By: KC Pawling, NIRMA Road Safety and Loss Prevention Specialist
Most county road employees know the rules. We know when to wear PPE, how to set up traffic control, and what procedures to follow when operating equipment.
But here’s a question worth thinking about: Can you recognize a hazard before it becomes a problem?
That’s where situational awareness comes in. Knowing the policy is one thing. Recognizing when a hazard exists is another. Think about a typical workday. You’re focused on the task at hand when weather conditions begin to change. The wind picks up. Dark clouds move in. Visibility starts decreasing. You know the procedures for working in bad weather, but if you don’t notice the warning signs, you may not realize conditions are becoming unsafe until it’s too late.
The same is true with equipment. Most operators know they should report damaged equipment. But are you noticing the hydraulic leak that’s getting worse? The unusual vibration? The squeak that’s getting a little louder every day? Hazards rarely appear without warning. More often, they develop gradually and give us clues that something isn’t right. Situational awareness means paying attention to those clues.
It also applies when working around contractors. Maybe a traffic control device isn’t where it should be. Maybe workers are working outside the protected work area. Maybe someone isn’t wearing the required PPE. Even if it’s not your crew, recognizing and addressing unsafe conditions helps protect everyone on the job site. Remember that our counties are responsible for ALL work activity on our county roads, including contractors.
A coworker who seems distracted, forgets routine tasks, or struggles to stay focused may be showing signs of fatigue or are they a diabetic having a reaction to changing blood sugar levels. Recognizing those warning signs and getting to know our staff/coworkers can help prevent a serious incident before it
happens. Another example of this I have personally experienced, is your coworker allergic to bee stings? This is something that is good to know BEFORE encountering any bees hiding out in signposts.
A good habit to develop is simply asking yourself: “What’s changed since I started this job?”
Conditions on road projects are constantly changing. Traffic changes. Weather changes. Equipment conditions change and even the employees working on the project can change from day to day. But the safest employees are the ones who stay alert and continually reassess their surroundings and are aware of their coworkers.
At the end of the day, most incidents don’t happen because someone didn’t know the rule. They happen because a developing hazard wasn’t recognized in time. So, keep your head up, pay attention to what’s happening around you, and trust your instincts when something doesn’t look right. Train on this topic. Talk about it, not everyone has the same levels of awareness and some of it cannot be taught, but a good majority can be. Knowing the rules is important. Recognizing the hazard is what prevents the injury.
Safety Meeting Discussion
Ask your crew: “Can you think of a time when you noticed a hazard before it caused a problem? What warning signs helped you recognize it?” The answers may provide valuable lessons for everyone on the team. It may also help your management team identify some holes in your county safety training program.
If you need a training scheduled, or just simply want help developing or improving your safety and training program, you can contact me via email at kcpawling@nirma.info or phone at 402-310-4417.
