Instructor: Richard DeBusk, EHS DivisionMarch 12, 2007

EHS 27 Performing an Effective Safety Walkaround

Office of the Chief Financial Officer

Walkaround Problem

Course Objectives

Help you carry out your walkaround responsibilities by:

Describing the components of an effective safety walkaround

Discussing planning and implementation Identifying methods and resources Reviewing some common unsafe acts and unsafe

conditions Practicing some skills for walkarounds Recommending follow-up with walkarounds in your

work areas

Requirement for Walkarounds

PUB 3000, Chapter 1.4.5 Continuous Improvement• The purpose of a safety walkaround is to observe work, inspect the

workplace, and talk with workers and support staff about the safe performance of work. The focus should not be merely on deficiencies but also on building teamwork, mutual understanding, and respect between managers and those performing work.  … Each division will publish a program for implementing safety walkarounds as a component of their Division ISM Plan.

Operations Directorate ISM Plan:• Line Managers, Supervisors, and Mentors of Students

shall: Conduct a safety walkaround at least twice a year of all physical

space within area of responsibility.

Walk the workplace:

• Focus on positive and at-risk behaviors and unsafe conditions. Unsafe situations can emerge quickly so walkaround often.

Communicate:

• Good communications with employees will facilitate them reporting safety issues to you

• Practice active listening Know there is a problem:

• Employees know their workplace best

• EHS specialists can support you if needed Take action to correct the problem Follow-up and provide feedback

Six Steps of Safety Walkarounds

Observe the Total Safety Culture

Total Safety Culture

Work EnvironmentWork load, housekeeping,

equipment and tools, work procedures

Individual Characteristics

Attitude, beliefs, andpersonality

BehaviorsSafe and at-risk work practices

Based on the work of Scott Geller, The Psychology of Safety Handbook

Safety walkarounds focus on at-risk behaviors and unsafe conditions

Walkarounds focus here

Planning for Walkaround SuccessPart 1

1. Develop and plan your walkaround program.

2. Decide the frequency for and schedule your walkarounds.

3. Understand various formats available: Not one formula, adjust as needed – you decide:

— Observation, inspection, discussion or combination

— By yourself, with coworkers, with safety coordinator, etc.

4. Focus on work Behaviors and Conditions.

Planning for Walkaround SuccessPart 2

5. Identify and use checklists (tools) for the walkaround and documentation.

6. Seek to understand “why” things are the way they are; what are the underlying reasons?

7. Utilize good communication skills: observe, listen, ask…

8. Follow up with employees and ensure issues are entered into CATS, and corrected

9. Focus on fixing the problem, not assigning blame.

Walkaround Tools and Documentation

Utilize LBNL walkaround checklist Perform walkthrough with Safety Coordinator who

completes the checklist Safety Coordinator will enter deficiencies not corrected

on the spot into CATS!

Good Safety Communication

Smile Begin your observation by

talking with employees Try to begin with a positive

comment Listen more than you talk Ask questions to understand Always try to get to the

underlying (error likely) issues If there are safety problems –

focus on the solution not blame Be helpful! Be a problem solver!

Much ofcommunications

is non-verbal

Understand Why Things Happen

Understanding error likely situations and the reasons they exist provides you the information you need to address the problem.

Plan tangible solutions that work to eliminate the error likely situation.

We All Make Mistakes!

When observing, focus on asking the right question; not having the right answer

“I know material handling is a challenge. What would you recommend to do this job better? How can I help?”

Feedback and Follow-up

Provide feedback before you leave Be positive – remember “soon, certain, and positive” Follow up on items you agreed to

Bumped Head Incident

• What happened – employee working at cubicle with metal cabinet over their work area, stood up and hit her head.

• Go away from this training and see if this situation exists in your work areas. Correct as needed.

1. Mouse arm

3. Bent wrist & palm planting 4. Bike riding

posture

2. Raised shoulders

Common Safety Issues - #1 Ergo

What Ergonomic Risks at Your Job?

Take Frequent Breaks

My EYES...every 20 minutes I look off into a distance of 20 feet for 20 seconds then I look at something close and repeat this a few times

My HANDS & ARMS…

every 30 minutes I stretch my hands and fingers wide and shake them out.Every chance I get I rest my hands in a thumbs-up position and twiddle my thumbs if I like.

My SEATED BODY… every 30 minutes I get up and move about- take 30 footsteps or I just stand,stretch and shake out the stress

Workload Hazard Control

• Discuss ergonomics with employees regularly (walkarounds)

• Be attentive to changes in the workload of your staff

— Major increase in ergonomic risk when you increase your computer related workload. (4 hrs/day is benchmark for risk; each hour above 4 hrs., risk increases significantly)

— Workload hazards in 7 of 13 ergonomic injuries so far in FY-07

• Potential hazard controls

— Anticipate “crunch periods”

— Get temporary help

— Cross train employees/variety in work tasks

— Distribute the workload

— Encourage employees to take regular breaks.

• Request an ergonomic evaluation at first sign of discomfort @ https://isswprod.lbl.gov/Ergo/Login.asp

Common Safety Issues

Electrical Safety

Common Safety Issues

Housekeeping

Common Safety Issues

Material Handling

Common Safety Issues

Slips trips and falls

Good Shoes

Bad Shoes

Test

Test - Answers

Poor posture Monitor too close to individual Chair not appropriate for work assignment (not

adjustable) Keyboard and mouse on a non-adjustable work

surface, too high Mouse too far away from body No document holder – poor body position to view

documents Poor housekeeping in general

Summary & Resources

As A Leader: Be aware of the work environment of your employees Conduct routine safety walkarounds

• Provides a forum for good communication with your workgroup

Practice good safety communications: Active listening, asking “why”.

Work constantly to understand and eliminate error likely situations.

Practice good safety communications: provide feedback. Have integrity: do what you say you will do.

EH&S Resources: Your Division Safety Coordinator Division EH&S Liaison Richard DeBusk – EHS Division x2976 EH&S Website http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/index.shtml

What is next?

• Perform a safety walkthrough soon.• Your safety coordinator or one of the

instructors from this class will go with you if you would like.

• When you are done, consider what is different from previous inspections or walkthroughs. How did you improve?

Perfect ergonomic gift for Jeffrey Fernandez from his loyal employees