SAFETY BULLETIN # 026

NOTES FOR FOREMEN AND SUPERVISORS

PREVENTING ACCIDENTS

Accidents interfere with production. They waste manpower, they spoil material, they
cause disorganization and waste of time.

To the worker, they bring pain and suffering; to his family they sometimes bring tragedy.
Their prevention is vital.

You because of your authority and ability to exercise personal supervision, are in a
specially responsible position for making production as accident-free as possible.

First, you can ensure that the orders you give always contain precise instructions about
the proper way to do the job. Secondly, you can see that the job is actually done the
proper way. Thirdly, you can do a very good deal by your personal influence, to make
the workers under your care keen on accident prevention.

The ideas listed are not safety rules. They are simply suggestions about the various
ways in which you can make best of your personal influence, particularly in regard to
new employees.

Try to carry out the ideas in your daily work.

(1) When you make your daily rounds, make them a hazard inspection as well.
See things which need correcting and have them done.

(2) Warn all the workers of dangers in their work and show them the correct way.

(3) Try to see your work area from the point of view of new workers. What is
familiar to you will be fresh to them and may need explaining.

(4) See that new workers are put in the charge of an experienced man. Some
people are better than others at helping newcomers. Choose the better
ones.

(5) New workers not only need training, but watching as well. They may be
clumsy or awkward, or, being new to the job, may not have grasped the
meaning of instructions. They can be a danger to others as well as
themselves.

(6) See that all workers comply with accident prevention rules. This applies
particularly to such matters as wearing goggles or protective clothing.

(7) Instructions are sometimes disobeyed because people do not understand

the really sound reasons that are behind them. Bear this in mind and be
ready to explain.
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(8) If a worker in your area is constantly running into danger, consider whether
he could be transferred to work that is less hazardous.

(9) The accident record of your area is your concern. Do all you can to keep
the figures down.

(10) Remember that tidiness is essential for the prevention of accidents.

(11) See that all tools, machinery and equipment are maintained in a safe
condition. Don't let those under you work with defective or unsuitable
equipment. Encourage the reporting of defects by having them put right as
quickly as possible.

(12) See that all guards and safety signs are replaced securely if they have to
be removed.

(13) If there are fire appliances in your area, it is your duty to keep an eye on
them. You are the only person who can ensure that they are always
accessible. If they are only obstructed "for only five minutes", fire is just as
likely to break out during those five minutes as at any other time.

(14) Ordinary and emergency exits and the approaches to them, must always be
kept clear.

(15) See that all workers have all cuts, scratches and punctures dressed at
once. A small wound may be just as dangerous as a large one.

(16) Do not let a worker who feels ill remain at work. Apart from all other
considerations, there is more liability for them to have an accident when
they feel ill.

(17) In the event of a serious accident when no one trained in First Aid is
present, don't let the patient be mauled about. A lot of harm can be done
by unskilled handling however well-intentioned. Serious accidents need
skilled medical attention.

(18) Think of ways of reducing accidents and suggest them to your Safety
Department.

(19) Workers who are actually doing a job can sometimes see hazards or ways
to avoid them. Encourage suggestions and see the worker gets the credit
for them.

(20) The attitude of the workers in your area towards accident prevention
depends upon the example that you set.

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