be aware of your surroundings safety talk be aware of your surroundings safety talk

Tell your customer, supervisor, and workmates. Avoiding complacency can help increase your perception of your surrounding. For our purposes well focus on situational awareness for self-defense purposes as it is a very important self-defense skill. Keep in mind though that being alert extends beyond reading safety signs. Check your mirrors often. This means you shouldn't be looking down at your phone, and you should also avoid wearing headphones. As mentioned earlier, situational awareness is a critical skill. Following motorcyclists on wet or icy roads, on metal surfaces (e.g., bridge gratings, railroad tracks, etc. This space cushion will give you room to brake or maneuver if you need the space. Expect merging vehicles at on-ramps and interchanges. This is what happens when that car you are watching at the intersection ahead doesnt stop at the stop sign and pulls out right in front of you. Everyone should consider it his or her responsibility to report crime. Do not stay in another drivers blind spot. Use your mirrors. A second important element of the proper mindset is understanding the need to take responsibility for ones own safety. %%EOF Of course they wont. This space cushion will give you room to brake or maneuver if you need the space. 5. Often there is so much 'going on' in your work environment, or you become so absorbed in your own thoughts, that you fail to spot those things that could pose a serious threat to your health and safety. Be aware of your surroundings and watch for small mistakes. Allow room in front of your vehicle so the driver will have space to move in front of you. hbbd``b`Z$C`]$ ba`bd8 RH9q' `= Does everyone have a copy of the response plan readily available if an event were to occur? Then, if they spot something out of the ordinary that could be a threat or hazard, they can dial up to a state of focused awareness and take a careful look at that potential hazard or threat. It can also mean that you ask for help when you know that you need it. This doesn't mean you should be paranoid or stop enjoying your time out in public or at work, it's simply about practicing and mastering situational awareness - a skill that could save your life or someone else's. Situational awareness at work is a crucial part of your health and safety. If you are a new driver or a teen, then enrolling in a drivers education class can be beneficial. There are a lot of blind spots, corners, turns, and on the equipment itself. Situational awareness is not some magic pill that will automatically prevent an attack. The level of concentration required for this type of driving makes it extremely tiring and stressful. Many criminals develop favorite areas for committing crime, as well as predictable methods of operation. Check out the new logo that I created on LogoMakr.com https://logomakr.com/8SX1NH. 38 views, 1 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from DynamiQ Safety&Health Ltd: Accidents don't come with a warning . Situational awareness is often discussed, but it's acknowledged how so few people know what it truly represents and why it's tremendously important. It is important that each individual is looking out for his or her own safety as well as looking out for their workmates. Do not be afraid to speak to someone to ask them to not come closer if approaching you in a parking lot. If you work late, try to find another worker or a security guard to walk out with you. You see a bus, school bus, or a placarded vehicle at railroad crossings. Basic Safety Tips for Women: Speak Up. Look inside your vehicle before you get in, especially when it has been parked in a parking terminal or lot. 9,905,117. Mentally prepare yourself, believe and know that you can protect yourself and your family if you need to. If you work alone or after business hours, keep the office door locked. Technology draws us in and makes it harder to observe the vital things around us. Remind your teens about the dangers of texting and how concentrating on driving not only keeps them safer but other people on the road as well. On the highway, 1015 seconds is about a quarter of a mile. Do you know if your school, university, workplace, or place of worship has a response plan and training program for active intruder incidents or other emergencies? Back up. Have an exit plan. Situational awareness, in laymans terms, is your ability to process your surroundings and notice any changes in those surroundings. Following these quick tips can improve your awareness. Reclaim your calendar, quit searching for your next safety meeting. Stay in well-lighted areas as much as possible. However, after enough practice it becomes second nature. The best way to be safe is to know your surroundings and pay attention to everything and everyone around you. If you suspect you are being followed, go into an open store or a Public Safety Safe Haven and have the clerk call the Police or Public Safety right-away. Having situational awareness can keep you and your coworkers safe. Keep doing this until you start doing it without meaning to. Situational awareness refers to being aware of what is happening around you, where you are in relation to other people and things, and what potential threats there may be. Watch for things about to happen, like a ball rolling into the street or a vehicle door opening. Many hazards are obvious to those who open their eyes and minds to see them. A basic breathing practice that can be used throughout the day, especially during times of stress, is the Four Square Breathing Technique. 2. First, notice your surroundings. Become a Hard Target: Those with malicious intent generally single out individuals that seem meek, vulnerable, or unaware of their surroundings. Respond to medical emergencies properly. Your email address will not be published. Don't open your purse or wallet while boarding the bushave your pass or money already in your hand. Drive down a long or steep hill. We use our situational awareness to make decisions at home and at work. First, stop talking so you can be aware of your surroundings rather than verbally reacting. Never Carry Extra People. I went into the store. Your instincts exist to protect you it is always better to be overcautious than to ignore warning signs that turned out to be legitimate. Cars, motorcycles, bicyclists, and people that may be in the road by the time you reach them. Keep work areas clean and orderly. After working with you to understand your specific needs, we evaluate potential solutions to determine which best meets your operational and financial requirements. Failure to observe your surroundings before welding can drastically increase the risk of fire . 