What do we need to question and concentrate on before, during and after any safety strategy to produce the lowest risk behaviours that promote a strong safety culture?
Awareness – Am I mindful of here, now and could be?
What is my state of mindfulness? Am I attuned to what all my senses are telling me about potential risk? Am I paying enough attention to what is happening right now or could happen in my work environment? Am I assessing and interpreting these sensory inputs to recognise what are the physical, psychological and social risks to myself, and others, around me? Am I staying always alert – never complacent – knowing that risks never stay constant and need fulltime attention and control?
Ability – Am I capable of doing this task in the best way I can?
Is my mind and body capable of doing the best work I can? Do I have the necessary mental and physical energy, knowledge, skills, tools, methods, support, resources to do the work effectively, efficiently, and safely? Am I fully awake and not mentally or physically impaired or even fatigued?
Attitude – Am I a safety believer and do I want to do this task in the best way I can?
As well as being capable, am I focused, willing, and motivated to pay attention to risks and make the best choice I can? Do I believe I need to, and actually want to, do the best work I can expect of myself? Will I be positively influencing or motivating others’ attitudes & behaviours? How strongly positive are my feelings and emotions re the task, the people and situation involved?
Action – Am I choosing behaviours that ensure the task is being done in the best way I can?
Will my conscious and habitual behaviour choices guarantee that the task is done in the best way I can? If I decide I have to vary or modify a working rule, will I ALWAYS check the risks with my mates and boss BEFORE I make any choice to vary or modify that rule or procedure?
Accountability – Am I clear in knowing that I am answerable for my actions and their consequences?
Do I recognise that I am responsible for my choices and actions? Do I recognize that my choices and actions affect others and myself? We all depend on each other; we are each other’s keepers? Safety mateship – do I recognise that whatever happens to others and myself can ultimately depend on my own professional behaviour? The “person in the mirror” needs to be continually questioned – am I doing everything necessary to control what I can control? If not, why not?