Tag Archives: mistakes

General Safety Issues

DOES YOUR COMPANY HAVE A LACK OF COMMUNICATION?

Not long ago, we talked about mistakes – how we handle our own, and those of our coworkers.  One of the main causes of errors, incidents and injuries at the workplace may be a lack of communication.  Have you ever felt that you worked in a “top secret organization”, where only the chosen few knew anything about what was going on?  If you often hear, “I didn’t know,” as an excuse, chances are that person probably didn’t know.  Many times, a boss or supervisor will tell their assistant, but it never trickles down to the people who need to know what’s going on.

In the military, communication is of the utmost importance.  Even then, there may have been errors made that proved costly.  Whatever field you choose to work in, it is important that you do your part by paying attention.  Have you ever noticed when you tell someone something,  by the time it has circled the group of friends or coworkers, it’s not even close to the point you were trying to make?  You can tell ten different persons the same thing and they all may walk away with a different point of view.

When your company has an effective communication strategy, the whole team excels.  Employees will come closer to working together with the same goal in mind when they are fully informed on what is expected to happen and how it will be achieved by teamwork, and sharing of information.  Most times, it isn’t necessary to speak eloquently, just put it in pure layman’s terms.  Don’t be afraid to hurt someone’s feelings.  You’d rather do that, than have someone injured because they didn’t get the message.  Employee performance will be enhanced if they are given instructions that produce the correct results.

Another way to improve communication is to ask for others’ opinions.  After all, the workers are the ones that see mistakes and know how to improve productivity.  Many times, they won’t say anything because they are afraid they will upset their supervisor.  So ask for their input, and take heed.  Teamwork is the key to success in any business.  Lack of communication can lead to mistakes, confusion, anger, misunderstandings, and anger or resentment.  There’s no room for any of that in business.  As this motivational safety poster says:

moving gears_ip

There are many consequences of poor communication, such as:

  • Fear.  If workers are afraid there are going to be lay-offs, rumors may start circulating, without communication from the authorities to put their fears at rest.
  • Stress.  If there is tension in the workplace, problems grow.  Persons who are stressed tend to make mistakes.
  • Gossip.  Rumors spread, which can lead to false information.
  • Mistakes. Misunderstanding and confusion can lead to costly errors.
  • Less Productivity.  Taking unnecessary steps because of lack of communication, or often redoing their own work or someone else’s.
  • Lack of Confidence.  Employees misinterpret information, and may begin to feel unappreciated if the information wasn’t fully given to them.  Everyone likes to feel appreciated.
  • Low Morale.  Employees either carry on, giving only the minimum expected of them, or they quit.

No doubt we have all dealt with establishments that have poor communication.  It leads to customer dissatisfaction , resulting in loss of customers.  It may not be the fault of the employees who work there, but a serious lack of clear communication and contact between the leadership and employees.   More often we are seeing that employees are there for one thing, and that is to get the paycheck.  Effective communication increases morale among workers, letting them know that they are important to the company.  Things need to change back to when keeping the customer satisfied was the #1 priority.  When customers are pleased, it is a reflection of happy workers.

General Safety Issues

WHAT DO MISTAKES TEACH US?

It’s a very natural thing to make mistakes as we go through life.  We may choose the wrong friends, mates, places to live, or even the wrong job.  Many mistakes can be fixed.  But at work, some errors are not “fixable.”  How many of us haven’t had a few “close calls” in life?  Drifting off into another lane, because our mind wasn’t on the road, catching a dish towel on fire on the stove, (which can be pretty frightening if you don’t get it under control!), or on the job – taking a risk that results in an event that could have been very harmful.  If we aren’t on our toes, things happen so quickly that they are not “close calls,” but deadly ones.  

It is necessary for us to make a mental assessment of how we focus on performing the tasks we are required to do.  Sure, some jobs are more difficult than others – say, working on scaffolding is quite a bit harder than sitting at a desk!  So, we need to analyze how many times we have taken a risk while doing our job, trying to take short cuts, or save time, that could have resulted in disaster.  A “close call” may actually be a blessing in disguise – if we learn from it. 

No one intentionally makes mistakes at work.  One of the main causes of errors is not paying attention.  Maybe you are thinking about a ballgame you watched the night before, or going to a concert soon, rather than focusing on your job.  What if that daydreaming causes you to forget about your risky behavior, which may get someone else hurt?  Staying out of the way of others is a good way to keep them safe – maybe they are carrying a heavy load, and you step right out in front of them, causing them to slip and fall.  Everyone should work safely and use the right equipment and personal protective equipment that is suitable for the particular job.  There are all types of gloves, glasses, goggles, protective clothing, boots, and hardhats that keep you safe from whatever  risks your job involves.  

