The FOCUS SYSTEM
F – Find Your Reason
O – Own Your Mind
C – Concentrate On Your Task
U – Understand Your Distractions
S – See the Big Picture
Applying the distracted driver principles to the workplace
Brian Nulty (MSC) & Greg Griffin (Chubb), two Safety
Professionals from Georgia, developed the FOCUS system
that has reduced injuries in some workplaces by over 25%.
WHY THE FOCUS SYSTEM??
• Distracted associates like Distracted Drivers are at a
greater risk of being involved in an incident and injury
• 85 to 90% of Injuries at some companies
• Distraction Rate - % of incidents where distractions
were the proximate cause
• Incidents and injuries are caused when associates are
distracted while performing their work
• We want To BE AND STAY proactive in the areas of
safety, quality, & productivity
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FOCUS Triangle
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Severe Injury
or Damage
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Incidents
ZEN Proverb
300
Distractions
Near Misses
“When walking, walk.
When eating, eat.”
•Do one thing at a time.
– The basic step is to
keep it simple: singletask, avoid multi-tasking.
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Are These Distractions?
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Birth/Death in Family
Divorce/Separation/Marriage
Crowded Work Area
Financial/Mortgage
Health/Diet
Coworker/Supervisor
One Method to Deal with Distractions:
Take Mini-breaks to let your mind
wander (10 – 15 seconds) – write it down then
return to work/task.
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Distractions can lead to injury
• The more distractions we have; the greater
chance of being injured.
• The chance of being injured, when distracted, is
40% to 80% higher.
• FOCUS will not solve the distractions but will
help make you AWARE of injury causing
distractions.
Inattention is involved in 78% of all
observed crashes and 66% of all
crash events (crash/near crash).
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FIND YOUR REASON
• Personalize it.
▪ Why is safety important to YOU.
• Self Preservation.
▪ Who wants to be injured.
• Your Family Needs You.
WHAT IS YOUR REASON FOR STAYING FOCUSED?
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OWN YOUR MIND
• Own & Control Your Frustrations.
▪ Stop and ask for help.
• Own & Choose Your Attitude.
▪ Stay Positive.
• Avoid Overconfidence.
▪ Don’t get too comfortable.
• Keep Your Mind On Your Work.
• WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TODAY?
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CONCENTRATE ON YOUR TASK
• Keep Your Eyes On Your Work
▪ Focus on the task at hand
▪ Looking ahead while walking and driving
• Follow The Job’s Procedures
▪ Written with Safety in mind
• Critical Tasks Include:
▪ Material Handling Equipment
▪ Lifting Items
▪ Placement Of Items
• Understand Hand and Feet Placement
▪ How to carry, lift, move, slide, and handle an item
▪ Maintain a 3 point contact on stairs and ladders
• WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON?
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UNDERSTAND YOUR DISTRACTIONS
• Know Your Cognitive Distractions
▪ Thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining.
• Know Your Physical Distractions
▪ Radios and surrounding environment.
• Associate Conversations
▪ When we talk and try to perform critical tasks our minds
may not be on the task.
• Personal Matters
▪ Things in your everyday life.
• WHAT THINGS CAUSE YOU TO BE DISTRACTED?
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SEE THE BIG PICTURE
• Know Your Fatigue/Energy Level
▪ When tired – FOCUS
▪ Exercise and Diet
• Don’t Rush
▪ Know the times that cause you to rush - FOCUS
• Avoid Shortcuts
▪ Follow procedures
• Take Your Time With Unfamiliar Items & Tasks
• WHAT IS TIME NEEDED TO DO IT SAFELY?
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