being able to work safely especially relies on effective communication. Effective communication includes having honest conversations. Part of having honest conversations is bringing up and discussing issues as they arise.
There are an endless amount of possible scenarios of when you should speak up and have an honest conversation to address an issue. Below are some general examples of when you need to speak up.
- When you see someone working unsafe.
- When you do not have the proper training or knowledge to do the task at hand.
- When you do not have the right tools or personnel to complete the task correctly.
- When a safeguard is not implemented.
- When a hazard is present that could injure you or others.
Here are some general guidelines about having conversations regarding physical hazards, at-risk behaviors, safety training, or other issues relative to safety.
- Take the time to have the conversations that need to be had to correct the situation.
- Involve the right personnel in discussions.
- If someone is working unsafe stop and have a respectful conversation about it. If you do not feel comfortable approaching them, approach a supervisor.
- If appropriate, ensure that others are informed of the issue.
Sometimes, one of the most difficult things to do on the job is to speak up. These conversations can be uncomfortable. That being said, speaking-up about issues as they arise is critical to being able to work safely. Issues that could lead to an injury are everyone’s problem, not just the worker who is put at risk to be injured.
DISCUSS WITH YOUR CREW
Do you ever just keep to yourself and not say anything when you see a physical hazard on a jobsite or when you see another employee engaged in an at-risk behavior? If so, what do you think keeps you from speaking up?
Have you ever felt that you had inadequate training to perform a task safely, but instead of speaking-up you did the task anyhow? If so, what do you think kept you from speaking up?
Can anyone give a recent example of when they spoke-up and saif something to improve safety on one of our jobs?