be aware of your surroundings safety talk be aware of your surroundings safety talk

In the 21st century your biggest distraction is your smartphone. If possible and when safe, make room for vehicles entering freeways even though you have the right-of-way. 2023 Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. CA License #0699809, How you can prevent business fraud at your company, Steps to prevent winter property damage to roofs, Employers, help workers prevent worksite fatigue [infographic]. Avoiding complacency can help increase your perception of your surrounding. Situational awareness at work is a crucial part of your health and safety. Check your mirrors frequently and scan conditions 20 to 30 seconds ahead of you. Be alert of your surroundings at all time - Teens can be especially guilty of being oblivious to their surroundings. Both Gay and Klinger noted that "stop, drop and roll" is a classic life skill students learn as part of safety lessons in school. Stay Aware-Whenever you are walking in a parking lot (or anywhere else that cars typically drive), you should remain hyper-aware of your surroundings. Takeaway: Get into the habit of identifying the emergency exits at the stores you visit, hotels you are staying at and public buildings you enter. Scanning your surroundings (keeping your eyes moving) includes keeping a safe distance around your vehicle. Ensure warning signage is posted where . ASSESS - The effects that the hazards will have upon you, the people you work with, equipment, procedures, pressures and the environment around you. The second level of awareness, relaxed awareness, is like defensive driving. Second, if anything does happen, you'll know where you can run for help. Always be aware of your surroundings, vigi-lant of activity around you and attentive to individuals approaching, walking purposely and with confidence. Always leave plenty of room between your vehicle and any motorcyclists or bicyclists. Don't leave cash or valuables at the office. A lack of situational awareness affects your personal safety in two broad . These people walk into telephone poles. Not looking down at your phone the entire time youre in public fits with point number one, but it warrants its own recognition. Reading body language is a huge factor in training your perception of your surroundings. Becoming carefree on the job can be disastrous due in no small part to becoming complacent, as stated earlier. You should be able to communicate at each stage of a risk assessment or the potential hazards with everyone that is involved. Street Precautions Be alert to your surroundings and the people around youespecially if you are alone or it is dark. Situational awareness is being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your health and safety. Of course they wont. Be aware of pedestrians in your surroundings. Lose the tailgater as soon as you can. Trust your gut. Allow extra room ahead, do not brake suddenly. A lot of information is out there about you. 2023 Garco Construction - General Contractor for Commercial Construction. Make safety a revenue generating part of your company through increased productivity and save thousands of dollars avoiding expensive injuries, lawsuits, and claims. Situational awareness is a critical foundation for successful decision making in most situations that you can be put in at work. Also be aware: "Familiarity breeds contempt" 1. Do not rely on traffic signals. How Situationally Aware People Create a Resilient Organization We will discuss the habit by looking at Duhigg's habit loop. When you report all the facts about a crime, it helps the police assign officers in the places where crimes are occurring or where they are most likely to occur, and your report may help prevent a crime from reoccurring. Avoid hauling weight that exceeds the counterweight of the forklift. Login is Emory's authentication tool for logging into multiple web systems and applications. If this does not work, pull off the road when it is safe and let the tailgater pass. If you pass the same point before you finish counting, you are following too closely. Give yourself this time by keeping a "space cushion" on all sides of your vehicle. What if that truck doesnt stop at its red light, do you have time to stop, someplace to go? 2. Keep an eye out for a flat tire, smoke emerging from underneath the trailer. Personal safety begins with an individuals awareness to their environment no one can defend against danger they couldnt see coming. You can, and should, carry all the tools and weapons you need. If you suspect you are being followed, go into an open store or a Public Safety Safe Haven and have the clerk call the Police or Public Safety right-away. Watch yourself when you would be most vulnerable down the hall to the bathroom which is tucked way back in the corner or in the parking lot when no one else is around. Forklift Pedestrian Safety Tips. If you work at a school, on any type of campus, or if your workplace needs an active shooter plan, Guard911 apps are a one-of-a-kind active shooter mobile safety alert technology that facilitates adoption of these safety tips. Safe driving demands more than just staring out the front window. Someone may step out from between them, a vehicle door may open, or a vehicle may pull out suddenly. Are there other factors that can impact the situation? Once your business or organization has a response plan, Guard911 mobile panic button apps offer a convenient place to store it where its immediately available with the touch of an icon on the users phone. So even if you are distracted while driving, your mind knows which roads to take and can get you