See Something, Say Something: Stop Work Authority

See Something, Say Something: Stop Work Authority

Stop Work Authority

When performing work, it is important that an employee feels empowered and is knowledgeable that he/she has the authority to stop work if an unsafe hazard is evident that prohibits the employee from conducting a task. Stopping work is, at times, a sensitive power depending on the industry. There are employees that are fearful to use this power. The lack of confidence that employees have to exercise this right can escalate a situation and make a situation worse than it needs to be.

Reasons Why Employees Hesitate to Use Stop Work Authority:

  • Fear of punishment from supervisor
  • Fear of conflict with other employees
  • Does not want to be labeled as a “snitch” or “soft worker”
  • Fear of losing job
  • Does not want to slow project or work down

Clearly, many of the reasons why employees hesitate to exercise stop work authority revolve around fear of losing something. One recommendation to feel more confident about using stop work authority is to review all hazards associated with your job and position with your Human Resources manager and explain any grey areas that might exist.

Despite what many employers and groups express or claim, stop work authority is not just a privilege, it is a responsibility. Your job as a safe employee is to be the first set of eyes and voice while on the clock. At the end of the day, stopping work can keep you, your coworkers, and your company safe.

“But Sam, it’s not that simple. I tried stopping work and my boss yelled at me and threatened to fire me.”

Unfortunately, some managers care more about how quickly a job gets completed than the safety of their workers. Many of these managers feel threatened or fearful that if one of their employees stops work, the higher ups in that company may think the manager does not have control over their group. This is not the case though! Your choice and ability to identify a risk or potential hazard can save a lot of harm, if conducted correctly.

Stop Work Abuse

As mentioned earlier, stop work authority is a power that comes with great responsibility. Many employers and managers have fears that employees may tend to abuse this power to get out of work. Because of this, it is important that safety talks be conducted prior to beginning a job or task to make sure all parties are aware of the potential hazards. Abuse of stop work authority can lead to reprehension and loss of job security. Be honest, be safe, and if you see something, say it.

How to Stop Work

If you see a potential hazard, risk or unsafe action, your job is to contact your direct supervisor or safety representative immediately. Also, alert any co-workers or employees that are assigned to the specific task as well. At that point, the manager or safety representative will analyze the issue and take corrective actions in order to resolve the issue.

Final Thoughts

All things considered, stop work is a crucial responsibility that employees should feel comfortable exercising. If there is a potential safety hazard that could cause an accident, the issue should be made known. Knowing the steps for how to stop work and who to approach is the first step of using this responsibility to create a safer work environment. If you have issues or fear of using such authority, contact your supervisor directly and your Human Resources team to make you feel comfortable in the workplace.

Did this article help? We hope this toolbox talk was informative, helpful and easy to relate to. Please visit safetytalkideas.com and B42L.com to learn more about safety talks and topics.

Coaching Safety: Do’s and Don’ts

Coaching Safety: Do’s and Don’ts

Have you ever had a bad coach? Think back to middle school or high school. That coach that constantly barked orders, never listened, and rarely if ever, showed you the proper way to do things left a bad image in your mind. Was that relationship beneficial for you? Most likely not.

As a Safety Professional one of your primary functions is coaching employees on safety practices and procedures. Let’s discuss what coaching is, the benefits of coaching, the proper way to coach, and how to avoid becoming your old high school football coach that you have etched in your mind every time you hear the word coach.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is the act of observing and engaging individuals regarding their actions and behaviors, in order to achieve a desired behavior. Remember, a good coach does not simply throw his starters into the game and wish them luck. It is YOUR job as a coach and safety professional to guide, teach, motivate, listen and directly express the overall end goal.

Why Coach?

Coaching is a type of positive reinforcement (giving praise to someone for taking a desired action). Positive reinforcement is statistically proven to produce a more engaged, and positive workforce. Changing behavior is one of the most challenging tasks a safety professional has. Coaching allows you to engage your workforce in a positive manner, and produces an open communication between field employees and management.

