10 fall protection 03052024

Vol.25 | No.10 | Week of 03-10-25

Date:

Thinking First is
the way to start,
but to be safe, you
have to act and
make that safe
thinking a safe
reality!
!

THINK FIRST

Job Name:

Supervisor Signature:

You often hear the phrase “Safety First.” It is usually used as a reminder to “work
safely,” or “be safe.” But if you are really going to be safe, and make the jobsite
safe, you have to Think First. You have to be thoughtful and careful. You have
to think about your immediate environment, your work area, procedures, your
co-workers, and the hazards involved in your work. Sometimes you will have to
stop— literally stop what you are doing— and think carefully before you take the
next step.

Consider the weather. Think about conditions like wet surfaces, icy
steps, strong winds, or a really hot room. How does the weather affect your
safety, and what can you do to control or manage those effects?

Make a plan. Make a pre-task plan before you do anything. Think through the
risk and hazards that you will, and might, encounter. Working at heights?
Using solvents? Working with a new crew? Now find ways to control those risks.
The more complicated the task, the more thought you will need to put into your plan.

Read the instructions. Do not assume you know how to safely operate every tool.
Take a minute to review the instructions and think about how to use the tool
properly and safely. For chemicals, read the label, the SDS, and the instructions
before you open the container.

Figure out what personal protective equipment you will need. Are you using the
right PPE— the right hard hat, the best earplugs, the right respirator, the proper
length lanyard? Are you sure? How do you know? Think carefully.

Use the right tool. Always use the right tool for the job— you will be safer and
more efficient. One of the biggest excuses for making do is that the right tool is
too far away.

Do you really know all that you need to know? Thinking may not be enough if you
do not already understand the facts and details of the situation. Do you need to
learn (or re-learn) the facts and details? Have materials, processes, or equipment
changed since you went through training? You should know more about your job
and how to do it than anyone else. You need experience and training to get there.
Ask questions and get formal training.

Vol.25 | No.10 | Week of 03-10-25

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