Several years ago, I had a safety manager who believed that an open knife was dangerous. But he went a step further than just imposing safety knives.
You know: those knives that shoot inward when you release them, causing you to constantly have to apply force and cramp your fingers because they are tremendously difficult to hold properly.
According to this safety manager, an open blade was absolutely unnecessary and we had to switch to knives with a hidden blade, where you cannot get your fingers in contact with the cutting edge (see photo).
The next incident occurred with this particular knife. The employee put too much force on the plastic tip (!) after which it ended up in his thumb. The incident investigation revealed that this knife had been used for far too long and was more or less a disposable knife. As a result, it was quite worn and blunt. Moreover, it is simply an incredibly fragile little knife, with which you cannot cut through heavy plastic film.
Of course, the employee knew that, but the security expert did not.
This safety manager had the right intentions, but too little understanding of implementation. Imposing rules unilaterally (and some of us can do some of that!) creates the very unsafe situations we are trying to avoid.
The usefulness of training
What is also very dangerous: working with a new machine based on Trial and error, without someone to explain to you how it works and what you might run into.
I have that experience myself with a handheld circular saw. I think a handheld circular saw is an incredibly dangerous piece of equipment. Such a thing is full of energy and you hold it with two hands. To be quite honest, it scares me, and then you really shouldn’t start it at all….
But yes, the work has to be done, and so you do it anyway.
I have already experienced this device getting stuck in your workpiece, or even shooting away. Deadly scary!
But how do you prevent that? I have no idea (yet). I’m thinking, among other things, a good, sharp saw blade. If anyone has suggestions I’d love to hear them!
But when do you find out it’s not sharp enough anymore? Exactly: when you’re already sawing.
How do you solve this problem?
I believe that very experienced men and women, who know the work really well, should be the ones to explain to a newcomer how it’s done. Taking someone literally a little by the hand.
Fear is a very bad advisor in this case. It is important to have no fear of the machines you work with.
So I suggest reversing training programs:
- the employee trains the safety expert
- then the two together determine whether the work is safe (risk assessment) and how it could possibly be improved
True safety is not created by imposing rules
But by looking together at what works. By involving professionals and taking their knowledge seriously. That shared starting point is at the heart of my approach and how I work with SecuDura.
