be aware of your surroundings safety talk

This means you shouldn't be looking down at your phone, and you should also avoid wearing headphones. 5. Be sure to always wear a breathing mask if your space has debris or dust, or if you have to deal with toxic or dangerous chemicals or fumes. Invest in workplace safety and you can expect cost savings such as reduced workers' compensation costs, medical expenses, avoiding citations, and reducing unplanned work stoppages caused by occupational injuries. If you participate in any type of social media, are your settings the most secure they can be? 2023 Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. CA License #0699809, How you can prevent business fraud at your company, Steps to prevent winter property damage to roofs, Employers, help workers prevent worksite fatigue [infographic]. The following topics are some simple ways to increase your situational awareness. You dont know. Situational awareness is being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your health and safety. However, combining great awareness with a weapon might increase your odds of fending of an attack. As you scan ahead, be alert for vehicles around you. Although a lot of us dont deal with the bad criminals who we presume are the threat, being aware of our surroundings is still important for both ourselves and our families. Lt. Murphys experience during these exercises is just one example of why consistent training and drills in schools, offices, and places of worship are so important. Often there is so much 'going on' in your work environment, or you become so absorbed in your own thoughts, that you fail to spot those things that could pose a serious threat to your health and safety. Situational awareness: Understanding the current environment and being able to accurately anticipate future problems to enable effective actions.1 Why is this important? If youre already thinking about it, then you are more likely to do it in a defensive scenario. Try these personal safety drills at work or in public to form good habits and determine your best response to potential threats. endstream endobj 50 0 obj <> endobj 51 0 obj <> endobj 52 0 obj <>stream Denial is a save now, pay later scheme. Schools and businesses that continue to be in denial must realize it is not a matter of if they will face an active killer or an attempt of mass violence, but rather when. Lt. Murphy. Additionally, be sure not to get complacent in familiar environments, such as your workplace or a regularly frequented lunch spot. Do you know if your school, university, workplace, or place of worship has a response plan and training program for active intruder incidents or other emergencies? I did not write this with the intent of making you afraid of everything and discouraging you from leaving your house. Go to a different store. There are a lot of blind spots, corners, turns, and on the equipment itself. Always be aware of your surroundings. Check out the new logo that I created on LogoMakr.com https://logomakr.com/8SX1NH. Some examples practicing situational awareness are: You must have situational awareness when working in a fast-paced work environment such as the construction industry. %PDF-1.5 % (In other words, be just a little paranoid.) Ignorance or denial of a hazard make a persons chances of quickly recognizing a threatening situation and avoiding it highly unlikely. Question everything! Do not be a tailgater! Stay focused at all times. When walking, keep to commonly traveled routes. Environmental Health and Safety provides services and support for efficient, effective, and compliant work practices, while promoting a culture of shared responsibility by students, faculty, staff and visitors for a healthy, safe, and environmentally soun At least half of the crimes in the Unites States go unreported, either because people don't think the police can do anything about it, or because people don't want to get involved. If the answer is yes, great! Any time you come to a place where people may cross or enter your path or one line of traffic meets another, you should look to the left and right sides of your vehicle to make sure no one is coming. If possible and when safe, make room for vehicles entering freeways even though you have the right-of-way. 3. Practice devising alternate methods of escape if your primary exit becomes compromised. In today's market, having a poor safety record can mean all the difference between winning or losing a deal. These people walk into telephone poles. Information contained on this siteshould not be taken as legal advice. If you work at a school, on any type of campus, or if your workplace needs an active shooter plan, Guard911 apps are a one-of-a-kind active shooter mobile safety alert technology that facilitates adoption of these safety tips. Situational awareness may protect us. Make a phone call requesting help for them. Pay attention to your surroundings, minimize the amount of time you talk on your cell phone in public places. Even if there is not currently a dangerous situation or nobody has been injured, if there are elements that could lead to either of these things, the person in charge should be made aware so that they can take the appropriate action. Failure to observe your surroundings before welding can drastically increase the risk of fire . Once your business or organization has a response plan, Guard911 mobile panic button apps offer a convenient place to store it where its immediately available with the touch of an icon on the users phone. In these situations, it is essential to maintain a high level of situational awareness to stop accidents and near misses. The extra space allows you to see around the vehicle. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Taking proper precautions covers a wide variety of areas. Reading body language is a huge factor in training your perception of your surroundings. Your email address will not be published. Keep in mind though that being alert extends beyond reading safety signs. Stopping work to make adjustments- Sometimes things do not go as you planned and thought they would. How can you improve your situational awareness? Watch for hazardsLook beyond the vehicle ahead of you. Ultimate Guide to Construction Management, perception of the elements in the environment. If people inside the temple would have had access to Guard911 technology, which includes the Hero911 officer network, they couldve alerted each other faster and we would have had more officers on the scene sooner., Immediate notification time is a must mere seconds make a world of difference when it comes to saving lives. Carrying a self defense weapon turns you from a passive observer to an observer that has the tools to fight back. What about your friends? Always be aware of your surroundings #WorkSafe #SafetyFirst. This is to be prepared and know