I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “the lazy man works twice as hard.” This adage usually refers to a lazy person doing a job wrong the first time but then getting told to do the job again the right away. Other times, fate intervenes and the person ends up making such a mess as a result of cutting corners that he\she ends up working twice as hard to clean up the mess than he\she would have, had he\she done the job right the first time. Well, aside from creating more work, lazy work can also lead to injury.
For example, a worker is taking boxes upstairs. He was too lazy to go look for the forklift so he takes the heavy boxes up the stairs- one by one. He stacks the boxes at the top of the stairs and runs down to get the next box. A coworker comes from around the corner and trips on the stack of boxes and goes tumbling down the stairs, crashing into the worker coming up the stairs with another box. They both fall down the stairs. And bust their heads open. And break their necks. And die.
Another example: a worker cleans up a flammable chemical spill with a rag. He knows he needs to place the oily rags in a designated container filled with water but that’s all the way across the room. He is standing right next to the trash can. He pops it in there. The chemical had a low flash point and the trashcan and its contents have now caught fire. Then the room catches fire. Then the entire building. The factory is closed for repairs. The majority of the workers are laid off.
Both of these scenarios were taken to extremes, of course, but they have both really happened.
Lazy work is unsafe work. Lazy work creates hazards, but not always for the lazy worker. Usually, the people who get hurt are those working with the lazy worker. Therefore, as SAFE workers, it is our responsibility to hold our coworkers accountable and correct them when they are working unsafely. Get your manager involved, if necessary. Ultimately, it is your safety and your livelihood at stake. This lazy coworker is not going to pay any of your bills if you get hurt or if the plant gets shut down due to the unsafe conditions he\she has created through his\her behavior.
Here are some examples of Lazy Work you should be looking out for:
- Draping extension cords, water hoses, or any other trip hazard through high traffic areas without properly taping down or putting up traffic cones.
- Leaving floor openings uncovered or unguarded. – A surefire way to severe life-changing injury.
- Doing “mickey mouse” repairs on tools and equipment to keep production moving.
- Using fire extinguishers and then putting back without getting recharged first.
- Leaving combustible material laying around or disposing of it in the improper container.
- Not cleaning up spills.
- Leaving drawers open or chairs sticking out into walkways where people can crash into them.
- Throwing cigarettes into trashcan instead of ashtray.
- Making repairs on equipment without doing the necessary LOTO.
- Removing machine guards.
- Not wearing required PPE.
- Ignoring signs of equipment damage.
- Leaving tools in wrong location.
- Placing damaged tools, equipment, ladders, pallets, into circulation instead of taking out of service.
Be safe out there. Hold yourself and your coworkers to high safety standards to ensure that everybody goes home safe every day.
That’s all for now. Until Next Time- Safety First!