TOPIC: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SEE UNSAFE ACTS

QUESTION: What should you do if you observe an unsafe act?

Immediately intervene to stop it before the worker gets hurts or hurts someone
else.

QUESTION: How should you approach the worker?

Stay calm and take the worker aside.

Start with a positive comment such as, Glad you are wearing the correct PPE.
Be sure not to let your body language say otherwise such as a tense posture or
glaring.
Calmly mention the unsafe act that you witnessed and talk about what could have
happened if you didnt intervene. Ask them to suggest to you a safer way to do
the job.
Obtain the workers agreement to work more safely in the future.
Engage the worker in a general safety discussion. Maybe ask if they have any
safety concerns. Experienced workers often know their jobs better than you do so
you might learn something you hadnt already considered.
Always thank the employee for their time.

QUESTION: Should you speak to a worker who is working safely?

Yes, it increases worker commitment and involvement to safety.

Start with a positive comment, engage in a safety discussion and end with a thank
you.

QUESTION: What are some other points to remember when you are dealing with
unsafe acts?

Keep consistent. If you address unsafe behaviors only some of the time, you will
be sending mixed messages.
Always positively reinforce safe behavior or it may disappear.
Dont jump to conclusions, unsafe behavior is not always deliberate. The worker
may be tired, distracted, rushed or insufficiently trained.
If you continue to recognize unsafe behavior, issue a verbal warning and say that
you may be forced to take disciplinary action if safety rules arent followed.
Be sure to always document the discussions and any related actions.