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See

perceive with the eyes; discern visually. “in the distance she could see the blue sea”

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Observe

notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant. “young people observe that decisions are made by others”

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Taken from “A Scandal in Bohemia” (Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Watson:   When I hear you give your reasons the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning, I am baffled until you explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours.

Holmes:   Quite so. You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room.

Watson:   Frequently.

Holmes:   How often?

Watson:   Well, some hundreds of times.

Holmes:   Then how many are there?

Watson:   How many? I don’t know.

Holmes:   Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed.”

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Armed with this new understanding & knowledge we want to ensure that when we conduct our site visits, , we observe and register what is significant and not just see the site or work.

We are continually focused on safety throughout our projects and even more so during periods of change.  We need to be willing to ask for help or welcome a set of “fresh eyes” on our projects.  When we ask for, or get a set of fresh eyes, we also have to challenge ourselves to be open to new ideas or perspectives that may conflict with our thoughts or plans.

Asking for a set of fresh eyes also aligns with the Stratus set of behaviors and where we stress to continually learn and develop our safety and risk management skills.  Having a set of fresh eyes could identify items or areas where “normalized deviation” may have occurred.

When applied to safety, normalized deviation means that people become so accustomed over time to a deviation (unsafe act/condition/practice) that they don’t consider it as a deviation, despite the fact that they far exceed their own rules for safety.  People grow more accustom to the deviation the more it occurs or exist.  This can allow risk tolerance levels to go up in groups and be considered the “norm” or acceptable.

Listening carefully and consider different perspectives as an outside person shares their observations about a project and the related systems or personnel.

It has been said that “You don’t know, what you don’t know”.  Read the statement at the top of this page.  If you don’t know what is going to happen, there is no way to stop it. We may think we know a lot, but we can’t know it all, all the time.  By having a set of outside eyes we can use  outside observations to provide the opportunity to learn and apply the best practices of Stratus and the industry. Outside observations could further aid in the elimination of defects.

The next time you are out in the field, take a moment and look around.  What do you observe and how is it significant to the task being performed?  Be mindful that construction type work is ever changing and progressing.  Consider using the 20-20-20 process as guide.  Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds and look 20 feet all around you.  Did anything change? New vehicle or worker in the area, hole cover removed, or new tripping hazards from material staging?

While a risk all year round, ticks are generally more active April through October, and are mostly picked up during outdoor activities. So we must be aware of their favored surroundings such as grassy or wooded areas, leaf litter or shrubs. Always walk in the center of trails where possible and avoid brushing up against vegetation. Always wear light colored long sleeves (in our business, long pants, socks and safety boots go without saying!) and always use a suitable repellent. The CDC recommends ‘Permethrin’ on clothing and gear as an effective deterrent. For skin, be sure to use a product designed specifically for skin use.

How can I help prevent being bitten by a tick?

• Avoid grassy areas and shrubs where ticks may be lying in wait.
• Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can be easily seen, and brush them off.
• Tuck pants into boots or socks. Tyvek coveralls work well if you will be working in wooded or grassy areas. (They’re great for poisonous plants, too!)
• Apply insect repellent that is designed to repel ticks, and follow label instructions.
  • In high tick areas, DEET-containing repellents may need to be reapplied more frequently than for repelling mosquitoes.
  • NEVER use DEET in conjunction with NOMEX or other FR clothing. It can render it flammable.
  • Repellents containing permethrin are highly effective against ticks and mosquitoes, but do not affect the flame resistant qualities of the fabric. Apply permethrin to clothing, but not to skin.
• Periodically conduct tick checks of yourself, coworkers, and pets if exposed to tick areas.  Light colored cloths are the best for spotting ticks.  They like to climb, so don’t just check down low.

What happens if you are bitten by a tick?

• If a tick bites into you, don’t panic, call the Stratus EHS Manager, and refer to you HASP.
• Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick firmly as close to the skin as possible. Apply gentle pulling until the tick comes free. Twisting or turning the tick does not make removal easier. Such actions may break off the head and mouthparts and increase the chances for infection.
• Once removed, don’t crush the tick because you may transmit disease. Consider keeping it in a tightly-closed jar or taped to a piece of paper. Show the tick to the doctor if you become ill from the tick bite.
• If the head or mouthparts remain, they should be removed by a doctor.
• Clean the bite area with soap and water. Observe the area for several days for signs of a reaction to the bite, such as a rash or infection. Application of an antibiotic to the area may help prevent a local infection, but usually does not affect the chance of developing diseases transmitted by the tick.
• Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling any tick or instruments that touched a tick. Disinfect any instruments that were used.

