YOU CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE … AND SHOULD!
What would you ask for if you had a crystal ball that let you see into the future? Do you think it would be a good thing?
I’ve got news for you—you do and it is.
Yes, that’s right—you can see into the future, and once you learn to perfect this talent, you can put it to very good use. It’s easier than you would think, and once you realize how valuable it can be, you’ll want to do it on a regular basis—because your crystal ball can keep you safer on the job.
How are we going to use this magic to make us safer? If we use our crystal ball to look into the future we can predict with great accuracy the very words that will come out of the mouths of our bosses when an accident or incident occurs. We can predict pretty darn closely exactly what questions will be asked, by just stepping out of our hat and putting on the hat worn by a boss or the hat worn by a family member or friend of an injured co-worker:
“Did you follow procedure?”
“Did you use all of the cover you could have?”
“Did you anticipate all possible unforeseen events?”
By looking into your crystal ball, you can predict how to plan your task with the idea in mind that all possible scenarios are under control. The control you exercise is effective when it is done in advance of the worst possible event.
We are not magicians, but sometimes it feels like we have to be. How can we ever see all of the possible events that might occur? I’m going to find my crystal ball. But, the crystal ball I’m looking for isn’t made of glass. It’s a book.
If we remember the basic precept for all of the safety rules we know and use, we acknowledge that it is a historical account of occurrences that were not anticipated. If we know and use our safety book, we can tap into a whole lot of history, and learn. History repeats itself; therefore our crystal ball is actually a look into the past. It’s a look into the safety book that was made from lost limbs and lost lives of many men who worked before us.
Having a goal of zero accidents/incidents should always remain the goal for every safety program. The lesson we’ve learned from those in our field who have had long safe careers is to be prepared and protected at every phase of your work. Unexpected events, acts of God, and other dangers will always be there in our business. Good planning, preparation, and protection will prevent injury and death, guarding you against those dangers.
So when it comes to crystal balls, look for yours in your safety book, give a good tailboard, listen to each other, develop a good plan for your job, use your cover, and stay cut in. There’s nothing magic about safety.
Bob Burkle