Event Safety Insights Issue One | Fall 2016 | Page 49

the prospect of spending a long stint in the ER
or incapacitated for months without income is
somehow regarded as a good risk to take? Last
we checked we’re all still very mortal and have
a great many reasons to keep ourselves healthy
and out of harm’s way enough to continue to
be able to pursue our individual life goals. So
if you don’t do it for anyone else, do it for your
own self preservation.

These ideas will become commonplace as the
culture changes, whether we get there kicking
and screaming or embracing our compassion
for one another is a choice you get to make.

considerations will help:

Do these things really matter…unequivocally yes!

There is little doubt that when a highly functioning team are in PPE there is an unmistakable
visual reminder for everyone that work is being
performed in a potentially dangerous environment. Your mind cannot help but be more conSurely there is a better application for this in- scious of safety when you look out and see hard
domitable American spirit than risking EVERY- hats and hi-vis. Even if your protection never
THING for a millisecond of time saved or our gets put to the test (something we ALL hope
bravado?
for), requiring PPE use is a clear message to
everyone that both your personal and
your company’s commitment to safety
is a priority and careless behaviors will
not be tolerated.
Perhaps an easy checklist of

• Everyone on the deck while overhead work is
going on should be in a hardhat or not in the
area;

• Ground riggers or other competent individuals should be maintaining control and limiting
access to areas underneath overhead work so
those not required to be there do not enter the
danger zone and those required to be there
are wearing PPE;

• While trucks are loading and unloading and
heavy equipment such as forklifts are being
used everyone in the work zone should be in
high-vis to minimize the risk of impact;

• Steel toed shoes or other means of foot protection should be utilized during the same period of load in/out and while heavy equipment
is being used;

•

Designate a leader on your team to both
lead by example and use tactful reminders of
the importance of PPE;

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