Have you ever watched someone get so frustrated trying to do a particular job, that their temper gets the best of them, and they want to toss whatever tool they are using?  (This happens quite frequently on the golf course, I’m told!)  If you or one of your coworkers are guilty of this, back off and take a break.  Chances are, you’ll feel much better if you take a short break, plus, you might figure out an easier way to do the task at hand. 

When you make an error at work, do you:

  • Hope no one saw it.
  • Blame someone else.
  • Try not to do it again.
  • Learn from it. 

When you see someone else make a mistake at work, do you:

  • Go tell your supervisor.
  • Stay away from them.
  • Help them before they get hurt.
  • Learn from their mistake, and ensure that they learn, as well. 

There are many things that cause mistakes, such as frustration, fatigue, and pressure.  The main thing we must all recognize is that we must not lose self-control.  We must guard against making errors that can lead to injury.  We are being paid to do a job, to the best of our abilities.  Work and drive safely, and remember that one unguarded moment could lead to injury or worse.

General Safety Issues

FIXING WORKPLACE MISTAKES

There’s nothing worse than making a mistake at work, and having someone announce it to the whole world (at least, that’s the way I have been made to feel before).  When you are new at a job, it’s better if your supervisor comes to you in private and explains the error in a way that you understand and won’t repeat.  We are all human, and mistakes, errors, failures, and deficiencies are all realities and “facts of life”.   I have been fortunate enough in my many years of work to have had some excellent and very patient mentors. 

Fixing and preventing mistakes on the job is everybody’s business.  Teamwork is a way to combat mistakes.  Be honest with your co-workers and ask for their advice and feedback.  How do you treat others when they make a mistake?  Is it the way you want to be treated when you make yours?  Many successful persons have made mistakes and know that others will, too.  

Don’t blame others when you are wrong.  Take a step back when you mess up, and regroup.  Learn from this, and carry on.  After all, we are all human.  Don’t criticize others or constantly blame someone else.  Think about how you are going to take corrective action by: first, fixing it; second, keeping it from happening again, and third, sharing what was learned from the experience with others in your workplace. 

You hear all the time about foods, medicines, vehicles, and other items being recalled.  Someone, somewhere, made a mistake.  Thankfully, it can be fixed if we pay attention to those recalls.  Regardless of the reason, a product was not doing the task for which it was intended or designed, and continued use may risk life, quality of life, or property.   Oversight, even with computerization, can still occur.   Some occupational safety errors can be serious and may not be fixable.  We must all be vigilant about this type of mistake.

One of the reasons we falter is by taking on a workload that is too heavy to be accomplished successfully.  Don’t feel that you are a bad employee.  Ask your supervisor for advice as to how you can remedy work overload.  The tasks may be divided up with others, or done during different times – many times a new set of eyes will see things completely different than you do.  If you ask for help,  your boss will see that you are trying very hard to complete those duties.  Remember, when you make mistakes, you are doing something.  You will gain from them by not repeating them, and will try harder.  

In an excerpt from “CEO Material: How To Be A Leader in Any Organization,” by noted author and executive coach, D.A. Benton, this excellent approach to being a good leader is explained: 

  • I don’t care if people make mistakes.  I only care about what they learned.  Everybody, every day, makes mistakes or at least is imperfect.  If they avoid them, no one learns anything, and it causes everybody to be afraid to admit what they did.
  • I forgive them immediately and remind them of four or five things they did well.  My mentor taught me to reinforce the positive and de-emphasize the negative.
  • Employees who mess up are ultimately better employees because they had a second chance…like getting a dog from the pound.
  • Early on in your career, mistakes feel like a big deal.  They are seldom a big deal.  The quarterback doesn’t sit on the bench after a bad throw, does he?  No, he gets out and runs another pass.  Instead of thinking you need a machine to kick your own butt, go throw a touchdown!
  • Almost all mistakes are forgivable. 

I have certainly made my share of mistakes, and still do.  But I also have learned that most of them are “fixable” and I plan to keep on trying!  I hope you will, too.

General Safety Issues

HUMAN ERROR IN THE WORKPLACE

First of all, we are all humans, and humans aren’t perfect.  We often hear that the cause of an accident was “human error.”  After investigation, that may be found to be true.  But there is a correlation between the workplace environment and the human that is employed there.  We know that businesses must comply with government regulations and standards of safety and health for their employees. 

It would seem that the starting point of avoiding human error is to establish strong policies and procedures.  Beginning with human resources personnel, who pass on valuable information to new employees, and following through with training, management, good communication, and the design of a workplace that leads to safety – are all  factors that will ensure that  people work successfully.  

