Situational Awareness - Training Short 2.0
It can be easy to overlook the risks that we face in the workplace especially when we get comfortable with our daily tasks. We may lose focus or find ourselves distracted while working, walking, or operating equipment. Situational awareness is about staying alert and keeping an eye out for hazards to stay safe at work.
Situational awareness is being fully present, observing your surroundings, and staying alert for hazards, risks, or changes. Before starting work, ensure you’re knowledgeable about the tasks you’ll be doing and in good physical and mental condition to notice hazards.
Complete All Training
- Complete all required safety training before beginning work.
- Familiarize yourself with equipment operation procedures, manuals, and emergency controls.
- Talk with your supervisor if you need additional training or feel unsure about a task.
Take Care of Yourself
- Practice mindfulness to distance yourself from stressful, negative, or overwhelming thoughts that may distract you from work.
- Stay calm and steady when you feel pressure to complete a task — rushing can lead to simple mistakes.
- Speak up if you’re feeling like you are unable to work safely.
Avoid Distractions
- Avoid cell phone use during work. Notifications, calls, and alerts can distract you from tasks or cause you to lose focus.
- Minimize extraneous noises and avoid using headphones, which can limit your ability to hear critical alarms or instructions.
Situational awareness is an important aspect of everyone’s jobs. It’s critical to be alert in your surroundings and recognize risks.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Constant awareness means observing, comprehending, and anticipating.
- What potential hazards are near you or in your work area? Know what’s going on around you at all times. Always check your work area before getting started with a task.
- What safety procedures are in place for the tasks you’re completing? Ensure you are familiar with your organization’s specific training and standard operating procedures.
- Where are your teammates, and what are they working on? Keep an eye out for team members moving through your work area. They may be walking by, carrying items that reduce their sight line, or operating a powered industrial truck. Be aware of your movements and theirs.
- What might happen next? Is there anything different today that might change the usual outcome of your task? What next steps should you be prepared to take?
- Is there heavy equipment nearby? Visually check the area and be aware of mechanical noises, backup alarms, and blind spots.
Managing the Workplace
There must be more controls in place than just situational awareness to protect workers from hazards. Every workplace should have procedures to eliminate hazards and set up the work area for safety and success. Employees should know of the hierarchy of controls for managing hazards or when a new hazard is introduced into the workplace. The hierarchy of controls is as follows:
- Eliminate hazards by removing them from a process. Discontinue using a dangerous product or replace noisy, outdated, or hazardous equipment.
- Substitute hazards for safer options. You could update tools or change to a less hazardous chemical.
- Use Engineering Controls to protect workers from being exposed to hazards in a process. These are things like machine guards, ventilation, or equipment interlocks.
- Implement Administrative Controls to teach workers how to complete a process safely. You can review written procedures, complete training, or post signage.
- Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). It is the user’s last defense against the remaining workplace hazards. It should be appropriate for the task and fit the user properly. landing or in other accessible areas. The emergency response coordinator or their designee should be familiar with these locations and those employees needing assistance in an emergency.
Use the S.L.A.M. Method
S.L.A.M. stands for Stop, Look, Assess, and Manage. Use this framework for situational awareness at work.
- Stop. Review the task before starting. Take time to familiarize yourself with the hazards, work area, and equipment.
- Look. Identify hazards that may impact you or your teammate’s abilities to get the job done safely.
- Assess. Based on what you’ve identified, do you have what you need to do the work?
- Manage. Work with your supervisor to address any issues before beginning work.
It is important to identify new hazards and assess existing ones as workplace conditions change.
Battling Complacency in the Workplace
You may do the same task day after day. The equipment never seems to change, and the outcome stays the same. Yet, the moment you let your guard down or get distracted, an injury
may occur.
Complacency is a common contributor to workplace injuries. It’s the mindset of something being safe because you haven’t gotten hurt yet.
Workers who perform repetitive tasks are at risk of developing complacency habits — they may skip pre-shift inspections or override equipment guards.
“I picked up 7 fingers off the floor ... Everyone (on the manufacturing line) knew the rule: Never try to free up a jam with the guard open, a finger on the trigger, and the hose connected. And yet everyone had done it.”
- Jack Jackson as quoted in Safety and Health Magazine
Tips to Increase Engagement
- Encourage employee feedback at all times — not just at meetings or reviews.
- Review operating procedures and look for innovations or new task-completion methods.
- Encourage cross-training to give employees the chance to show off their expertise.
- Recognize good work and successes regularly.