Frick and Frack made 2016 the most fun year for safety training and will be back next month to take it up a notch for 2017. While you wait to see what they're up to next, sit back and enjoy the 10 factors influencing risk tolerance series again.
The 3 Key Safety Factors That Guide Decision Making
We kicked off the Construction Safety Video blog by introducing the three reasons someone might behave in a reckless manner. Ever ask yourself, "What was I thinking when I did that?!" Now you know!
- Hazard Recognition
- Hazard Identification
- Risk Tolerance
Overestimating Capability or Experience
Workers young and old, new and experienced, are all prone to overestimating. While younger workers often overestimate their physical capabilities, older workers familiar with construction site processes can overestimate their experience. Either way, the result is the same: increased risk tolerance. [Watch the video]
Beware of Familiarity with a Task
It is, in fact, possible to be so good at something it turns out to be a problem. Often older, more experienced workers can be so comfortable with a construction site task they become blind to the risks and hazards associated with it. Do the job like it's the first time you've done the job, every time, and you'll have a much safer workplace. [Watch the video]
Seriousness of the Outcome
Even in very practiced and controlled operations, people can manage to sustain injuries and encounter danger. If workers aren't aware of how they can get hurt or don't comprehend the extent of a job's risks, they are less likely to avoid unsafe conduct. [Watch the video]
Voluntary Actions and Being in Control
Feeling like you're in control can lead to higher risk tolerance, leaving you in situations that could put your life at risk. In every situation and on every job site, there are always factors that are not in your control. The only thing you can actually control is how you prepare – starting with your personal protective equipment (PPE). [Watch the video]
Personal Experience With An Outcome
Nothing informs you better in decision making than the results of past decisions. If you've had a bad experience, your risk tolerance decreases--you learn quickly not to do that again. On the other hand, a positive experience can lower your risk tolerance. [Watch the video]
The Cost of Non-Compliance
People are willing to take risks; it’s a part of human nature. But risk tolerance is much higher when they don’t perceive the true costs of non-compliance. Of course safety is important to your crew and their families, but the costs of failing to meet safety standards are even higher than you might think. [Watch the video]
Overconfidence in Equipment
Just because you get better equipment that is newer and more technologically advanced, that doesn't mean you necessarily improve your safety numbers. Being too confident in your equipment can lead to pushing risk to the extreme, increasing chances of job site injury or even death. [Watch the video]
Overconfidence in Rescue and Protective Systems
Workers are often overconfident in safety systems and trust people will rescue them if they get into a bad situation. But by getting in a bad position, they're putting others at risk, too. Being overconfident in safety systems and rescue can create situations you can't get out of and lead you to make costly, even fatal mistakes. [Watch the video]
High Potential for Profit or Gain
Frick (who happens to be a huge Titanic buff) walks us through unnecessary risks taken that led to the Titanic's disastrous maiden voyage.
The purpose in any business is to maximize profit, so if there's money to be made, people tend to further push their luck and take more risks. We're naturally set up for management and employees alike to struggle with this risk factor. [Watch the video]
Role Models Accepting Risk
When more experienced employees take greater risks, it sets the tone for safety across the whole team. This is especially important with younger and newer employees. When someone they look up to for guidance and expertise doesn’t follow the rules, they won't either. [Watch the video]
What's Next for Frick and Frack Safety Training??
That's it for the first season of the Frick and Frack safety video blog! Thanks for watching, sharing and all the great feedback!
Coming up next they're taking a deep dive in to CRH 11 Fundamentals for Fatality Elimination. Until then, stay alive and subscribe now so you don't miss part one of the fatality elimination series! Fatality elimination... that sounds fun, right?
