Vendor Guest Column
WHY DO PEOPLE GET HURT? John Harp, CSP, ARM—Risk Engineering Consultant, MSIG Insurance Group Employees are injured on the job because of many reasons. Amid the Hundred Days of Summer and the pandemic subsiding, foot traffic into the stores should continue to escalate. As employees get busier with more to do, the risk of injury increases. Research shows that accidents are the result of an unsafe condition or unsafe behavior, or a combination of both. Examples of unsafe conditions include: poor housekeeping; leg on step stool broke; spill on the floor caused a slip and fall; and a sharp edge on the trash receptacle caused a laceration. Examples of unsafe acts or behavior include: employee leaves the counter in pursuit of a shoplifter; trying to lift multiple cases of water; using the wrong knife to open hot dog boxes; using a milk crate as a step stool; and violation of rules. CAN YOU GUESS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS? Data shows that an estimated 90 percent of all injuries or accidents include unsafe behavior. If we give the employees a non-safety cutting blade and they inadvertently have their hand in the direction of cutting, is it because they weren’t paying attention, or was it management providing the incorrect tool? If it is continually rein-
Fa Fatality Fatalit Fatali Fatal Fata Fat
RE RESULT RESUL RESU RES RESULT
S Se Sev Seve Sever Severe I In Inj Inju Injur Injury M Mi Min Mino Minor I In Inj Inju Injur Injury
“Simple housekeeping is one of the most effective tools in preventing unsafe conditions.”
N Ne Nea Near M Mi Mis Miss
B BE BEH BEHA BEHAV BEHAVI BEHAVIO BEHAVIOR
U Un Uns Unsa Unsaf Unsafe A & Conditions Ac Act Acts C Co Con Cond Condi Condit Conditi Conditio Condition
forced that shoplifting is hurting the business, but training shows they are not to leave the store, what priority will the employee take in this situation? We know that for every serious injury, unsafe behaviors are occurring before the incident. As seen in the triangle there are many occurrences where an employee “got away with it” and then continues the unsafe behavior. Have you checked your cell phone while driving or run a yellow light that turned red because you were in a rush? Repeating unsafe behaviors usually leads to injuries, accidents, or worse. If an employee shows a pattern of aggressiveness when dealing with shoplifters but nothing happens, what are the odds they may one day escalate the situation to a point of being seriously injured? HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE AND CORRECT AN UNSAFE CONDITION?
“Research shows that accidents are the result of an unsafe condition or unsafe behavior, or a combination of both.”
Walk the store and correct conditions when seen. If it can’t be fixed immediately, secure the area from further risk of injury. Setting a positive example as the owner is
critical. Then hold your managers and employees accountable for also maintaining safe conditions.
Simple housekeeping is one of the most effective tools in preventing unsafe conditions. It’s easy to get used to looking at things as they are or accept less than perfect conditions. Show your employees it matters and expect clean, orderly storage areas, coolers, register areas, and especially the customer floor. HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE AND CORRECT UNSAFE BEHAVIOR? This is the most challenging of corrections because so many variables can be involved. But there are tools and techniques that can reduce the chances of unsafe behavior. First, know your employees and their likelihood of risk-taking. Do they listen to instructions? How do they act with customers that question an ID for alcohol, demand a different hot dog, or are suspected of shoplifting? Are they shorttempered? Do they follow the rules, training, and advice? If you or your managers overlook risky behavior or chance-taking, you have quietly reinforced that personal safety is not the priority. continued on page 40
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