Benefits of Coaching Safety

  • Empowers individuals and encourages them to take responsibility.
  • Increases field team and management engagement.
  • Improves individual performance.
  • Helps identify both company and individual strengths and development opportunities.
  • Helps to motivate individuals.

How to Coach and Engage Your Field

Coaching itself is actually very simple but it’s not always easy to do. Personalities, time pressure, and relationships can all come in the way of coaching. Keep reading for the steps of how to coach.

Steps of Coaching

Let’s outline a good way to coach an employee:

  • Observe the action being performed.
  • When you see the opportunity for improvement, professionally engage the team member.
  • If the action or condition is unsafe, Stop the activity using Stop Work Authority if needed.
  • See our Stop Work Authority Blog for some help. https://b42l.com/stop-work-authority/
  • Explain what you observed in a positive, respectful, manner. Be objective and explain the facts. Avoid using accusatory phrases such as “ Why were you, (insert action)?!”
  • Try to utilize phrases such as, “Hello John, you have been doing a great job with your day to day tasks. I observed you performing (insert undesired action). Can you explain why you were doing it this way?” I was looking for some clarification on the proper way how to perform the task and could use some help”.
  • Listen to the individual’s feedback. Often times, hazards are simply overlooked or not identified, resulting in unforeseen unsafe acts.
  • After listening, thank them for their input. Next, provide the desired behavior using coaching. Explain the benefits of using the safe alternative. As example: “Sure it may take 5 extra minutes to perform that safety check, however that safety check could be the one thing that prevents an incident from occurring.”
  • Get confirmation from the employee that you have both agreed that the next time the task will be performed, it will be the safe way.
  • Observe the next time the individual performs the task if possible. Be sure the individual understands you are coaching and not throwing around orders.
  • Coaching requires willing participation by both parties; be sure the individual you are coaching is properly engaged and understands your intentions. Get to know your people, find commonalities, and utilize different approaches for each individual.

Overcoming Objections

Coaching rarely goes over as smoothly as we just illustrated. As a safety professional, you want to avoid the stigma of “It’s my way or the highway!” Here is a great way to think about this problem:

2+2=4

1+3= 4

Just because an employee is not doing it “your way”, does not mean it is necessarily wrong. (Unless there are specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) or a Policy/Regulation stating otherwise). Often times the best solutions come from the field. Listen to their feedback. The employee may actually teach you something and provide a safer solution than the current set of procedures.

Avoid Saying These Phrases

Delivery is important when providing coaching so avoid these phrases when you are coaching.

“It’s not me telling you this, its just our policy”.

You lose all credibility as a safety professional when you say this. Rather than rolling over to a bad policy, bring up the concern to management if there is a policy/procedure that is not successful and find a solution together.

It’s o.k. just be careful”

Again, your credibility as a safety professional is shot. You may have saved some face and the field may like you for not enforcing the rules, but when someone gets hurt or something goes wrong, the blame is now pointed to you for making the call to not enforce the rules.

“What are you stupid?”

Pointing blame at someone for acting unsafe is not beneficial to anyone. Often the employee was simply unaware that what they were doing was unsafe. There is an old saying, “You don’t know, what you don’t know”. If the employee is experienced and in fact is aware the action is unsafe, simply explain the consequences of what could happen. Let them know you care about them enough to not let them put them self at risk. Explain that you both have a common goals of everyone going home safe to their family after work ends.

Providing Feedback

The final step of coaching is providing feedback. If you are not showing appreciation for the change in behavior, you can be certain that the employee will fall back in to their old habits. Giving praise can come in a few different forms such as:

  • Individual praise
  • Group recognition
  • Picking up lunch for the crew for following safety procedures
  • Hats and tee shirts also go a long way when giving praise
  • Hand writing a letter for recognition
  • Spotlighting the employee’s efforts at company meetings
  • etc

Not everyone responds to feedback the same way. Some people would prefer to not be recognized in a group setting, so let the person know how you would like to recognize them before doing so.

