Safety Myths

Do you spend part of your day debunking safety myths?

For the most part, your crew is made up of rational human beings who aren’t superstitious or gullible. But some of them might have deeply-held beliefs that are safety myths. Safety myths can be a real problem on the shop floor. As a supervisor, it’s a good idea for you to challenge the safety myths your crew holds onto.

Here are some safety myths you might have heard from your people (and the flawed reasoning you may hear if you ask them to elaborate):

• I have great reflexes. I’m not going to drop this hammer, so I don’t need to tether it. Even if I did drop something, my reflexes are so great that I’ll catch it before it hits the ground.
• I’m as surefooted as a cat. I don’t need fall protection to go up on the roof. It’s a pain to tie off. I understand how to walk on a slope, and I have great balance—I can’t fall.
• I’m only going into the confined space for a minute. I don’t need to test the air because I won’t be in there very long. I’ll just hold my breath.
• I know this machine inside and out. I’ve worked with this table saw for more than a decade and I still have all my fingers. Why should I use a guard or a push bar now?
• I’m in good shape. I work out. I can lift that by myself. Watch me. It’s time for the gun show!
• I’m not going to do anything stupid. I know where the edge is, so I don’t have to guard it.

What can you do when you’re confronted with one of these safety myths?

• You can pull rank. Tell your crew member: “Put on your fall protection gear or clock out.”
• You can cite some easy stats. Ask your crew member: “Did you know that OSHA cites falls as one of the leading causes of serious injuries in workplaces all over America? I don’t want you to end up as a statistic on some pencil-pusher’s report.”
• You can pull out a S.A.F.E. Card^® and hold a Safety Moment. A Safety Moment is a pause that allows you to briefly focus everyone's attention on safety. With 100 topics to choose from, you can easily find a card that dispels your crew member’s myth with real-world safety information. You can find out more information on Safety Moments here.