Video Transcript[Instructor] Having the right safety attitude. What is your safety attitude? Let's think about that for a moment. How often do you think about safety on the job? If your answer is not ever or only when someone I know gets hurt, then it's important to develop a new safety attitude.
Today, we will explore how to think about safety for yourself and for those around you. Having a good safety attitude, it means doing the job the best that you can and not always the fastest. Sometimes whenever you work really fast, you get careless and injuries happen. You need to be careful on the job. Don't engage in horseplay. There's a time and a place for everything, and on the job is not the time or the place for horseplay.
Stay focused on the task that you are performing. When you let your mind wander, sometimes you're not paying attention to what you really need to be doing. Be on the lookout for potential hazards. Take precautions against hazards. Use personal protective equipment when you can. Follow all safety signs and rules. Think about the safety of your coworkers, as well as yourself. And take responsibility for your own safety, including immediately reporting any injuries.
There are some common distractions that take away from the safety on the job. There are many reasons why employees get distracted from the task that they are performing. They wind up getting hurt, and some of the most common distractions to watch out for are not getting enough sleep, coming to work ill, or coming to work under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, having your mind on something else, being in too big of a hurry, being angry or upset, not paying close attention to what you are doing, failing to check for nearby hazards, talking with a coworker on your phone or otherwise instead of concentrating on the task at hand.
Some poor safety attitudes can get us into trouble. There are a number of examples of poor safety attitudes. Here's just a few, and I'd like for you to think about those. If any of these sound like you, it's not too late to change: "I'm going to do things my way." "I know what I'm doing." "I've always done it this way, "and I haven't been hurt before doing it." "I could do this job in my sleep." "I don't have time to think about safety, "I need to get this job done right now." "I know a shortcut that will help me "get this job done quicker." "These safety rules aren't important "and they certainly don't apply to me. "Oh, this job is simple, I can get it done. Or, "I can figure this out for myself. "I don't need any help."
Some important tips that might help you to change your safety attitude. If you're new to a job, be sure to get the appropriate training. Have a good safety attitude includes being willing to listen and learn and not think that you already know it all. Always put safety first. That includes putting it ahead of rushing to get the job done. Dress properly for the job. Use personal protective equipment when required, and wear clothing that won't get caught in moving machinery. Follow other safety rules regarding how to dress on the job.
Attend all of the safety meetings and safety training sessions. Listen and participate, ask questions about anything that you may not understand. Think about the result of not having a good safety attitude. If it results in a serious injury, how will your family members feel? How will you feel if you're permanently disabled and not able to hold a job again? What if you were killed on the job, who would support your family? If you have children, how would this affect them? Or if it's a coworker, what will they do? What will their families do? So, we need to think about safety. It is all about you.
Some of the safety do's and don'ts: think about safety all the time, you need to put safety ahead of rushing to get the job done, and you need to immediately report any injuries, but don't take shortcuts or engage in horseplay, don't have an attitude that you never need any help, and don't fail to pay close attention to the task at hand.
If you would like additional information, you can contact Inetta Fluharty at (304) 771-8747. Thank you, and have a great day.