It’s official – Fall has arrived! Our long hot days of summer have been replaced with cool frosty mornings and the leaves quickly falling from the trees. I always love the Fall. Having lived in Australia for half of my life, I missed the changing seasons. For me, September and the change of season is a fresh start and refresh. Kids go back to school and we all settle back into our normal routines after the lazy days of summer. This provides us all with an opportunity to focus on safety in our personal and professional lives.
Every successful school year begins with safety. Did you know that by getting rid of school zones and setting straight forward and consistent playground zone hours across Calgary there has been a substantial reduction in vehicle related injuries to both pedestrians and motorists? Such an easy change, yet so effective in enhancing safety for everyone.
Bethany is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all. What simple changes can we do at work to enhance the safety for employees and residents? Improving safety performance and preventing workplace accidents is made easier when employees lend a hand. Consider these 5 simple steps that you can use every day at Bethany:
- Identify hazards – think about the tasks you perform and what could go wrong and cause an accident.
- Plan ahead – before starting a task, think about the PPE, equipment and materials you will be working with and what you would need to do in the event of an emergency.
- Stay alert – pay attention while you work and give each task your full attention and avoid distractions.
- Ask questions – ensure you understand a safety rule or procedure and ask your supervisor if you are dealing with a new procedure or piece of equipment.
- Take near misses seriously – all near misses should be reported and taken as a warning that something’s wrong and needs to be corrected. According to the National Safety Council, 70% of all accidents are preceded by one or more near misses.
Please look out for each other and be safe!
– Lisa
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