RELYING ON MEMORY

The human memory can be an amazing thing, but it is also very flawed. While there are people that can remember small details about an event decades later, others cannot remember where they set their wallet down.

Memory should never be relied on as the sole safeguard against a hazard. If this is the case, the hazard is not protected against at all.

While many things we learn make it into our long-term memory, many details we face on a day-to-day basis only may only hit our short term memory. Relying on short term memory as a safeguard is extremely dangerous because of how limited it can be.

Many work processes in a variety of industries require specific ordered steps that need to be followed to ensure safe and efficient operations.

When individuals rely on memory to ensure all job steps including the necessary safety measures are taken, errors can be made resulting in injury or loss of production.

Safeguards such as proper training, job safety analyses, labels, standard operating procedures, step by step guides, operating manuals, verification processes, etc. are some ways to help mitigate against memory error.

The human memory can be amazing as well as very unreliable. It is important to look at the different work tasks you complete throughout a day and look to eliminate hazards whenever possible.

Look at other safeguards to try to protect yourself and others from these hazards instead of relying on your memory. Your memory is not a safeguard, and it is bound to fail overtime.