Moving Out of The Box

I have seen allot of cause analysis reports during my time in HSE and during that time I have seen very few that get to down the essence of the problem. I realize what I am saying is somewhat subjective but in my opinion, we will not see the results we want unless our corrective actions address behavior. That being said, behavior is almost intangible. It interjects an ethereal component because it starts in the human mind and we all know the psyche is a complex and mysterious place. What works for one person does not necessarily work on another. Nevertheless, we get discouraged and throw more systems at the problem.  I am sorry but there are not any magic beans, fix al or a silver bullet, but there are drivers that influence “normal” people.

In the 1950’s Maslow studied the healthiest 1% of the college student population, in Maslow’s book “1954 book Motivation and Personality” He laid it out a pyramid      

Abraham Maslow (1954) presents a hierarchy of needs model divided into basic (or deficiency) needs (e.g. physiological, safety, love, and esteem) and growth needs (cognitive, aesthetics and self-actualization).  One must satisfy lower level basic needs before progressing on to meet higher-level growth needs.  Once these needs have been reasonably satisfied, one may be able to reach the highest-level called self-actualization.

Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization.  Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by failure to meet lower level needs. Life experiences including divorce and loss of job may cause an individual to fluctuate between levels of the hierarchy.  Maslow noted only one in a hundred people become fully self-actualized because our society rewards motivation primarily based on esteem, love and other social needs. It is important to note that other researchers have elaborated upon Maslow’s (1954) theory. Other researchers who have interpreted Maslow’s writings to develop both seven and even eight stages.

6. Cognitive needs - knowledge, meaning, etc.

7. Aesthetic needs - appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc.

8. Transcendence needs - helping others to achieve self-actualization.

Why am I bringing this up? I propose linking systems, which satisfy some of the hierarchy of needs, is your ticket to influencing behavior. Further identifying the related principal contributors associated to the hierarchy of needs (which consequently led to a loss incident event) will bring to light previously hidden behavioral causes. This will lead to better corrective actions, safety goals and targets, which result in an increase in the desired safe behaviors then a safer worksite.

What are those “Desired Behaviors”? Realistically some of those behaviors are relative to the actual work being done. After all, safe behavior for a soldier is different from that of a babysitter, although there are some core behaviors found in each. See if you can connect behaviors listed below to the needs model. If you can you are now starting to leave the box and will begin to see the possibilities.

Everybody’s Desired Core Behavior

• Knowledge of Job (Competency)
• Caring for themselves and others
• Talent/Intellect to learn and think out of the box
• Will Not let someone else work unsafe
• Teaches others the right way
• Accountability for their own actions
• Focused doesn’t let pressure drive them
• Drive wants to do a good job and find a safe way
• Looks for ways to engage others to work safe
• Mentoring in all directions down and up
• Expects and holds peers and leaders accountable
• Adheres to Policy but is willing to expose gaps and flaws
• Careful is focused on what they are doing now
• Will Stop ANY unsafe work
• Takes safety home
• Participates and promotes safety initiatives
• Willing to Emotionally Invest In Others

In a later blog I will expand on:

• Actions which can meet needs
• Those behaviors an on the desired behavior of leadership which encourage and facilitate the desired behaviors of their direct and indirect reports.
• The development of management systems and training programs which enable the desired behavioral changes.
• Rewarding desired behaviors and discouraging undesired behaviors.

Not only leaves fall

 

This fall I was thinking what can I write about so I thought fall, fall "I got it Fall" I remember when I was a child my mother was what you could say "some what over protective". I remember riding my new bicycle around and around in my back yard to the point there were little dirt ruts surrounding the parameter, on a humorous note she actually expected me to ride my skate board there as well. I longed for the chance to ride in the street and feel the smooth road under my wheels. I imagined I could go places like easyrider. Well that never happened I was driving a car in the street before a bike. What my mom didn't know was only 1% of child injuries occur in streets or highways.

I actually developed a daredevil attitude (sorry Billy) partly because of her over protectiveness. But maybe it also played a part in me working in safety because she never failed to warn me about being burned, swimming too soon after eating, running with scissors and many other warnings. Children need us to protect them from being hurt. There is nothing more sad then seeing a child hurt and it is a million times worse when you know they were hurt because we didn't protect them. Unintentional death is the leading cause of death in children under 15 and it saddens me to say 99% of those tragic losses of could have been prevented but were not.

The leading cause of injury for children 1 and under is falling from one level (roofs of cars, changing tables, counter tops down, dropped when bathing) to a lower level.

2-4 year olds tend to fall down stairs out of high chairs and out of windows. This usualy happens when little ones are scampering through the house on their walker and that broom mom had on the floor to stop Junior only slowed him down. Another is when mom "or Dad" feeds the toddler in a high chair and continues working on the dishes or talking on the phone. Apartment windows a another culprit because many people cant modify windows because their lease wont allow them to.

The next area where children get injured is on the playground but those injuries are in children from 5 – 9 years of age. You would think play grounds would be safer because they are designed for children. The truth is most of those kids are hurt through lack of adult supervision. Other contributing factors in this are poor playground maintenance or children playing on equipment not appropriate for their age.

Continuing to the next group is 10 -15 and the main injury culprit is sports injuries and the injuries mostly happen to boys. Most of these are due to well meaning football dads with visions of their pride and joy getting that football scholarship or dare they even dream "The NFL". To see thier sons waving from the end zone at the super bowl "Hi Dad!" so they push them a little harder and they have our little chat with their coach and he pushes a little harder and then they wind up with a son with knee pain at 14. Additionally we need to take a close look at those weekend coaches and ask if and how they were/are qualified to teach our kids safely.

Now that I have painted such a bleak picture what do you do?

 1.Never for any reason leave a infant unattended even for literally ½ a second on a changing table, in a high chair and never set them on the roof of a car keep them low to the ground and in your hand. Expect your angel to be very slippery when bathing.

2.Supervision supervision supervision is the only way to protect a toddler. Use bouncers not walkers and child gates at the top of steps as a mater of fact even if its only one step. Secure your windows. Use quality high chairs and use those straps even if little Suzie throws a ring tail hissy fit and for goodness sake stay focused on the task at hand the dishes will wait…

3."You have to just knuckle down and check out the play ground" look at the equipment check for protruding nails, splinters, loose bolts, pinch points for little fingers. Even those padded play grounds are not safe children can receive nasty head injuries and some time transients sleep in them and leave all kinds of horrible things in tunnels and slides. Remember S. A. F. E. (Supervision, Age-appropriate, Falls to surface, and Equipment maintenance.)

4.Sports "Whew" there is so much to cover but remember the basics; He/She are just children and although they are young they can get hurt easer then adults so support and encourage safe training and let the coach do the coaching. Ask the tough questions like "What qualifies you to be a coach?"

In closing there are many websites on children safety surf get in the know to be a better parent they deserve it and remember you will make a difference so make it a good one.