how to respond if you are confronted. While many choose to reaffirm their commitment to a healthy lifestyle, many overlook the flip side of the same coin: personal safety. In this video, I go over a simple driving lesson on paying attention to your surroundings. Successful situational awareness requires a proactive and flexible mindset, which can be achieved through regular practice. Inform the driver of the situation. Do you know how to learn or improve this skill? Situational awareness is the ability to identify, process, and understand what is happening around you, while thinking ahead to prevent or mitigate potential safety incidents. If you are being tailgated, be careful! But, you must be proactive to do so. Make safety a revenue generating part of your company through increased productivity and save thousands of dollars avoiding expensive injuries, lawsuits, and claims. Leave a little earlier. Visualize: Play out scenarios in your head beforehand. The best way to avoid complacency is to consciously remind yourself to stay alert. Paying attention to your surroundings might prevent an injury. Frequent practice is vital, as no two situations are the same, and every environment provides unique conditions that will challenge your adaptability. Be aware of who you are in the electronic world. Follow your emergency plan. High alert can be scary, but at this level you are still able to function. 6. Do not stay in another drivers blind spot. Get taxis or arrange a lift. If you carry a purse, carry it securely between your arm and your body. When you report all the facts about a crime, it helps the police assign officers in the places where crimes are occurring or where they are most likely to occur, and your report may help prevent a crime from reoccurring. Did you leave yourself enough room to maneuver away? 4. Do not rely on traffic signals. Next, breathe deep through your nose. Be aware of locations and situations which would make you appear vulnerable to crime, such as alleys and dark parking lots. However, being aware of your surroundings could save you from ever even having to use the weapon. A second important element of the proper mindset is understanding the need to take responsibility for ones own safety. That feeling doesnt only happen while driving. Situational awareness is a critical foundation for successful decision making in most situations that you can be put in at work. You need to be aware of your surroundings, and you need to have an idea of how you will respond if you are faced with a threatening situation. Although a purse-snatcher's intent is to steal the purse, your personal safety may depend on not clinging to it. In this toolbox talk, you can cover ways to develop better safety awareness and how to practice observation skills on the job. Keep your workplace clear from clutter During off hours, ride as near to the bus operator as possible. The first level, tuned out, is similar to when you are driving and are engrossed in thought and arrived somewhere in your vehicle without even thinking about driving there. 03 Mar 2023 18:24:16 When people are in an area where there is potential danger (which, in reality, is almost anywhere), they should go through most of the day in a state of relaxed awareness. Maybe he isnt so innocent. If other children are nearby, make sure you can see them before backing up. (In other words, be just a little paranoid.) These vehicles must stop at railroad crossings; so, slow down early and allow plenty of room. Be alert for pickpocketers on crowded elevators. Emergencies and mass shootings happen all the time. Ask yourself if you have the proper tools, training and PPE to perform the task safely. The second level of awareness, relaxed awareness, is like defensive driving. Toolbox Talk Topic: Situational Awareness Situational awareness is being aware of your surroundings: where you are, where you are supposed to be and nearby threat to your health and safety. Does it matter that the light is red? Keep jewelry out of sight; don't flash jewelry; turn rings around so the stones don't show. [emailprotected] (618) 973-9174, The number of workplace shootings is increasing at an alarming[], Missouri School District Heightens School Emergency Response & Communication Are[], In regard to stopping killers in these uncertain times, before[]. We will discuss the habit by looking at Duhigg's habit loop. people pushing trays of items in a cafeteria), be alert when using stairs or ladders, while walking along corridors etc. This ability is relevant in a wide variety of circumstances. You should learn to look at things with a 360-degree focus, not just from your view. Do not depend only on your mirrors or only looking out a side window. If you are biased on your views it can lead to risks for you and your coworkers. 4. I told him I didnt have any. Know Your Exits. Last but not least do not assume that just because you told someone about a risk or a correct procedure that they heard you or they agreed with you. 2. You dont need specialized training like a CIA agent or to be a born natural to have good awareness. Your instincts exist to protect you it is always better to be overcautious than to ignore warning signs that turned out to be legitimate. Make sure if your employer provides training on situational awareness that you attend because you can always improve yourself. When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react. To avoid tailgating, use the three-second rule: when the vehicle ahead of you passes a certain point such as a sign, count one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three. Counting these numbers takes approximately three seconds. The owner of this website, ZCS Ventures, LLC, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking defensiveplanet.com reviews to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. Falken Ziex ZE-329 Review Should You Get this Tire? Keep doing this until you start doing it without meaning to. Follow a regular housekeeping schedule. Here are some ways you can increase your awareness and have a higher level of security while shopping or dining out. When I was checking out, I noticed he was now standing in front of the store I had entered. You talk with others about safety. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Also check your mirrors when you are preparing to turn into a side road or driveway and when you are stopping to pull into a parking space. Again, I know it can be boring walking around without music, but keeping your ears wide open can help your situational awareness. Whether you're at home or at work, following an emergency plan will help you keep the situation in control as much as possible. Avoiding complacency can help increase your perception of your surrounding. When you know your surroundings, you can take better notice of the things that are out of the ordinary.