Week 1- Getting Plenty of Sleep
Getting plenty of sleep is a very important part of your personal safety. Most people need 7.5-8.5 hours of sleep each 24-hour day.
Sleep loss built up slowly over several nights can be as harmful as sleep loss in one night. Both produce a decline in performance such as slower reaction times, failure to respond to changes, and the inability to concentrate and make reasonable judgments.
Research that tested a fatigued state from continuous hours of wakefulness against blood alcohol levels concluded that:
- 17 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .05
- 21 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .08 (the legal limit in Ohio)
- 24-25 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .10
In addition to fatigue caused by shortened periods of sleep, the quality of sleep during the day is not the same as during the night. People have a natural tendency to be awake during the day. Every person has a circadian rhythm – an internal biological time clock. This rhythm follows body temperature and changes our level of mental alertness.
Typically, in a 24-hour period, our alertness is reduced between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 during the day and the night. So during night shifts, workers are fighting against their natural rhythm to stay awake at a time when they would naturally sleep.
How about you? Do you get enough sleep? It is important that you do for your safety and the safety of your coworkers.
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE TOOLBOX TALKS FOR THIS MONTH AND CONFIRM THAT
“SAFETY IS PRIORITY NUMBER 1!”
Week 2- Horseplay
The fellow who always wants to be the center of attraction or who thinks that he has to be the “life of the party”, whether he is at play or work, is the person who usually likes to engage in horseplay. There is always a possibility of horseplay at work, even in a small group.
We have come a long way over the years – I think that there is less tendency to engage in horseplay today than there was many years ago. No doubt you’ve heard of the simple little jokes that were usually pulled on new employees, such as sending them to the tool room for a left-handed monkey wrench or even a sky hook.
This type of practical joke soon became too mild in nature and the practical jokers thought up much rougher tricks, which were serious job hazards because they resulted in many injuries, even deaths. I suppose that they wouldn’t have come up with so many unusual stunts if they hadn’t had an audience, which usually encourages a practical joker.
The worst stunts were pulled on the young or inexperienced worker. The simple little capers intended to show up a green worker were just starters – the ‘jokes” soon got much worse. The new worker is naturally green about his new duties – you remember your first day on the job, just as I do. That’s the time when a fellow needs a friend.
So, if any of us have even the slightest feeling or urge to “pour it on” the new worker, I want to know about it. The simplest gag or foolish errand can take all of the “steam” out of our training program for new workers. Horseplay is defined in the dictionary as rough or boisterous play. I’ve seen it develop into much more than just “play” – it can easily get out of hand! In additional to the usual possibility of serious injury to the worker, the horseplay will also interfere with production. We don’t want employees to suffer injury, nor do we want production to suffer.
I hope that you’ll help me be on the lookout for practical jokers. Probably the biggest favor you could do in this matter would be to report any horse-play. Above all else, don’t encourage anyone by laughing at these gags which often cause serious injuries.
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE TOOLBOX TALKS FOR THIS MONTH AND CONFIRM THAT
“SAFETY IS PRIORITY NUMBER 1!”
Week 3- Impairment and You
Physical or mental impairment
• A worker with a physical or mental impairment which may affect the worker’s ability to safely perform assigned work must inform his or her supervisor or employer of the impairment, and must not knowingly do work where the impairment may create an undue risk to the worker or anyone else.
Impairment by alcohol, drug or other substance
• A person must not enter or remain at any workplace while the person’s ability to work is affected by alcohol, a drug or other substance so as to endanger the person or anyone else.
• Every worker must ensure that the worker’s ability to work without risk to his or her health or safety, or to the health or safety of any other person, is not impaired by alcohol, drugs or other causes.
• 100% Compliance with the drug and alcohol policy, NO DRUG OR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON SITE. IMMEDIATE TERMINATION.
Well there’s the “RULES”, we’ve heard them all before, seen them posted on the wall of the lunchroom. We recall and tell each other the stories from around the site of the guys and girls that got caught and canned.
So what? They deserve it for being so STUPID. In most cases that’s probably true. Sometimes however, a momentary lapse of reason, a thoughtless mistake, could cost you your job; forcing the hand of an employer that had no intention or reason to fire a worker he counted on for a good day’s work and many more to follow.
No job, no income…bleak future…
Good, well-paying jobs like the ones we have are hard to come by. Finding good people to fill them is equally challenging. Sure, have some fun when you’re off site; while you’re doing it, listen to that little voice in your head, it’s trying to help save your job and probably your future.
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE TOOLBOX TALKS FOR THIS MONTH AND CONFIRM THAT
“SAFETY IS PRIORITY NUMBER 1!”
Week 4- It’s not my Fault
How many times have you heard a child (of any age) exclaim “it’s not my fault!” or “it wasn’t me!”?
Whether or not these statements are true is beside the point, what we are talking about is how we conduct ourselves and what image we project to those around us.
A responsible, conscientious person will say “it’s not my fault, but it’s my problem”.
These individuals identify themselves by their actions; they pickup that piece of garbage on the ground, they’re quick to lend a co-worker a hand or show them a better, safer way. They step up and take the high road any chance they get.
Why? Because to these people, they see an opportunity every time a situation presents itself. An opportunity to eliminate a trip hazard, an opportunity to lighten the load for a co-worker or to help them keep out of harms way.
They may not be a supervisor or a lead hand, but they lead by example, they answer to themselves.
When you hear “Ah…somebody’s bound to get that”, they are that somebody, for them there’s always something to do, always an opportunity. When you get enough of these people working together (there’s never enough, always looking for new members) you get a company of people that do the right things, follow safe work procedures, help and look out for each other and co-workers throughout the site.
They project an image of accountability and carry a reputation for getting things done and asking “what else can we help you with”. If this sounds familiar, keep up the good work! If this sounds like an opportunity, Welcome aboard!
We’re always looking for new members!
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE TOOLBOX TALKS FOR THIS MONTH AND CONFIRM THAT
“SAFETY IS PRIORITY NUMBER 1!”