Final Thoughts:

Coaching is an ongoing process and it takes time to change behavior. When coaching safety in the workplace make sure to explain the facts, and potential outcomes of each action taken. Follow up with employees and acknowledge when a task is done correctly..

Did this article help? We hope this toolbox talk was informative, helpful and easy to relate to. Please visit B42L.com to learn more about Coaching Safety and other Safety Topics to improve your company’s safety culture.

Major Types of Fire Extinguishers: Fire Extinguisher Safety

Major Types of Fire Extinguishers: Fire Extinguisher Safety

Does anyone else remember being in grade school and out of nowhere, the entire building’s alarm system was activated? “Here we go again.” I would say. Yes, I am talking about our monthly fire drills at school. No matter the weather, time of the day, or special events going on, those pesky teachers always found a way to make us stop what we were doing for a routine fire drill. Although these very redundant and at times what felt pointless exercises were taught, I didn’t realize how important fire safety was. It also didn’t help that my main source of fire safety awareness came from Dwight Schrute while watching The Office. Come on though, rookie mistake on Ryan’s part leaving his bread in the toaster for that long.

Fast forward about 10 years, I was working as a hand in the oil and gas fields and was taking safety training when the topic of fires and emergency action plans was brought up. After learning about the different fires that took place and different ways to fight a fire, I was shocked of the different types of fires that could be created and the different ways you should fight each fire. This is useful information that should be taught at an earlier age in my opinion, its never too early to start thinking smart and safe!

Below, we will be discussing the 3 most popular fire extinguisher types on the market and when to use each of them if a fire starts. Feel free to use this short post as a crash course into the fire-fighting sector, but always feel confident to call your local emergency fire response team if a fire starts.

The most common types of fire extinguishers used on different types of fire fuels are:

  1. Water fire extinguisher
    Water fire extinguishers douse fires by taking away the heat element of the fire triangle. They’re used for Class A fires only.
  2. Dry chemical fire extinguisher
    Dry chemical extinguishers extinguish the fire by interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle. They’re most effective on Class A, B and C fires.
  3. CO2 fire extinguisher
    Carbon dioxide extinguishers take away the oxygen element of the fire triangle. They also remove the heat with a cold discharge. They can be used on Class B and C fires.

With this in mind, fire extinguishers have been developed and classified in order to combat such fires. Below is a chart of the 3 most popular fire extinguishers to deal with fires:

Type of
Extinguisher
What the fire extinguishers are used for:
Class A fire extinguisher These extinguishers are used for fires involving ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, cloth, trash and plastics.
Class B fire extinguisher These extinguishers are used for fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline and oil.
Class C fire extinguisher These extinguishers are used for fires involving electrical equipment, such as motors, transformers and appliances.

We now have a basic understanding of what extinguishers fight what fires. But what about when you are face to face with the fire? That is the very scary and at times overwhelming point where your knowledge and skills will be put to the test. This post also stresses that fire extinguishers should not be used to fight larger fires, please leave that to the professionals. These tools can be used for fires that have just started and are containable.

The acronym PASS is an easy way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher:

P- Pull the pin

A- Aim at the base of the fire

S- Squeeze the lever steadily and evenly. Squeezing too hard can waste the fire-fighting agent

S- Sweep the nozzle side to side, continuing to aim at the base of the fire

What do we do from here?

Well, now that we have a basic understanding on how fires are started, the types of fires that take place and which fire extinguishers should be used, I recommend seeking further education and going through a fire safety course from a trained professional or your local fire-fighting department. At the very least, take a look at the extinguisher you have in your homes, work place, or local community centers. Are these the right extinguishers for a fire that might occur? Please make sure you if a fire breaks loose, calling professionally trained first responders is always the preferred route.

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Relearning your ABC’s for Fall Protection

Relearning your ABC’s for Fall Protection

While most of us learned our ABC’s in kindergarten, I am a firm believer in repetition and relearning as we grow. Relearning the alphabet for fall protection is something I learned early on as a safety professional.

