Safety and Health Management: Matter of Overconfidence and Carelessness

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

Confidence is Good; Overconfidence Is Not

Please read the previous post http://safety-health-management.blogspot.com/2009/08/safety-and-health-management.html before reading this post- it will be good for you.

You may also like to read about Behavioral Safety, the latest safety initiative, at http://behavioral-safety.blogspot.com/

• Being confident about and on your job is your plus point. It will surely help you in doing your work very well and therefore, you will be able to take pride in it.
• However, if you become overconfident i.e. when you fail to use safe work practices and you forget about the possible hazards.
• No matter how long you have been on the job and no matter how skilled you are, you must remember the basic safety precautions.
• Never get complacent as far as safety is concerned.

Even Experienced Professionals have Paid Dearly for Overconfidence and therefore, Carelessness

• They have been electrocuted when they failed to shut off the electric power while performing electrical repairs.
• They have been burnt in explosions when they allowed an ignition source in a flammable atmosphere.
• They have been killed in falls from heights when they failed to hook up fall arrest gear.
• They have lost limbs while operating the same saws or punch presses they have used for years.
• They have been disabled in vehicle crashes while driving familiar routes.
• They have entangled themselves in the conveyor if they wore loose clothes.
• They have slipped on the slippery floors and fractured their bones.

And so, Avoid Overconfidence and Stick to Following Reminders

• Stay aware of the hazardous practice and so, from hazards.
• Remain alert and focus on doing the job safely.
• Follow the recommended safe work practices at all times.
• Never take short cuts.
• Use the prescribed protective equipment every time.
• Pay attention what is said in various safety meetings and seminars. You might have heard those sermons earlier too but does it hurt to listen to them again? They are precious reminders.
• If you are an experienced professional, lead others by setting a good example for novices.
• Perform all the activities the safe way because someone may be watching and learning from you.
• Never let overconfidence and carelessness compromise safety and health.

You may like to enjoy reading all the “Management Anecdotes” authored by Shyam Bhatawdekar at: http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/

For Musings of Shyam Bhatawdekar on various topics refer http://shyam-bhatawdekar-musings.blogspot.com/

For “out of box thinking” articles by Shyam Bhatawdekar, refer: (Out of Box Ideas) http://wow-idea.blogspot.com/

Read other blogs and knols of Shyam Bhatawdekar at: (Home Page for Writings of Shyam Bhatawdekar) http://writings-of-shyam.blogspot.com/

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