HOW OBSERVANT ARE YOU?

We live in fast times- both at home and at work. With everything going on around us between stressors and the distractions of our environments, it is easy to glance over the small details.

When we miss the small details at work, we begin to lose focus on addressing hazards that can lead to injuries. A quick exercise can demonstrate how easy it is to lose sight of the small details.

Dollar Bill Exercise

We have all handled dollar bills throughout life, more than likely you have one in your pocket now. Without pulling one out, give me some details of a one-dollar bill. So, what does this exercise tell us about observations and glancing over the small details?

Just like a dollar bill, we see our work areas every day. What details are we not paying attention to? What hazards are we either missing or being complacent with? What details or information are we missing in our work procedures? The honest answer is: probably more than we want to admit.

How Can We Improve Our Observations?

First, we need to take the proper time to do a thorough observation of objects, tools, equipment, and the work environment for a work task. Being observant is a skill, but we also need to make a conscious effort to dedicate the time to evaluate the work area around us.

Think about your work area, walk around it, try to view it from different perspectives. Focus on details that you normally skim over. Use past experiences, lessons learned, safety shares, or training to identify potential hazards.

Try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes such as a safety manager or supervisor.

What things in the work area would they have an issue with or want corrected? Really get picky about the details of your work environment. Be honest about what is a hazard in your work area and what it would take to fix it.

The little details can contribute to the next incident or injury.