So what exactly is the ABC’s of fall protection? The ABC’s of fall protection is a simple way to remember the components of fall protection and what to look for when inspecting fall protection before working from heights.

What are the ABC’s of fall protection? (Don’t worry, this alphabet only includes 3 letters.)

  1. Anchorage Point
  2. Body Harness
  3. Connecting Device

(A) Anchorage Point

The anchorage point is the item you are tying off to. According to OSHA only approved anchorage points can be used to tie off to. This anchorage point must be able to support 5,000 lbs of force per employee. So, that piece of conduit hanging from the ceiling in your basement probably isn’t the best thing to tie off to if you need to change a light bulb. You can not tie off to handrails or mid rails! In man lifts for example, there are designated approved anchorage points that the manufacture will identify to the operator.

Image result for anchorage points manlift

(B) Body Harness

Second for the Fall Protection ABC’s is Body Harness. All harnesses are different. When inspecting your harness there are some key things to look out for. Fit your harness for your body specifically. No sharing!

  • Inspect the webbing for rips, cuts, and tears
  • Look at the hardware of the harness for rust, burns or cracks
  • Verify the tag of the harness for the harness’s capacity.
Image result for proper harness fit

Store your fall protection in a designated area away from all other tools and out of weather/direct sunlight. If your harness is damaged, immediately take it out of service and notify others to not use it. Make sure to fit your harness for your build and body frame. The D-Ring should be between your shoulder blades, chest strap right at the mid chest line, and leg straps should allow 2 fingers in-between, so it is not too loose or too tight.

(C) Connecting Device

The last letter of the Fall Protection ABC’s is C” for Connecting Device. There are typical 2 types of connecting devices

  • Lanyards
  • Self-retracting devices

When selecting a connecting device, you need to understand your working height. See the link below for the best way to select your connecting device.

https://www.millerfalltraining.com/fallclearance/#home0&ui-state=dialog

Why it’s Important?

Slips/Trips/Falls are the number 1 leading cause of fatalities, and injuries in both constructions, and in general industry. According to the National Safety Council, in 2016, 697 workers died from falling to another level. In addition, a whopping 48,000 workers were injured from falls, that required days off of work.

https://www.nsc.org/work-safety/safety-topics/slips-trips-falls

The OSHA standard for fall protection for construction is 6ft. For general industry, the standard says 4ft. In both construction, and in general industry, working from heights is a daily activity. Some examples of working from heights are:

  • Leaning edges such as stairwells
  • Rooftops
  • Working from ladders
  • Performing work from man lifts or scissor lifts
  • Open holes/trenches
  • Standing on top of tanks, vessels, or storage containers to work
  • Walking on or working from catwalks

What areas does your company work at?

Any time you are working from heights, remember the ABC’s of fall protection. All falls can be prevented. If you see another coworker working from heights unprotected, utilize Stop Work Authority, and correct the behavior. For tips on how to utilize Stop-Work Authority, see our separate blog post:

Preventing Falls in your workplace

The easiest way to avoid a fall, is to prevent it from taking place. Below are some systematic approaches to preventing fall hazards.

Identify Fall Hazards

As you arrive to the job site, conduct a safety walk around and identify all areas where you are working from heights. Be sure to also identify other fall hazards such as wet/slippery surfaces, changes in elevation, and housekeeping issues such as loose extension cords, or building material. Discuss fall hazards on your JSA and make sure all crew members are aware of the areas they may be working in.

Eliminate

After you have identified all fall hazards try to eliminate the fall hazard. Examples of eliminating fall hazards include: installing guard rails around leaning edges, cleaning up spills, ensuring ladders are in good working order, covering open holes, and maintaining good housekeeping.

Fall Protection

Fall protection should be the last resort if fall hazards can not be removed from the workplace. Inspect all equipment and make sure all team members are trained on how to properly fit their harness. Calculate your working height, and select the appropriate connecting device. Pick your anchor point, and verify it is able to withstand 5,000 lbs. Want practice? Try the game Harness Hero available on the App Store and Google Play Store for FREE! This App walks you through different scenarios and shows you the outcomes of what a fall will look like after you select your fall protection. Below is a video showing how the Game works! Challenge yourself and try it out!