there. hWmo9+YHF]th%@ PV{0`pp8b(/HZQ`4p%&h^ `N'dHT^9-|Qug>>I)%A86pF~ yJME!7Rin>AxY1 9,905,117. If someone is suspicious take action to notify others and remove yourself from his or her direct path. Keep your head on a swivel looking for potential hazards. Be prepared for rapid changes in road conditions and traffic flow. Scanning your surroundings (keeping your eyes moving) includes keeping a safe distance around your vehicle. Be aware of your surroundings on the job and use them to your advantage. Keep your car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car . Watch for hazardsLook beyond the vehicle ahead of you. During off hours, ride as near to the bus operator as possible. "If you think about it, the thought of burning to death sounds really terrifying," Klinger said. These are all useful questions to start the conversation around training drills. Information contained on this siteshould not be taken as legal advice. Dont fear, there is still hope. If someone bothers you or makes you feel uncomfortable, change seats. It can make you more aware of your surroundings, it can give you a different perspective on things, and can also make you see risks. Required fields are marked *. Any person wishing to rely on the information present on this site should consult with competent legal counsel before doing so. I went into the store. Of course the most important factor in reading body language is just noticing the persons body. You can observe all the attack cues in the world and still could face an attack. The owner of this website, ZCS Ventures, LLC, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking defensiveplanet.com reviews to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. Have your car keys in your hand so you don't have to linger before entering your car. Question everything! Tell your customer, supervisor, and workmates. Situational awareness, in layman's terms, is your ability to process your surroundings and notice any changes in those surroundings. Regardless of the time of year, making a commitment to ones personal safety is always an excellent idea. Having situational awareness can keep you and your coworkers safe. It is important to note that situational awareness, being aware of ones surroundings and identifying potential hazards and dangerous situations, is more of a mindset than a skill. Not playing on your phone might improve your chances of thwarting an attack. If youre already thinking about it, then you are more likely to do it in a defensive scenario. Be aware of your surroundings Your coworkers won't be able to hear your ideas or take you seriously when there is a pile of dirty clothes in the corner behind you. Go to the store on a different day. It is easy to get wrapped up in the task at hand and lose track of your surroundings. Does everyone have a copy of the response plan readily available if an event were to occur? One of the best ways to become more aware of your surroundings is to practice identifying the objects around you. Also, do not be afraid to speak loudly to someone so that you can get the attention of others nearby. This technique is done as followed: Inhale the breath. You probably already do this, it is called defensive driving. When you think the work environment has changed since your last time there. Take a quick glance in your mirrors. Manage - If you feel that the operation is unsafe, stop working. But, the points that I took away from the training session were that you can protect yourself. Pirelli Cinturato Strada All Season Review Is It the Tire for You? In other terms, this could mean simply instructing workers on the safest way to do things or telling your supervisor about health and safety hazards you see on a job site. When working with new or different workmates. There are a lot of blind spots, corners, turns, and on the equipment itself. If youre using headphones, consider using only one, or keeping the volume as low as possible in order to still be able to hear what is going on around you. Keep your belongings in front of you and hold close to your body with both hands. Report all unsafe conditions and near-miss incidents to your supervisor. 14. At least half of the crimes in the Unites States go unreported, either because people don't think the police can do anything about it, or because people don't want to get involved. As you are taking your different route to work, ask yourself, what if that car pulls right out in front of you where will you go? STOP - Engage your mind befor eyour hands. You cannot be aware of your surroundings on the warehouse floor if you're focused on your phone. You need to be aware of your surroundings, and you need to have an idea of how you will respond if you are faced with a threatening situation. Successful situational awareness requires a proactive and flexible mindset, which can be achieved through regular practice. That is why getting familiar with the layout of buildings you are making smart safety sense. If you carry a purse, carry it securely between your arm and your body. Mentally prepare yourself, believe and know that you can protect yourself and your family if you need to. Cars, motorcycles, bicyclists, and people that may be in the road by the time you reach them. people pushing trays of items in a cafeteria), be alert when using stairs or ladders, while walking along corridors etc. Situational awareness is a critical foundation for successful decision making in most situations that you can be put in at work. Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. - Program for Sovereign Indian Nations. 