Building Awareness of Risk in Everyday Operations

Most workplace injuries don’t come from major mishaps. They stem from employees rushing routine tasks or disregarding procedures. You can’t eliminate these tasks, but supervisors can make safety part of the job. When awareness is built into daily routines, injuries drop and productivity continues.

Use A Simple Framework: SLAM

Teach staff to SLAM each task. It takes seconds and pays off all day.

• Stop: Pause before you start. Eliminate distractions and focus on the task to prevent rushing.
• Look: Scan the area for hazards like people in your path, equipment that needs maintenance, slick surfaces, severe weather, and limited visibility.
• Assess: Ask what could go wrong and whether you have what you need: correct tool, ladder height, personal protective equipment, help.
• Manage: Adjust the plan. Get a spotter, switch tools, use a cart, or stop and talk to your supervisor if you feel a task is unsafe.

Huddle tip: Pick one task for today. Have each employee call out one SLAM adjustment they’ll use on their next job.

Making High-Frequency Risks Safer

Task/Risk: Lifting/Stocking
Common miss: Twisting while carrying
Micro-fix: Keep load close, pivot with your feet, use team lift over 35 pounds

Task/Risk: Wet Floors
Common miss: Caution signs posted, but path still used
Micro-fix: Block the area, clean to dry, schedule for low-traffic times

Task/Risk: Ladders
Common miss: Using the top step
Micro-fix: Use the right ladder height, maintain three points of contact

Task/Risk: Extension Cords, Power Strips
Common miss: Trip hazards and overloading
Micro-fix: Route cords off walking paths, use cord covers, one strip per outlet (no daisy-chains). check amperage ratings

Near-Misses Are Free Training

A near-miss is a gift: You identified a gap without someone getting injurede. Capture it, fix it, and share the lesson:

1. Give staff a quick, 30-second reporting option (QR code, link, or drop box).
2. Classify quickly (slip/trip, lift/strain, vehicle, behavior, equipment).
3. Fix simple hazards within 48 hours and close the loop with the reporting employee.
4. Share one “lesson of the week” in staff huddles.

Supervisor Huddles That Change Behavior

• Open with yesterday’s risks: weather, events, deliveries, staffing changes.
• Review one near-miss and one success (“caught someone using a spotter…nice work”).
• Wrap up with each employee committing to one safe action for the day.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)—Keep It Short And Useful

Pick one high-risk task per month. Walk it with your team. Write the three biggest hazards and the three controls that matter most. Turn that into a one-page job aid posted where the task starts (custodial closet, shop door, loading dock).

Metrics That Matter (And Are Easy To Track)

Metric: Injury report lag time
Target: less than 24 hours
Why it matters: Faster care and better claim outcomes

Metric: Near misses per month
Target: Upward trend first 90 days
Why it matters: Improved reporting culture

Metric: Injury report lag time
Target: less than 24 hours
Why it matters: Faster care and better claim outcomes

Metric: % of hazards fixed in less than 48 hours
Target: 80% minimum
Why it matters: Shows you act on reports

Metric: Return-to-work placement time
Target: Less than three days
Why it matters: Reduces lost time and costs

One-page tools to post: SLAM reminder, today’s hazards whiteboard, near-miss QR code, and monthly JHA job aid.

Design safety into how the work is done, not as extra steps. When awareness is built into routines, people remain safe, and operations stay on schedule.