Sometimes Safety Sounds the Same
If you sometimes think that the Safety Meetings you give, the safety posters and infographics you put up, and the best practices you preach start to sound the same, you’re right, and you’re not alone.
It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about hazardous materials, LOTO, or how not to fall off a ladder, many of the principles are the same. For instance:
- Understand the work and each of the steps involved.
- Understand the tools you’ll need and know how to use them safely.
- Understand the materials you’ll use and how to control they hazards they bring with them.
- Be aware of the space and environment you’ll work in every time and adjust accordingly.
- Know the safety rules and regulations and take time to understand why they exist and how following them will help keep you safe.
- Understand the big hazards and the small hazards and take steps to control all of them before you start working.
Even when your safety messages feel repetitive, remember that repetition is critical for deep learning. The Romans knew this. They had a saying: repetitio mater studiorum est or repetition is the mother of learning.
Fundamentally, safety isn’t about memorizing hundreds of rules. It’s about mastering a handful of principles and using those principles to make safe choices every day, regardless of the work being done. When safety is truly second nature for your crew, you can stop crossing your fingers and hoping you won’t have an accident on your jobsite and rely on the good safety habits of your crew.
But the repetition shouldn’t stop. Experienced pros need reminders and new employees need to learn. Repetition isn’t filler, it’s reinforcement. Every time your crew hears a Safety Meeting about hard hats or fall protection or electricity, the safety principles settle a little deeper. So not only is repetition the mother of learning, you might also say: repetitio mater salutis est or repetition is the mother of safety.