Can You Prevent an Accident?
Posted on Mon, May 17, 2010 @ 10:24 AM
While searching for information as to why the most recent oil spill in the Gulf hasn’t yet been contained, I found an article that says warnings on system failures in deep sea drilling operations were evident as far back as 2000. Additionally it mentions that while drilling processes had advanced, safety technology stayed stagnate.
To think that preventive measures weren’t up to date on current drilling practices; which in turn now jeopardizes our environment, waters, birds, fish and so many other things, makes me angry and got me thinking… Can you prevent an oil spill or, in our case, can you prevent an accident or damage from occurring?
Preventive measures, when taken seriously, can save lives and dollars for both the company and its employees. Although our company has many preventive measures in place, we need to make sure they are up-to-date with our current practices and that the employees performing these procedures know the seriousness of their actions. In plain words, prevention needs to be effective. Here are the 2 biggest ways to prevent an accident:
Pre-Trip Inspection and Equipment Inspection Sheets
Do you really know how important those mundane inspection sheets are? Employees who utilize these checklists should be looking at them like it was their first time. The drivers and warehouse employees who walk around trucks or equipment are the ones who will determine what does and does not work properly. Will you be able to detect the internal workings? It's doubtful, but a thorough check can certainly keep you safe, keep the truck or equipment running, save the company from having to pay for unnecessary costs, and save the operator from paying unnecessary fines.
Another meeting….ugh! But not just another meeting, these meetings take place to keep you and every other employee safe, and ensure that everyone is aware of the requirements that are placed on our company. Within these meetings, hypothetical real-time situations may be discussed as well. For instance, we might review another company that has had warehousing problem and discussion takes place as to “what could we do to prevent that situation from happening here at ADS." Whatever the timing or topic is of our Safety Meetings (and/or ongoing safety training), each one is important and should be treated as such.
Each of us, as employees of ADS Logistics, should look for ways to prevent potential danger or damage. Although we are required, through our ISO certifications, to report and document preventive measures, we can all go above and beyond this responsibility to ensure that we all go home safely to our families each night knowing that our trucks and equipment will be waiting for us tomorrow.
Posted by Rose Cyphert: Billing- ADS Logistics
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