Tag Archives: hard work

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Protective Clothing

WAYS TO TALK TO YOUR BOSS

Yesterday, we offered some advice to those applying for jobs, and ideas for new hires.  Our main focus was to help them question what the company expects of them and if there are hazards associated with their job duties.  We’ve all had to start with a  first job, and it is overwhelming to learn each facet of the things you will be doing, and getting to know all of your coworkers.  The most important part of getting off on the right foot is to know when and how to talk to your boss.  This may not only include the top executive of the company, but your supervisor as well. 

Let’s begin with when to talk to your boss……..

  • You feel that you need someone to watch you do the job and make sure you are doing it right.
  • You know there is a hazard.
  • You need more training and information.
  • You feel there is something in the work that could endanger you or a coworker.
  • You have an idea on how to make the work safer.
  • There is any type of question about your job.
  • Anytime you feel there has been a change to a term or condition of your working arrangement. 
  • Wait until he or she is not in a bad mood!

How to talk to your boss…………

  • Be polite and respectful.
  • Write down your concerns so your boss may review it later. 
  • Don’t blame individuals.
  • Avoid confrontational words and behavior.
  • Keep a positive attitude and speak out of concern for your safety and others.
  • Watch your body language.
  • Make a suggestion to solve the problem if you can.
  • State your issue or what you would like, clearly and concisely.
  • Be positive about both your job and the future of the company. 

When asked about the things that most executives and supervisors appreciate about their employees, they answered:  those with positive attitudes, that are ready to help coworkers, are prepared by anticipating things that will need to be done in order to successfully complete the project, and have the initiative to do things without being told.  A smart worker knows how to save the company time and money.  A hard worker may stay up all night to complete a project; a smart worker finds a way to do it in half the time, or delegates the assignment in order to finish successfully.  It takes hard workers and smart workers, (many are both), to make a company productive. 

If you feel that you have been informed of the hazards or risks associated with the job duties you will be performing, remember that you should be equipped with the proper personal protective equipment, PPE, and that it fits and protects you.  If it doesn’t fit, let your supervisor know.  It won’t protect you if you don’t wear it, whether it’s safety glasses, gloves, coveralls, or a hardhat.  Follow the safety rules and policies and procedures that your company has posted.  Get the right training and work safely. 

If you asked questions about health or safety concerns, or if you don’t have the health and safety training you need, tell your supervisor immediately.  If he or she cannot or does not solve the problem, it is alright to say “no” to unsafe work.  You have the right to refuse work that you think is unsafe; this is the law.  Until the issue is resolved, you will be kept from the unsafe work.  A process that has been set out in Occupational Safety and Health Act will be followed.  This is fully explained on the OSHA website in the U.S., or in Canada, you can contact your Ministry of Labour. 

Sources: WorkSmart Ontario, OSHA

General Safety Issues

PRACTICE HELPS ENSURE SAFETY!

The word “practice” can mean  many things to different people.  We’ve all heard the saying, “Practice Makes Perfect.”  My best friend was great at playing the piano, but it infuriated her when her mom made us stop doing what we wanted to do so she could practice.  I loved to listen to her play, but she just hated it.  At the time, I just didn’t understand why she resented that so badly, because she was very talented.  The answer was, she simply hated to practice! 

When we enjoy learning a new game, it’s fun, and we get better at it the longer we play.  That’s why computer games or games on cell phones are so popular. Getting to the next level on a computer game is very challenging, and this promotes practice until one can move up to higher levels.  Many times, school classes are boring, and young people are not motivated to learn, but when it’s fun, they become more interested.  The fact is, however, that we can’t be entertained 100 per cent of the time.  Being from the old school, we learned reading, writing, and arithmetic by going over and over and over and over it, until we had it down pat.   Practice, practice, practice! 

You may have noticed that many young persons who work in fast food restaurants or other industries depend on that calculator/cash register to figure the change they owe you.  If the electricity goes out, they are in trouble.  Please understand, that it is very important that young people grasp the basic fundamentals of math, etc.,  to get ahead in the world.  Knowing how to figure out a problem with paper and pen helps.

Practice can mean drill, and that’s a word that turns folks off.  Unless it’s football drills, or other athletic drills, and then young people can’t wait to get out on the field. Practice makes players safer, too.  You may have a fire drill at work, and that’s a type of practice, too. (One that is important for your safety.)  Musicians must practice every day in order to excel, as well as actors, who rehearse over and over until their performance is (almost) perfect.  

So for everyone who works for a living, practice is a very important part of being successful.  Practice is necessary to execute ones job with proficiency.  Leaders of safety teams must learn the demands of the job first, and then be able to motivate workers to reach attainable goals.  Repeated performances mean that the more we do something, the better at it we will become.  Technology many times lets us avoid repetition.  However, many jobs require us to do it the hard way – through years of experience and finding out what works best to accomplish the goals we have set for ourselves. 

When employees work as a team, and share their knowledge with each other, problems can be more easily solved.  Once we know what is expected of us in our particular job description, we can accomplish it through hard work and practice.  Working with others and keeping each other and ourselves safe through good work practices will allow everyone to achieve their goals.