Safety

LAWRENCE FRY | REGIONAL SAFETY MANAGER

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

Happy Holidays everyone! The holiday season is in full swing and there are lots of activities going on which can act as distractions to our work. “Did that present we order arrive on time?” “Yes, Amazon it did.” “Did we forget to invite anyone to our holiday dinner?” “What was I supposed to bring to that party?”

It is a challenge to stay focused at work during this time of year. So, this is when it is especially important to take a few extra seconds for safety. When you find yourself working and your thoughts are running wild with all the plans and activities of upcoming family events, STOP, and take those few short seconds to look around and come back to the present moment. Look for the hazards in the middle of your activity. Are you standing properly on a ladder and is it appropriately positioned to face the work? Are you working in an awkward position or about to trip on something lying on the floor? Hazards do not go away magically on their own. It is our awareness of the hazards that dissipates due to distraction or more importantly, our lack of preplanning and taking action to remove or avoid the hazard. When we ignore hazards, we have significantly increased the chance of us or a fellow co-worker getting injured. STAY SAFE ON THE ROADS THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS AND EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR:

• Prepare your car for the winter months and keep an emergency kit in your car

• Get that oil change and replace your windshield wipers if needed

• Get a good night’s sleep before departing and avoid driving while tired

• Leave early to plan for heavy traffic

• Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled

• Put that cell phone away; many distractions occur while driving, but cell phones are the main culprit

• Practice defensive driving and always remember, distance is your friend

• Designate a sober driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party; alcohol or over the counter, prescription and illegal drugs can cause impairment

Typical summer afternoon

Traveling During the Holiday Season

If you’re traveling this year, be sure your vehicle is in good running condition, get plenty of rest and be prepared for any emergency. Traveling by car during the holidays has the highest fatality rate of any major form of transportation based on fatalities per passenger mile. Be prepared so your family can enjoy the holidays incident and injury free.

Taking a few extra seconds for safety may seem unnecessary or inconvenient to you. Yet it is the one activity, the one action you might take during a busy and distracted day, which will have the most benefit in keeping you from being injured. Think of it as your holiday present to yourself and more importantly, to your family.