4. "As for parents of young children, it is impossible to be with your . To provide you with the Top 5 Tips for Staying Safe, Guard911 consulted safety expert, Lt. Brian Murphy, a 23-year former Oak Creek, Wisconsin police officer who trains law enforcement officers on situational awareness techniques and strategies, as well as educating citizens on what it means to be aware of your surroundings.. 0 In this video, I go over a simple driving lesson on paying attention to your surroundings. You should always be looking around and aware of your surroundings. Do they talk with you and then everyone can see? Login is Emory's authentication tool for logging into multiple web systems and applications. When your range of vision is limited, get creative about ways to expand it and give yourself an advantage practice utilizing store windows, car windshields, or even other peoples sunglasses to detect threats you wouldnt be able to see otherwise. Not sure? Invest in workplace safety and you can expect cost savings such as reduced workers' compensation costs, medical expenses, avoiding citations, and reducing unplanned work stoppages caused by occupational injuries. Always be aware of your surroundings #WorkSafe #SafetyFirst. Before changing lanes, look into your rear view mirror for nearby vehicles and also over your shoulder to check for blind spots. Following large vehicles that block your view ahead. Observation has always been an important part of human survival. This is to be prepared and know how to respond if you are confronted. It's essential to understand situation awareness in the context of everyday life not just hostile environment awareness training (HEAT), travel safety and first aid training.Thinking proactively and understanding what to look out for can be . Be careful when driving near motorcyclists or bicyclists. Be aware of escape routes for emergencies and post the police and fire department numbers near telephones. Don't stop to aid motorists by the side of the road. Every time we do a task, our mind creates a script. The most common thing that reduces aware is distraction. 5 Tips to Stay Safe While Welding. The driver behind you wants to pass. You cannot be aware of your surroundings on the warehouse floor if you're focused on your phone. Correct Potential Hazards. Make a phone call requesting help for them. Be aware of your surroundings. Assessment of your working environment should occur continually, but especially in the following situations: Why is situational awareness important to us? We'd love to show you how in a demo, and get you started on a free trial. Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. - Program for Sovereign Indian Nations. Most active shooters are finished massacring people in five minutes or less. Lt. Murphy. You should aim to avoid falling into this auto-pilot mode while going about your daily life. It is still a defensive, not offensive, tool in your arsenal. Falken Ziex ZE-329 Review Should You Get this Tire? This means that everyone's situational awareness is individual and potentially different. If you carry a purse, carry it securely between your arm and your body. Only use devices in areas or situations where it's safe to do so and remember to look up regularly to scan surroundings. Be prepared. If you are in danger, try to get yourself to a safer location if possible. Do not rely on traffic signals. We can give you your valuable time back with 365 prepared toolbox talks just like this one about watching your surroundings, all delivered from our iOS and Android apps to your workers' phones, so your workers are focused, productive, and accident-free. No one can predict disaster, and situational awareness can be the determining factor between life and death. Not playing on your phone might improve your chances of thwarting an attack. Learn how your comment data is processed. Discuss what actions are needed with your customer or supervisor to make the situation safe. Take in the whole scene If you only look at the middle of the road, you will miss what is happening on the side of the road and behind you. Thats the most important question in self defense, in my opinion. In this post, Ill discuss a number of techniques and tips that can help you learn how to increase awareness of your surroundings. Let us take the example of you repeatedly hitting the snooze button and look at it as a bad habit you want to break. When walking, keep to commonly traveled routes. Attend a demo, get a free Raken Carhartt beanie. Often people are overwhelmed when you start talking about situational awareness and everything that goes along with it. I did not write this with the intent of making you afraid of everything and discouraging you from leaving your house. Avoid all shortcuts and isolated areas. Practice devising alternate methods of escape if your primary exit becomes compromised. Make eye contact with people when walking. Preparing properly for them and taking safety seriously are essential actions to save lives and mitigate damage. Drive strategically. Reflective Surfaces: One of your biggest advantages in a dangerous situation is being able to see the danger coming with enough time to react appropriately. So, the question becomes, what can we do to be safer? Precautions generally fall into defensive precautions and offensive precautions. When you think the work environment has changed since your last time there. A consistent and structured daily toolbox talk will save lives and reduce injuries. News & Media Be aware of pedestrians in your surroundings. Keep an eye out for a flat tire, smoke emerging from underneath the trailer. Instead of looking over your shoulder, place your back against a surface if possible to remove the possibility of someone getting behind you or in your blind spot. Be careful what you put out there and how much information you put out there about your family. Situational awareness may protect us. Denial is a save now, pay later scheme. Schools and businesses that continue to be in denial must realize it is not a matter of if they will face an active killer or an attempt of mass violence, but rather when. Lt. Murphy. Moak says this is a great practice and encourages everyone to be aware of their surroundings when leaving a mall or grocery store. Keep your workplace clear from clutter Whatever you do, do not downplay the importance of the drill or neglect to pay attention to how procedures are carried out as you may be the one who needs saving or could potentially save another life. Regardless of the time of year, making a commitment to ones personal safety is always an excellent idea. Exits: Always be aware of your exits, and have an exit strategy. To do so, intentionally and persistently practice the following: Be aware of your surroundings. The recent news of the murder of the Texas District Attorney and his wife in their home makes everyones heart skip a beat and wonder. Situational awareness is being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your health and safety. 