I can truthfully admit that as a new employee, with early-on training, I still didn’t understand fully about my new job.  It takes time and practice to really catch on.  Maybe some are faster learners that I was, but I know that when there’s too much information to absorb, it’s easy to make errors.  I did clerical work, and there’s certainly room for error there.  Think about someone who does data entry all day long, and may miss just one digit on the keyboard, causing costly errors.  (Remember the computer glitch that caused the Stock Exchange to seemingly tank not too long ago?)  Between 70% and 90% of workplace errors are attributed to “human error”, but it may be due to a mismatch between the plan of the systems with which they may be required to work and the way they think and work. 

If a company assures their employees that they want an employee to report a mistake they made, in order to ensure safety, without reprimanded, those workers will be more likely to do so.  Many times workers are under peer pressure, or demands of their supervisors to complete a job hurriedly; or they may be placed in a work environment that is not conducive to safety.  The blame does not fall on the employee under these conditions.  For example, if their job requires charting or reading meters, and the lighting isn’t adequate, whose fault is it when the readings  are incorrect?  

Companies must have a strong safety committee that enforces compliance with safety rules.  If employees know that  part of their job evaluation is based on their compliance with safety rules and wearing the Personal Protective Equipment they are required to wear, they may be more vigilant to avoid making mistakes.  Continued safety training and repeated training is important to the success of any employer.  Another key to good safety practice is to have some type of reward for employees who recognize and report a potential hazard.  If employers could rotate the repetitive and boring types of responsibilities among several persons, by giving them different tasks, a safer workplace could be established.  Posters always play a valuable role in reminding workers to stay alert. 

As stated earlier, there will always be “human errors.”  Some of those errors have proved to be very devastating to  individuals and families, such as airline crashes or medical errors.  These are usually the ones that are reported to the public.  But small mistakes or big ones will continue being made.  Every single person needs to be more aware of the consequences of their mistakes, and do the very best they can do.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

WHEN IT COMES TO PATIENT SAFETY, YOU MUST BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE!

We are all human, and make mistakes, but in the field of medicine, errors may be costly.  In a recent report by the Institute of  Medicine, between 44,000 and 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals as a result of medical mistakes.  More persons die from medical errors than motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or Aids.

Most people hate to ask their doctors many questions, because they are intimidated by the fact that the doctor is busy and in a rush to get to the next patient.  You are as important as that next person.  If you leave your doctor’s visit with questions on your mind about a certain procedure or medication they have prescribed, you are putting your complete faith in them.  You must be an integral part of your healthcare team.  If you have children or elderly parents, you are a very important member of their healthcare team! 

Be sure to tell your physician every type of medication you are taking, vitamins, herbs, over-the-counter drugs, as well as all prescriptions, and any adverse reactions you have had in the past to certain medications.  If you have trouble reading the doctor’s script, ask him the name of it, and be sure your pharmacists can read it, as well.  This is one way to ensure that a mistake won’t be made.  Most pharmacies include written instructions and information on side effects of the medicine, so be sure you read that completely. 

Medical errors can occur in hospitals, clinics, doctor’ offices, nursing homes, patient homes, or outpatient services.   Mistakes can be made during operations, diagnostics, with equipment, reading lab reports, or from a routine task such as giving a high-salt meal to a patient on a salt-free diet.  Hospital patients should ask their health care workers if they have washed their hands before touching them; hospital-associated infections are very common.  The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons urges its members to initial the surgery site prior to surgery; you want to be sure they are putting a new joint in the right place! 

Should you receive a diagnosis that you question, make arrangements to see another physician, someone who is not associated with your doctor.  Getting a second opinion is very important in certain illnesses.  Sign a release to pick up your lab work results.  Too often the nurse will call and say “everything’s fine,” and hopefully it is.  But they may miss some critical part of the report, and it doesn’t hurt to ask a professional to look at your results.  Your doctor may not make the mistake; it could be a radiologist or pathologist that may misinterpret the x-rays or other tests.  My physician asked one time for a third reading of an x-ray for me because two radiologists came up with completely different diagnoses.  He sent it to a third one, whose opinion barely agreed with one of the others.  If that happens, who are you to believe?  It can be very scarey.

We aren’t undermining hospitals and physicians in any way; they are diligent in their efforts to keep us well.  It is merely an effort to encourage you to be involved and understand what is going on anytime you are being cared for.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  From experience, most of us have sat in hospital rooms with family members and wondered if the outcome would have been different if we had asked for more information.  If you feel that you or a family member is not being attended as you/they should be, speak up.  Remember, you must be the guardian for yourself, as well as your loved ones.

 

Source: AHRQ.gov