Safety is a condition and a choice.
The condition can often be planned and setup to work towards a successful outcome.
- Ensuring fall prevention or fall arrest gear is used when working at a height.
- Air meters deployed to test a confined space prior to entry.
- Maintenance and repair on a yard horse before an Operator drives out onto the Terminal.
- Head lights and running lights working on your truck or vehicle.
- Education conducted and training materials handed out.
These have a direct linear effect on contributing to a safe work area, the site’s condition, and therefore help to ensure an Employee has what is needed to operate safely.
The second part, which is more three dimensional, is the choice.
The choice is where occupational safety is gaining more understanding on how mental health is directly related to workplace safety.
Safety professionals strive to educate employees so they are both knowledgeable and empowered to make safe decisions. However, knowing something is safer, and doing what is safer, are not always walked in the same path.
I show up for work and it’s a good day. Slept well, planning a vacation with the Family soon, sun is out, and I’m ready to go. This positive feeling when I walk onto the Pier will likely carry into my work. Making sure I have my vest and hard hat. Trade “Good morning’s” with a few people as I walk over to a yard horse. Do my pre-op then drive out to the Apron without a rush, stop at the ends of the aisles to look, then line up for my box and get ready to start the day.
So too will this likely affect how I receive direction, or a correction, in the course of my day. An hour into the job we have our workflow, but I roll through a STOP sign. Moments later a Supervisor stops and reminds me it’s important to stop every time. How do I receive this correction? Acknowledge I know better and will do so going forward, or less amicably? Today – probably the former.
This mindset is also a two-way street. I’m the Supervisor driving up to the Employee rolling through a STOP sign and having the same upbeat day. My correction to the Operator will likely be delivered in a similar positive tone and received with the right intent of simply trying to avoid an accident or injury.
Now change the day and what an Employee may be dealing with outside of work:
- Caring for a spouse with a chronic illness.
- An unexpected house repair that has turned out to be very costly.
- A child being continually bullied online or in school.
- Struggling to cope with increased stress but turning more often to substances or alcohol.
I walk onto the same Pier, but now there is upset and worry, mental distraction, and emotional fatigue that I am carrying with me. How will all this affect my desire to make certain decisions, or my receptiveness to encounter others?
It is these days that occupational safety practices are more often including mental health in the conversation, and better understanding why a choice is made, or not made, while working:
Why did I walk under a crane with no head protection?
Why didn’t I check the slings before we started hoisting cargo out of the hatch?
Why was a correction taken as an insult instead of trying to help?
Of course, at times people are forgetful, in a hurry, or perhaps feel what was done carried less risk than other things to be concerned about. However, it was still a choice, and there was a reason for that choice. Understanding more about “why” something was done will better affect “how” to improve it.
The depth and breadth of mental health is extensive, and where to start can be daunting. Looking to those who specialize in this practice is an excellent place to start.
So what is mental health?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency within the US Deptartment of Health and Human Services (HHS), and its mission is to advance the behavioral health of our Nation and improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. ( www.samhsa.gov/about/mission-vision )
SAMHSA defines mental health as our emotional, psychological, and social well-being which affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. ( www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/what-is-mental-health )
These professional resources help us navigate through improving understanding of why someone made a certain choice. SAMHSA offers examples of early warning signs that someone may be struggling to some degree with their mental health, including:
- Eating too much or too little
- Low or no energy
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Unusually forgetful, angry, or worried
- Severe mood swings
Increasing knowledge of what may be affecting an employee, recognizing signs of that effect, understanding why they made the choice they did, and then how we can help them improve it.
It is an investigative Best Practice to understand source causes of an incident, and how they can be improved. Additionally, not to place blame on Employees or make accusations, but instead educate and coach those involved towards safer decisions and improved communication.
Adding the dynamic of mental health takes the investigation beyond who, what, and where. Now there is an attempt to better understand their motivation behind it, and while talking with the Employee possibly hear what is affecting them. This is moving to the “why,” and once that has more transparency then “how” we can help can have increased effectiveness.
There are tremendous resources available for Employees to receive help and guidance from those specially trained to do so, and services such as those broadcast by SAMHSA are an excellent starting point.
Please also do not underestimate the power of presence. Sometimes the road to help, recovery, or just turning around a bad day, starts with someone simply sitting down to listen. Offering a tone of understanding can be profound, and when necessary, can also be a reminder that help is out there.
Continuing to understand mental health, and its effect on occupational safety, will not only improve daily interactions, but help take safety into its next evolution.
Safety is a condition and a choice.
Thank you.
Erick H.-Saia