1. Blind spots can hide a motorcyclist, a vehicle or a bicyclist. Everything you need is already primed and ready for delivery. Lose the tailgater as soon as you can. #1 Be Aware of Your Surroundings Every job site has inherent dangers whether that's heavy machinery, conveyor belts, or even tripping over items in the office. These people walk into telephone poles. Staying safe goes hand-in-hand with being observant. Whether youre a citizen or law enforcement officer, adopting these five safety tips daily which really boil down to situational awareness and proactive diligence empowers you and forms habits that may help save your life or someone elses in the case of an emergency. This calms the body and declutters the brain so you can react appropriately. Change lanes and allow the tailgater to pass you, or slow down to allow enough cushion between you and the car in front of you. 2. When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react. To avoid tailgating, use the three-second rule: when the vehicle ahead of you passes a certain point such as a sign, count one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three. Counting these numbers takes approximately three seconds. Ensure all . Use proper fall protection equipment and 100% tie-off when working in elevated positions. What if this was happening to the person in the car next to you? You talk with others about safety. You need to be aware of your surroundings, and you need to have an idea of how you will respond if you are faced with a threatening situation. Keep your eyes moving. When you know your surroundings, you can take better notice of the things that are out of the ordinary. You dont dare take your eyes off the road or let your attention wander. Be aware of your surroundings, and be alert to who is near you. Because of the way forklifts work, overloading can cause the rear wheels to rise off the ground and can make the whole machine fall over. Keep in mind, carrying a weapon still isnt a magic pill. When I was checking out, I noticed he was now standing in front of the store I had entered. We will discuss the habit by looking at Duhigg's habit loop. Change lanes. The first level, tuned out, is similar to when you are driving and are engrossed in thought and arrived somewhere in your vehicle without even thinking about driving there. For you to effectively engage in situational awareness, to make logical decisions, and look to the future with a strategic focus, the subconscious must be engaged and assessed. Vigilance is not paranoia, its just understanding and being able to process whats going on around you its a skill and a habit that takes practice something that shouldnt be ignored. Lt. Murphy. A man standing a few stores down yelled and asked me for bus money. When people are in an area where there is potential danger (which, in reality, is almost anywhere), they should go through most of the day in a state of relaxed awareness. Using an effective drain cleaner can help prevent blockages that can lead to plumbing problems down the line. What about your friends? Allow enough space between you and the vehicle ahead to give yourself an out. Mistakes cause collisions. No. Do you think these people are likely to notice the pre-attack cues of a potentially dangerous situation? Senses: Practice engaging all your senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) to their fullest extent to increase your personal safety. endstream endobj startxref Be alert to pickpocketers on crowded buses; check your purse or wallet if someone is jostling, crowding or pushing you. Now, that may sound harsh, but to say that its not going to happen here is giving yourself permission to not be aware of whats around you.. Would you go through it anyway? Avoid using an electronic device while walking or performing other tasks. The reaction of the person following you will help you determine if they are indeed a threat: If they stop or reroute to mirror your actions, then you can confirm that they are following you intentionally. Choose a product which is designed specifically for use on toilets, sinks, bathtubs and showers in both . Exuding an aura of confidence, awareness, and capability, regardless of how you actually feel, can help broadcast to any threats that you are an undesirable target, and increase your personal safety. %PDF-1.5 % Public officials have records of where you live for tax and property ownership purposes. Situational awareness is a skill that can be learned and improved constantly. First, they should try to find a person in uniform, like a police officer, security guard, or store employee. Truckers should be constantly checking their mirrors to keep an eye on the traffic around them. Motorcyclists can fall more easily on these surfaces. Being able to stop a task and make adjustments as needed is necessary. 3. This widens your monitoring range for detecting anything out of the ordinary. This is one of the easiest ways to increase your awareness. 10,433,143. Vq&e-t\U>?tql/;EhYt+h\geB7YZ U[>8%F](]d[mwil2 !b~J3u8.Y1C_O Situational awareness: Preparing your team for the unexpected. "If you think about it, the thought of burning to death sounds really terrifying," Klinger said. When working with new or different workmates. new year! Check the blind spots. 2. However, being aware of your surroundings could save you from ever even having to use the weapon. Although a lot of us dont deal with the bad criminals who we presume are the threat, being aware of our surroundings is still important for both ourselves and our families. If you want to stop searching for safety meetings, improve incident rates to lower insurance premiums, or even help crews and managers understand the importance of safety and reduce the number of safety violations, then you need SafetyTek Toolbox Talks. Questioning without judgment is a key factor in successful situational awareness. The best way to avoid complacency is to consciously remind yourself to stay alert. Just because it is safe one day does not mean it will be safe every day. Required fields are marked *. What about someone screaming for help? In this toolbox talk, learn about situational awareness and how being aware of your surroundings can be an important safety precaution to preventing accidents on the construction site.