Injuries Waiting To Happen

Close calls occur in the workplace so often you probably don’t even realize they are happening until it’s too late.

• Have you ever stepped over an extension cord or other potential tripping hazard without correcting the situation?
• Have you ever caught yourself from slipping on a spill and just kept on walking?
• Have you ever noticed a peculiar burning odor coming from a machine and never bothered to tell anyone about it?

Here are some other exmples:  A person adjusts a machine without shutting it down first, another operates a grinder without proper eye and face protection, yet another works without a respirator in an area where respiratory protection is required.

All of these instances are close calls — potential injury-incidents just waiting to happen.

An unsafe act may be repeated hundreds of times without an incident ever happening.  Many of us, at one time or another, have ignored situations in hopes they will just take care of themselves.  The sobering fact is, when potentially hazardous situations are ignored, injury-incidents are possible and will happen sooner or later.