One of the strongest indicators of a healthy safety culture is a workforce that recognizes hazards and takes action to address them before an incident occurs. Thanks to your commitment to constantly improving, APG has seen a significant increase in near-miss reporting, and the results have been extremely positive. While every reported near miss this year has been related to an incident with no injuries and no property damage, we recognize that the outcomes could have been very different. We can’t only consider what happened, but what could have happened. These reports have led to company-wide safety stand-downs, allowing valuable lessons to be shared across every team on every job site.
The success of our near-miss reporting program is a reminder that safety is an ongoing commitment. Every report provides an opportunity to strengthen our procedures and reinforce the mindset that preventing incidents is everyone’s responsibility.
Our pre-task plans have played a major role in reducing risks and job site incidents, but conditions can change quickly in the field, and even small adjustments can introduce new hazards. If you ever feel that a task is deviating from the original work plan, stop work immediately. Take the time to reassess the situation with your supervisor and safety coordinators, make any necessary changes, and ensure everyone understands the revised plan before work resumes.
You will never be penalized for sacrificing productivity to work safely. In fact, the cost of safety is built into every project from the beginning. APG plans and budgets each job with the expectation that the work will be performed safely, providing the time and resources this requires. If the proper ladder or testing equipment is not available, stop work until you have it. There is always time to do the job safely because performing the work safely is not separate from the job—it is the job.
Another important trend we continue to monitor involves night shift work. Historically, some of our most serious injury risks have presented themselves during overnight operations, when fatigue can affect focus and decision-making. Periodically rotating employees off night shifts allows for proper rest and recovery, helping everyone remain alert and prepared to work safely. If long hours or night work cause you to lose focus, tell your supervisor. Stop, rest, and don’t go back to work until you’re sure you can do it safely.
Everyone should be proud of the progress we’ve made together. After logging hundreds of thousands of hours in the field, the APG team has experienced only one minor injury so far this year. Let’s continue building on that success by keeping near-miss reporting a priority and following the procedures that have been put in place for our own protection. Every near miss reported can become an incident prevented. Remember: See it. Report it. Fix it. Go home safe!