Rock Products

DEC 2012

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FOCUS ON HEALTH &���SAFETY Three Points of Contact ��� or Control? By Randy Logsdon One of the tenets we use as a guide to directing person��� nel toward safe work performance is the phrase, ���Say what you mean and mean what you say.��� It���s a concise way of expressing the concept that when giving direc��� tion it���s important to clearly state expectations ��� what is to be done; how, where, and when. (Say what you mean). The second part addresses accountability. Was the task accomplished in compliance with the defined parame��� ters? (Mean what you say). Compliance deserves posi��� tive recognition ��� as simple as a sincere thank you. Non���compliance requires some investigation (Why?) and appropriate corrective action. Imagine how many errors and mishaps could be prevented by just thought��� fully applying this axiom. Giving Direction Let���s return again to the concept of giving direction. We are inundated with instruction in the workplace whether it originates from statute, rule, established process or learned procedure. Occasionally, we learn that there���s a better way. We discover that the direction we���ve relied on is inadequate or even incorrect. While I can probably cite examples dating as far back as my early youth, I probably first became consciously aware of the importance of ���Say what you mean��� just a few years ago. It was then when I realized that in an effort to empower individuals to stop and take corrective action when an unacceptable level of risk developed, employees were instructed to stop if they were not comfortable with conditions. Despite the best intentions, the instruction was just too ambiguous. ���Comfortable��� has a different meaning for each individual. Further, in the process of determining this comfort level, one enters the realm of rationalization. It is too easy to find comfort rather that implement corrective action. 40 ROCKproducts ��� DECEMBER 2012 While not a perfect solution, we began replacing the term ���comfortable��� with ���confident.��� Stop and take cor��� rective action if you are not confident of your safety. The definition is still fuzzy, but it at least raised the bar. Another Miscommunication To my dismay, I just recently discovered that I was guilty of another prolonged and misguided miscommunication to hundreds, if not thousands of workers. This particular fact was brought to my attention by a fall prevention arti��� cle in the November 2012 issue of Professional Safety. In an article submitted by J. Nigel Ellis entitled ���Three���Point Control,��� I learned that in the instruction I had adopted and repeated in countless training sessions was in error. I had instructed new and seasoned mine employees to use ���three points of contact��� when ascending or descend��� ing ladders. Ellis points out that three points of contact is inadequate in that simple contact is ineffective in pre��� venting falls. His premise that three points of control ��� not contact ��� is essential in preventing falls from ladders and other elevated positions. In keeping with the title of the article, Mr. Ellis expands the concept to make three important points. n The first point is that simple contact is not enough. The concept applies not only to ladders, but to all as��� pects of climbing. In many situations, personnel are in��� structed to keep a hand on a solid object as a measure of balance control. He cites the example of gaining ac��� cess to the elevated portions of car carriers using one hand placed on a secure object such as a car���s fender to maintain stability while maneuvering along a narrow elevated walkway. The obvious deficiency is that should the individual actually lose balance, there is no actual handhold to prevent the fall. n His second point (one that I previously recognized and have taught) is that we have learned (probably from the moment we first began to walk) to move an arm and leg in unison when we move. Observe someone walking, running, or especially climbing, and you will see that as the subject advances a foot from one rung to another, there is a natural tendency to move an arm si��� multaneously. This is a natural movement that can be unlearned and replaced by consciously practicing mov��� www.rockproducts.com

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