As a Recap

We understand the severity of fall hazards. We also understand how to eliminate fall hazards and how to mitigate them if the hazard can not be completely eliminated. The next time you are expected to work from heights say your fall protection ABC’st It could save you!

Did this article help? We hope this toolbox talk was informative, helpful and easy to relate to. Please visit B42L.com to learn more about strengthening your safety resume and other safety topics to improve your company’s safety culture.

2 Cold Related Emergencies to be Prepared for this Winter. Frost Bite and Hypothermia

2 Cold Related Emergencies to be Prepared for this Winter. Frost Bite and Hypothermia

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we’ve got no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!” The cold winter months and frigid temperatures are here for most of us. It is time to get prepared for the worst. Below are the two most prevalent winter related emergencies to be prepared for this snowy season.

Frostbite

Don’t get bit by Jack Frost this winter. Our first Cold Related Emergency to be prepared for this winter is frost bite. Frost bite is caused by exposure to extreme cold temperatures for an extended period of time. Frostbite causes tissue just below the skin to freeze. First onset signs and symptoms of frostbite include:

  • Prickling feeling of the skin
  • Numbness
  • Red, white, blue, and grey-yellow looking skin
  • Muscle tightness
  • Blistering in severe cases

 

Vulnerable Areas

When the body is exposed to cold temperatures, the natural reaction is for blood to rush to the torso to protect target organs. Because of this, several areas of the body are left highly vulnerable to frostbite including:

  • Fingers
  • Toes
  • Ears
  • Nose
  • Cheeks 

 

Treating Frostbite

Recognizing these signs and symptoms is the first step to treating frost bite. If you or someone else is exposed to cold temperatures, it is important to immediately get the individual to a warmer area. Look for discoloration in vulnerable areas, and immediately remove damp or wet clothing such as gloves, socks, or hats. Replace the affected areas with dry and warm towels or blankets.

Discourage skin to skin contact for rewarming as this can cause blistering. Do not pick any scabs or blisters as this will damage the skin worse.Gradually increase the individuals body temperature and monitor the individual for changes in behavior. If the skin does not appear to be improving, seek further medical attention.

Hypothermia

Our second cold related emergency to be prepared for this winter is Hypothermia. Hypothermia is an extremely dangerous drop in body temperature. It is also usually caused by an excessive exposure to cold temperatures, but it does not take long to slip into hypothermia.

 

The normal body temperature averages 98.6 degrees. In cases of hypothermia, the core body temperature drops below 95 degrees and in severe cases it can drop below 92 degrees.

 

What Causes Hypothermia?

During cold temperatures the body must work harder to maintain its normal body temperature (98.6 degrees). While exposed to cold temperatures, heat loss occurs, mainly through natural breathing (exhaling) and radiation (increases from exposed skin to moisture).

If you are exposed to cold temperatures for an extended period of time, larger amounts of heat loss is likely to occur. The organs that normally produce body heat begin to slow down and move into “shut down mode” as a defense mechanism to protect the brain. It is vital to understand how to recognize the signs and symptoms of Hypothermia before it’s too late. When hypothermia kicks in, it can quickly become deadly.

 

Symptoms of Hypothermia

  • Extreme Shivering
  • Confusion
  • Glassy stare
  • Heavy fatigue
  • Grey skin

These signs and symptoms will normally begin with the shivering of arms and legs. As blood rushes to the torso to protect target organs, the arms and legs are now left with minimal amounts of warm blood. Shivering is the body’s natural response. The muscles of the arms and legs begin to rapidly contract in effort to redirect blood back to these areas.

If shivering is stops and the person is still in the cold temperatures, check for other symptoms. The person might be confused and have a glassy stare. If other symptoms exist, the person may be entering into hypothermia.

