ENSURING SAFETY THROUGH PRE-JOB ENGAGEMENTS
It is without gainsaying that the success of a job depends largely on the planning and overall activity that takes place before the job. This can be said also for the safety of any operation. In most cases, the pressure to meet up with deadlines and relatively scarce resource focuses most operations on the nitty-gritty of the job. Safety of the operation in such cases depends a lot on the activities that are engaged in before the job commences. It is in attempts to mitigate this that most establishments have safety personnel who focus exclusively on safety. However I think safety of the operation is not necessarily the job of the safety officer, but the job of everybody. What the entire team can do to ensure the safety of operations therefore is actually done before the job commences. Some important actions that will largely reduce the risk profile of operations are summarily discussed here
Pre-job Inspections: It is my strong conviction that pre-job inspection is highest in the list of actions that have the potential to avert accidents on the job. What it does is to create an opportunity to “step back” and reassess the different components (Equipment, tools, materials, the environment and even the personnel) to ensure fitness for purpose, more like “Walking the line” with a broader scope. This activity is a very important line of defence (Barrier) that if properly and judiciously done can be the difference between a safe operation and one that is not.
Job safety Analysis: Job Safety Analysis or Job Hazard Analysis as is severally called is simply an indispensible tool for safe operations. People must know what they are going up against so that they can plan how to best achieve their goals. Job Safety Analysis does exactly that for operations. It is actually a must if people will go home to their family in one piece. It unveils the hazard that avails on a task to task basis and it gives clarity to the team as to what controls can be put in place to achieve a safe operation. JSA becomes even more effective when barriers identified are assigned and owned by specific individuals. The JSA is a major focus during the pre-job safety briefing.
Pre-job Safety briefings (Tool Box Meeting): This is Standard Procedure to ensure that everybody who is a part of the operation understand that risks involved, the mitigation plan and the role of the various individuals who will be involved in managing the different barriers, and finally it serves to detail the job procedure and who does what through the entire operation. Pre-job Safety Briefing is important as it creates clarity in the minds of everybody involved. It is an opportunity to ask questions and clarify on grey areas of the operation so that due to uncertainty people do not take action that will put themselves and/or the entire operation at risk.
These simple yet profound steps are a part of a broader process safety framework that if taken seriously and done methodically is almost guaranteed to ensure that people go back to their family safe.