About this Video

• Video Title: Dave Fennell - How to Be Twice As Safe by 2020 - Interior Safety Conference 2106
• Channel: BC Forest Safety Council
• Speakers: Dave Fennell
• Duration: 42:36

Introduction

This video presents a lecture by Dave Fennell on workplace safety, focusing on strategies to significantly reduce workplace injuries by 2020. Fennell uses a journey metaphor and data visualization to illustrate the stages of safety improvement, emphasizing the importance of human factors and proactive safety measures.

Key Takeaways

1. Safety Journey Stages: Fennell outlines three phases of safety improvement: implementing basic safety programs, demonstrating commitment to fundamentals, and implementing sophisticated safety management systems. He shows that progress plateaus at each stage, requiring new approaches for further improvement.

2. Human Factors: Fennell highlights the crucial role of human factors in safety. He emphasizes understanding the interaction between equipment, management systems, and people. He explains that while experts understand the science of each element, integrating them effectively is key to improving safety.

3. Safe Worker Model: The video proposes a model for a safe worker based on three elements: knowledge, skill, and desire. The speaker uses the example of a new driver learning to balance these three to illustrate how experience and training contribute to safe performance in the workplace.

4. Proactive Safety: Fennell advocates for a shift from a traditional safety model (equilateral triangle) to a proactive one, where near-miss reporting and hazard identification are prioritized to prevent accidents. He provides six steps to create a positive culture for proactive safety reporting.

5. Understanding Risk Tolerance: The speaker stresses the importance of understanding why workers take risks, introducing ten influencing factors that affect risk tolerance and outlining methods to identify and address them in the workplace.

The transcript provides a framework for enhancing your company's safety program. To do so, consider these steps based on Fennell's presentation:

Phase 1: Assess Current Safety Program:

1. Identify Current Status: Where does your company currently fall on Fennell's safety journey graph? Determine your injury frequency rate to gauge your starting point.

2. Gap Analysis: Compare your existing safety program against Fennell's "basics" (safety program, awareness training, incident reporting, equipment inspection/maintenance). Identify gaps where improvements are needed.

Phase 2: Implement and Enhance:

1. Basic Safety Program: If your company lacks a formal safety program, develop one. Include thorough training, clearly defined reporting procedures, and routine equipment checks.

2. Commitment and Proactive Measures: Fennell's second stage emphasizes commitment. Ensure safety isn't just a program but an integral part of daily operations. Focus on proactive measures (near-miss reporting, hazard identification, at-risk behavior identification). Use Fennell's six steps as a guide.

3. Safety Management Systems: Implement a formal safety management system based on industry standards and best practices. Ensure procedures are well-documented, training is effective, and the system addresses change management.

Phase 3: Human Factors Integration:

1. Workplace Design: Review your workplace design to ensure it considers human capabilities. Is equipment accessible to all workers? Are controls intuitive? Are there ergonomic considerations?

2. Equipment Design: Assess your equipment for user-friendliness and safety. Are controls placed logically? Are there any design flaws that could lead to accidents?

3. Work Environment: Evaluate your work environment. Are there any environmental hazards (e.g., weather, dust) that need mitigation? Use the "blue lifting guy" concept to teach safe lifting techniques.

4. Understanding Risk Tolerance: Address Fennell's ten influencing factors to understand why workers might take risks. Train supervisors to identify and mitigate these risk factors.

Phase 4: Continuous Improvement:

1. Data Analysis: Regularly analyze safety data (incident reports, near misses) to identify trends and areas needing improvement.

2. Feedback Loops: Establish feedback mechanisms to regularly solicit worker input on safety concerns. Workers' input is critical for identifying and addressing unseen hazards.

3. Adapt and Evolve: Safety is a continuous process. Be prepared to adapt and modify your program based on data and feedback to ensure continued improvement.

Remember: Success depends on management commitment, worker participation, and a culture that prioritizes safety. The transcript offers a starting point, but adapting this model to your specific company context is crucial.