Lastly, their skin may have a grey appearance and they may become extremely fatigued. The grey skin tone, could indicate a lack of blood flow and fatigue would also imply the person is burning large amounts of energy quickly.

 

How to treat Hypothermia?

Hypothermia can quickly accelerate and is a potentially life-threatening condition. If you suspect someone is suffering from this Cold Winter Emergency here are some steps to take for treating it.

  • Remove all wet clothes and replace with dry towels or blankets.
  • Refrain from putting on jackets, or other sweatshirts. Hypothermia can lead do unresponsiveness. Towels and blankets are easy to remove if the person becomes unresponsive.
  • Gradually warm the person. Refrain from placing the person in a hot shower or a hot tub. Rapid warming methods can send the person into shock. Instead, gradually warm the person with small heaters.
  • If symptoms continue for 15-20 minutes and are not getting better, call 911 or the designated number.
  • Continue to monitor the person’s signs and symptoms and be prepared to give CPR if you are trained.

 

How to avoid Frostbite and Hypothermia this Winter

The easiest way to prevent Frostbite and hypothermia is to avoid extended periods of cold temperature exposure. If you work outside or are exposed to cold temperatures for longer periods of time, here are some other tips to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.

Layer Up

Checking the weather forecast the night before is the easiest way to stay prepared. Lay out your outfit the night before and don’t hesitate to break out the puffy jacket. It may lack on style, but it will keep you warm. We also recommend carrying a hat and gloves as we just learned ears, and fingers are vulnerable areas to frostbite.

 

Change your route

If you live in a city and walk to work, avoid the scenic route to the office this winter. Changing your route and taking the shorter 5-minute stroll could pay up big time and reduce the amount of heat loss you experience.

 

Pack Extra  

Making that long haul to see the in-laws? Packing an extra set of warm clothes, and a blanket in could be the difference of beating the cold if the car breaks down. Emergency car kits exist for longer hauls.

Here are a few places to go to find cold related emergency kits and safety items!

https://www.redcross.org/store/winter-auto-survival-kit/54894.html

 

https://warmers.com/collections/all

 

https://www.rei.com/c/emergency-blankets

 

 

RECAP

  • Frost bite is described as when tissue damage below the skin occurs from cold temperatures.
  • Hypothermia is described as a dangerous drop in overall body temperature.
  • Both cold related emergencies should be treated with gradual warming methods.
  • If conditions do not get better after 15-20 minutes for either emergency, seek advanced medical assistance and call 911 if needed.
  • The best ways to prevent these emergencies is to avoid the cold, and to have an emergency cold weather kit.

 

Was this helpful? Leave a comment and check out our other blog posts for more safety, first aid and health care tips. Go to b42l.com

Top 8 Winter Driving Safety Tips

Top 8 Winter Driving Safety Tips

Winter is coming! Aside from the Game of Throne’s tagline, yes, the winter months are upon us. Along with cold temperatures and snowfall that are present during winter months, an increase in vehicle incidents are statistically on the way as well.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, nearly 1,300 people are killed in vehicle crashes and more than 100,000 people are injured in vehicle crashes every year with road conditions that contain snow, slush, and icy pavement.

In the busy business world of today, it is imperative families, employees, and individuals can travel the roads safely. Just because there is snow on the ground, doesn’t mean vehicles incidents have to occur.

Here are the Top 8 Winter Driving Safety Tips that can reduce the likelihood you will be involved in a vehicle accident.

 

1.) Check the weather radar for snow

The first way to be prepared for driving during winter months and improve your winter driving safety is to check the weather radar the night before. Checking the radar not only allows you to plan for your trip the next day, but it gives you a live update on any storms that could be passing through your area. Keep in mind, weather patterns change, so it is important to check the weather radar several times throughout the day.

