Focusing on Your Job/ PreTask Planning – Toolbox Talk Over 80% of all workplace injury arises from worker behavior. We make mistakes, errors in judgment or simply do not have our full attention on the job and something happens. There is also a tendency to get so focused on getting the job done that we do not recognize the obvious. A few years ago in the main shops there was an incident where a fairly new worker fell into a hole in the floor and required several stitches in his leg. The opening was well flagged off and the whole affair seemed a mystery. The post incident interview went something like this: So, you saw the caution tape? “Yes”. And you do understand what caution tape means? “Oh, yes.” And you stepped over the caution tape and fell into the hole? “Yes, that is pretty much what happened.” Either this guy was a complete moron or there was some other explanation. On further questioning, it turned out that he was on the end of a tag line at the time. He was so focused on keeping the plate steady that the consequences of stepping over the caution tape did not register. At first this seemed unbelievable. However, some recent research on workplace injury confirmed that focused concentration on a task reduces the capacity to recognize obvious hazards. And a significant number of workplace injuries result from this kind of inattention. This applies directly to vehicle operation such as forklifts or even pickup trucks. There is a felt sense of pressure to get something done, we are driving totally wrapped up in the job and do not even seen the person walking in the path of travel. Every year there are countless incidents like this. Are there pressures and intense focus in our jobs? You bet. But it is how we deal with the pressure, how we handle the intense focus that is important. Now and again we have talked about the four second reset as a way of attuning ourselves to the hazards around us. Sometimes all it takes is a big breath when we sit behind the wheel of a vehicle. In truth, it is some conscious act of getting outside of the pressure or job focus that prevents this type of incident. How we do this is our individual preference or way of psychologically handling the job demands here. There is an old story about a man who is riding a very fast horse. As he gallops past a bystander the person shouts, “Where are you going in such a hurry?” The man answers, “I don’t know. Ask the horse.” The very same situation happens with many of us at work. We get caught up in the busy day. Direct the horse once in a while and you won’t ride over one of your co-workers or fall into a hole. Pre-Task Planning Basics: Pre-task Planning (STA-Safe Task Analysis) is a great way to focus your team. The STA is a living document that helps everyone to focus on their tasks for the day. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using this tool: 1. 2. 3. 4. Everyone has input Done in your work area by individual crews Identify your task for the day Identify what hazards you see with those hazards no matter how trivial they may seem 5. Identify other trades working around you and ask the question “Can I safely work around them?” 6. Identify how to abate the hazards you identified by asking yourself “Do I have the right training, equipment and or material?” 7. If you job task changes then start over with the STA and ask yourself these simple questions The piece of paper you are writing the information down on will not save your life, but the focus you are placing on your work will. We never know what we have prevented only what we didn’t prevent 5 Core Components of Effective Pre-Task Planning Analysis Engaging in daily safety practices can help employees feel more involved in the entire job process Safe work practices ensure that all employees have a common level of knowledge and are able to perform tasks in the same way. For a contractor, ensuring safety at a worksite is the most crucial aspect of getting a job done. When everyone follows safe practices, not only will crews experience fewer accidents, but also productivity and efficiency will increase. In recent years, there has been a greater involvement of trade employees in the safety process. One of the most effective ways to foster this involvement is through pre-task planning, which is essential to the success of a construction project—and more importantly—considered one of the most powerful safety tools. A pre-task analysis occurs at the start of each day, prior to beginning any work, as well as any time the scope of work changes, and helps everyone involved to get on the same page before the day gets underway. The process promotes open, two-way dialogue as crew members gather around a whiteboard to identify and document the potential hazards, as well as controls to minimize the associated risks. As work progresses, employees are required to report any change in scope of work that may create unforeseen or unidentified hazards. At that time, the crew gathers to reassess, completing the process again to reflect the new scope of work. All employees understand the plan for work, have identified the hazards, mitigated the associated risks and evaluated the material and equipment needs. Successful pre-task analysis is contingent on interaction among the project crew members, but with a true culture of planning present, contractors can also appreciate the benefits of pre-task planning. There are five core components of any effective pre-task planning analysis: 1 Define the scope of work—A clear understanding of the work assignment is critical to each day’s work. This step requires the crew to review the pertinent documents (e.g. written procedures, drawings and specifications) before listing the steps to be performed for the day to ensure the task is clearly understood. On large projects, there may be several crews completing a daily work briefing in different areas. For instance, a roughing crew will perform a separate work briefing from a power distribution crew or a trimming crew. Each crew might have different tasks and those might have their own inherent set of hazards or potential hazards. 2 Analyze the hazards—Here it is vital for crews to identify situational and inherent hazards or potential hazards. To identify the hazard, each crew member should discuss how someone may be injured while performing the task. Examples could include materials being used, equipment/tools being utilized, work locations, crew knowledge, worksite conditions, crew cohesiveness, and a host of other conditions. 3 Develop and implement hazard controls—Once the hazards have been identified, the crew should then devise solutions to eliminate the hazards by implementing control measures. Specified methods, tools, and equipment might be used to reduce or eliminate the hazards. When the hazards cannot be eliminated, safeguards must be put in place. Examples include the erection of guardrails if work is performed at elevation or the use of personal protective equipment. 4 Perform work within hazard control—This step requires crew members to discuss how work will be performed within the identified hazard controls. Crew members have to carefully think through their tasks so that they are able to satisfactorily address hazards. This may include changing the basic approach to performing the work or by rearranging the sequence of performing the work activities. 5 Provide feedback and continuous improvement—During this stage, supervisors are expected to regularly review their work processes and provide feedback. Pre-task planning meetings are necessary when changes to the scope of work or hazard control measures occur or subsequent tasks are required. The crew may have a single pre-task planning meeting or several for various tasks throughout a single day. Any changes, which result in improved work practices, more efficient procedures, or generally improve how work was conducted should be noted and communicated to employees.