15. Always remember that inmates listen to every conversation that corrections officers and staff have. 8. A basic breathing practice that can be used throughout the day, especially during times of stress, is the Four Square Breathing Technique. Apathy, denial and complacency can be deadly. If you work alone or after business hours, keep the office door locked. Personal Space: If someone is crowding you, seems suspicious, or is displaying threatening body language, scan them for subtle signs of violent intent or a hidden weapon. How SchoolGuard Panic Button Helps Protect 6500 Students, Guard911 & Lt. Col. Grossman on Stopping Killers. Simply put, in order to have situational awareness you have to be open to a variety of perspectives and insights. It is this panic induced paralysis that concerns us most in relation to situational awareness. Advocates Body language plays an extremely important role in how you are perceived by others. Training workers to watch their surroundings reduces the risk of workplace accidents and injuries. The best way to be safe is to know your surroundings and pay attention to everything and everyone around you. Whether you're at home or at work, following an emergency plan will help you keep the situation in control as much as possible. If team members see each other doing it then they will all follow suit eventually. In this toolbox talk, learn about situational awareness and how being aware of your surroundings can be an important safety precaution to preventing accidents on the construction site. It is important that you know how many problems you face and how serious they are. No more shuffling through papers or tracking down a handbook thats often locked away in a filing cabinet. Look inside your vehicle before you get in, especially when it has been parked in a parking terminal or lot. Allow room in front of your vehicle so the driver will have space to move in front of you. new year! Stay focused at all times. Disconnecting from the cyber world will be most beneficial if you concentrate on being more present and meditating each . I was part of the response team during the active shooting at Sikh Temple in 2012, said Lt. Murphy. Check out the new logo that I created on LogoMakr.com https://logomakr.com/8SX1NH. Votes: 2 Mike Crapo Last but not least do not assume that just because you told someone about a risk or a correct procedure that they heard you or they agreed with you. Report hazards immediately to your customer or manager/spervisor. Inform the driver of the situation. These vehicles must stop at railroad crossings; so, slow down early and allow plenty of room. Also be aware: "Familiarity breeds contempt" 1. Do not use or wear anything that will impede your vision or hearing (i.e. 10,433,143. Instead of looking over your shoulder, place your back against a surface if possible to remove the possibility of someone getting behind you or in your blind spot. Speak Up: Report all the following situations immediately to your supervisor (while at work) or to the person in charge (when out in public): accidents, injuries, close calls, near misses, safety hazards or concerns, and any suspicious persons, activity, or behavior. Even practicing one of these skills on a regular basis can exponentially increase your situational awareness. Watch Your Back. It is a smart way to cultivate safer practices in your everyday life. Everyone that drives a car knows that feeling of forgetting what youre doing after continuously driving a few hours. Stay safe this spring break by following safety tips from the Institutional Access and Compliance Office. 73 0 obj <>stream You see a bus, school bus, or a placarded vehicle at railroad crossings. Raken's toolbox talk app makes it easy to choose from a pre-loaded library (or upload your own), then schedule and assign topics for any project. Falken Ziex ZE-329 Review Should You Get this Tire? How we read a situation can be influenced by many things such as the type of information we have been given, our own experience and distractions in the workplace. Here are some ways you can increase your awareness and have a higher level of security while shopping or dining out. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1364, Phone: (310) 825-1491 Tap your brakes lightly a few times to warn the tailgater you are slowing down. 4. Learn how your comment data is processed. Be Aware of Your Surroundings. Do not take out a wallet on the street, if asked for money. You should learn to look at things with a 360-degree focus, not just from your view. Many criminals develop favorite areas for committing crime, as well as predictable methods of operation. Senses: Practice engaging all your senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) to their fullest extent to increase your personal safety. This does not just apply to buildings, but can be practiced in cars, public transportation, elevators, and even in outdoor environments. Avoid situations that could force you to suddenly use your brakes. When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react. Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you. In this video, I go over a simple driving lesson on paying attention to your surroundings. Use things like doors, walls, file cabinets as protection from being hit by moving objects around you (e.g. Truckers should be constantly checking their mirrors to keep an eye on the traffic around them. Here are some of my take-aways (expanded with some of my own thoughts and comments) that may be useful to you: 1. In this post, Ill discuss a number of techniques and tips that can help you learn how to increase awareness of your surroundings. Safety is a way of life and should be thought about so often that it becomes second nature.