 

2.) Fix any maintenance issues

Have you been ignoring those lights on the dashboard telling you to service your vehicle? If so, you better plan on taking your vehicle in for service. Keeping your vehicle serviced during winter months gives you the assurance that your 2008 Toyota Camry is actually safe to drive even with heavy snow. Don’t ignore these warning lights. If you are in an area that statistically receives heavy amounts of snow fall, consider changing your tires for a winter recommend tire. Here are a few resources with tips on how to winterize your vehicle.:

Bridgestone

  https://www.bridgestonetire.com/tread-and-trend/drivers-ed/winter-snow-tires-vs-all-season-tires

Tire Rack.com

 https://www.tirerack.com/content/tirerack/desktop/en/winter_snow/packages.html

Good Year

https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/category/snowK

3.) Inspect your vehicle daily

Conducting a quick inspection of your vehicle on a daily basis is one way to improve your winter driving safety. Allow the vehicle to warm up 15 minutes before you are set to leave and bust out that ice scraper. Dust off snow or ice that is on the windows, turning signals and on top of your vehicle. Walk 360 degree around your vehicle and look for any signs that it is mechanically unsafe to drive. Make sure to frequently check that your windshield wipers are in good condition and windshield wiper fluid levels are topped off. Test and verify the turning signals and 4-Way Hazard lights are working properly. If there are any lights that are not working, get it fixed immediately. This quick 5-10-minute check is worth it.

 

4.) Leave the house earlier

During winter months it is tempting to stay in your warm, cozy bed that extra 30 minutes, so you don’t have to face the reality of the blistering cold. This is a major Error Precursor. Road conditions in the winter months often makes it unsafe to drive the normal posted speed limits. If it normally takes you 20 minutes to get to work, leave your home an additional 20 minutes earlier. Running late to work contributes to drivers feeling the need to speed. Leaving early will allow you to avoid being late and improve your winter driving safety.

 

5.) Work from home

More and more companies allow the option to work from home to their employees. If you can work from home, avoid the trip to the office altogether. Working from home keeps more drivers off the road and reduces the number of vehicles that could potentially be involved in a vehicle incident.

 

6.) Utilize car trip services (Uber & Lyft)

Taking an Uber or Lyft may be a safer alternative than driving your own vehicle to the grocery store or to get takeout especially during winter months. The two trip service companies allow individuals to request a ride from almost anywhere. They also offer Programs such as Uber Eats, where drivers will pick up food up for you and deliver it for a small fee. Instead of going to get takeout food, have it delivered right to you! Be advised however, before getting in any car trip service, that the driver is ultimately in control of the vehicle. If you feel your car service driver is driving unsafely, request they slow down or pull over at a safe location.

 

7.) Minimize Distractions Behind the Wheel

If you can’t work from home, and requesting an uber to work is out of the question, minimizing distractions behind the wheel is one of the most proactive solutions to reducing vehicle incidents. Distractions can include: cell phones, radios, eating, drinking, passengers, pets, etc. Utilize Bluetooth audio ear pieces for hands free calling. Turn the radio off and wait until you get to work to drink your Dunkin coffee. If there are passengers in the vehicle with you, ensure everyone has their seat belt on, and is not distracting you with questions like: “Did you see the new Netflix series that was just released last night?”. The simple distracting conversation can wait.

 

8.) SLOW DOWN This Season

The easiest way to to improve your winter driving safety is to SLOW DOWN! Practice the 3-Second Rule and allow more space in between you and the vehicle in front of you Here is how to practice the 3-Second Rule. As you are driving pick an object that you will  pass (road sign, mile marker, structure, building etc). Count to 3 out loud. When the vehicle in front of you passes that object begin to count to 3 seconds. If you reach that same object in under 3 seconds, you are following to closely. Monitor road conditions and allow more space between you and other vehicles on less maintained roads. If there is excess snow, ice, or slush, increase the 3 seconds, to 5. When following larger vehicles such as tanker trucks, or eighteen wheeler’s it may be necessary to increase to 10 seconds. Braking on snow and ice takes longer. Give yourself more space and slow down.

 

Was this helpful? Leave a comment, and check out our other blog posts for more safety, first aid and health care tips. Go to b42l.com