About 12 years ago I was walking around the plant on my daily rounds as an HR/Safety Manager. I have always loved talking to the employees on my tours. It is surprising the amount of stuff you pick up by just listening. I learned many years ago that, “Where there is smoke, there is fire!” It is always good to look for smoke. On this day I spotted a long-time friend, and at one time my subordinate, Mary. She was busily working on setting up a crimper to press parts together. Mary had the guarding removed, and her fingers in the Point of Operation. From all too many memories of amputated fingers, I instinctively looked at the main power disconnect and was very satisfied to see Mary’s lock on it. I knew this meant the required lockout was on this machine.
As to not startle Mary, I lightly tapped Mary on the shoulder and softly said, “Good morning Mary! How are you this morning?”
She turned around, saw me, smiled, and said, “Well Hi, Fitz. I am very well. How are you?”
I said, “I am great, thank you for asking! How is the sewing going? (Mary loves to sew clothes for herself and loved ones). I was just noticing your work and was pleased to see that you locked out this machine. Thank you!”
Mary was quick to answer, “I always lockout. Especially since old Joe lost a couple fingers on a machine like this a few years ago, remember?”
“All too well!” I thought to myself.
Mary continued, “I do not want anything to keep me from my sewing machine! I have Emily, my three-year old granddaughter to sew dresses for. I just sewed up a new Christmas dress for her!”
I continued to smile and said, “Good job Mary!”
Then Mary said something that shook me up pretty good. She said, “Thank you, but you know that is the first time anyone has ever said anything like that to me! My supervisor always checks my inspection records, looks over a couple parts, and checks the parts counter, but he never says anything about Lockout or Safety. I thought Safety was the most important thing we do!”
I really did not know what to say but said something like, “You know Mary, you are right! When I was your boss, all too many years ago, I was always so busy. I know Dick is certainly busy these days as well. The job of supervisor has not gotten any easier. But you are right, there is nothing more important than Safety! I will talk to Dick and remind him. Thank you, keep up the great job!”
As I walked away to the next person or situation I thought, “That is about the most profound thing I have heard in a long time!” I had to admit to myself that I was as guilty as Dick! I preached all the time to everyone about the importance of Safety and Lockout, but my actions seldom demonstrated it. Occasionally, I did, but it was not automatic. That was the problem, I should not have to think about it! If it was really all that important, I should not have to think about it. Most importantly, if it was all that important, I would not just talk about it, I would show it too! If I said, “Lockout is very important,” but never asked or looked for it, how important was it really?
Countless times I had stood up in front of groups leading safety training or in Plant Wide Meetings and professed the importance of Safety. We constantly expounded on making Safety a Value, meaning it was at the core of all we did. However, if I was honest with myself, my own actions often did not back up my words nor did anyone else in management.
From that point on, I made a conscious effort to “Check on Safety” while I was out in the plant. I would walk up to an employee and exchange pleasantries and then I would make a point of asking a Safety questions. Some of my favorites were:
- “How does this machine get locked out?”
- “What are the major hazards on this machine?”
- “Where are the guards on this machine?”
- “Where are the nearest exits or fire extinguishers?”
- “How do you get the SDS for your cutting oil?”
- “What was the Safety Toolbox Talk on this morning?”
- “Did you like my Safety Toolbox Talk you heard this morning?” (I usually wrote them, so feedback was always good.)
Was I checking up on people? Well yes, I must admit, in-part I was doing exactly that. However, is that such a bad thing? I was a member of management. If I could ask about an order status or the dimensions on a part, in like manner, cannot I also ask a Safety question? Most importantly, I was demonstrating by more than just words that Safety was important. If I thought it was important, my employees should too. In addition, I took every opportunity to make the same point with my fellow managers and supervisors. If we as managers say Safety is important our actions need to back up our words It is important, we do as everyone says, “Talk the Talk, and Walk the Walk!”