Let’s all revisit our technique and PPE used during glassware handling (routine task assessment).  The Ventura folks have been exclusively using cut resistant Kevlar/Nitrile gloves for fieldwork and find that they offer the best comfort an dexterity while manually handling tools, supplies, and equipment. The added benefit, they are inexpensive (~$5 a pair) and in most cases cheaper than other non-cut resistant gloves on the market.  Contact Jenn if you are not using Kevlar gloves and she will get you started.

Of course, the places we’ve heard the “safety is our top priority” phrase before are:

• here at Stratus
• from our clients
• other workplaces
• from people who speak at safety conferences, and
• just about anywhere in the business world when someone is asked the question, “How does employee safety figure into your organization?”

It’s cliché.

Oh, many people actually mean what they say. These are the ones who, every day, send their employees and themselves home in the same condition they came into work because of their commitment to safety.

Words are words without actions to back them up.  Just what do the words “safety is our top priority” mean to you, and how do you really show that?  When was the last time you submitted a safety observation the the Stratus Safety Team?  What was the last notable safe act you conducted.

The workforce initiated Stop Work to discuss the situation and the southern gate was locked. The workforce vehicles were moved to locations within direct sight of the work area (onto the north side of the Site and inside the gated area).

LESSON

In a theft situation, there is no need to confront the perpetrator and put your own personal safety in jeopardy. An indirect confrontation like a yell is the appropriate approach and if a theft occurs, contact the police department listed in your site-specific HASP.

Below is a quick Q&A regarding hard hat use and what you can and should do to manage your safety with your hard hat.  If you have questions, please contact Alan Weir (aweir@stratusinc.net, 714-622-3920).

Q. What is the service life of my hard hat?

A. The hard hats are designed with high quality, wear-resistant materials but it WILL NOT last forever. The protective properties of the helmet WILL be degraded by exposure to many common work nvironments, such as temperature extremes, chemical exposure, sunlight and normal daily wear and tear. The following is a recommend replacement schedule:

Hard Hat Suspension – replace after NO MORE THAN 12 months;

Entire Hard Hat – replace after NO MORE THAN 5 years.

Remember that these are MAXIMUM useful service life guidelines. Wear or damage noticed during a regular inspection MUST be the determining factor for possible earlier replacement. In any case, ALWAYS replace the hard hat after it has withstood impact or penetration.

Q. There is a date code on the inside of my hard hat – is this when the service life starts?

A. A hard hat’s service life starts when it is placed in service. This date should be recorded in the helmet, either on the ANSI label or with the use of a date of service label. The “date code” stamped on the inside of your hard hat refers to the date of manufacture, not the starting date for useful service.

Q. I have a suspension from a manufacturer other than the original manufacturer, can I use it?

A. NEVER attempt to interchange suspensions from one hat manufacturer to another. Use only the appropriate replacement parts from the original manufacturer. If you do not know who manufactured your hard hat you will need to replace the entire hard hat.

Q. Can I wear my hard hat backwards?

A. This depends on the manufacturer of your hard hat. If the suspension attachment points on your hard hat are the same from front to back, the suspension can be reversed and the cap worn with the brim facing the rear and still meet the requirements of the applicable protective headwear standard. Be sure that the suspension has been reversed so that the nape strap is in the rear. Many hard hat manufactures now offer swing-style suspensions that allow for you to quickly reverse the direction of your hard hat.

Q. Can I paint my hard hat?

A. Never paint a hard hat. Paint may chemically attack and damage the hard hat’s shell, thereby reducing the degree of protection originally provided.

Q. Can I put anything in the space between the hard hat shell and suspension?

A. Items such as gloves, cigarettes and earplugs should NEVER be stored between the suspension and the shell. This space is needed when the shell and suspension absorbs the energy of an impact. Such objects in this space can transmit large forces to the head and neck, resulting in serious injury or death.

Awareness Video