Health & Safety

Figuring out when an incident will take place will be important. (Image source: Canva)

Larry Wilson, Author and CEO, SafeStart, emphasises the critical importance of identifying "when" we're most vulnerable to complacency and critical errors. Read on:

As we keep exploring the series Paradigm Shifts in Safety, we’re excited for you to check out the eighth article in this 12-part series.

Lots of ground covered so far: hazardous energy and movement, three sources of unexpected events (over 95% in the Self-Area), the counter-intuitive nature of dangerous activities vs. actual outcomes and then why: because when both our eyes and mind are not on task, for that moment, we are defenseless.

So as mentioned in an earlier article, it’s not that we are totally defenseless, it’s that from time to time, we are “momentarily defenseless”. which is why you hear so many people talking about car wrecks or serious injuries, saying that I really wasn’t doing anything wrong, I wasn’t really speeding or rushing. Okay, I was a bit tired and I was thinking about a problem at work, or home, or whatever… and then (car wreck, bad fall, serious cut, blown knee, concussion, etc.).

So, figuring out “when”, becomes the crux of the matter. Unless we know when those moments will happen, knowing why we get hurt badly (eyes and mind not on task/no reflex) won’t help to prevent the next one. So, figuring out the “when” part is the key. And unfortunately, for so many years, the focus has been on “what” the people were doing and how much hazardous energy they were dealing with (which is important) but not, which is the main paradigm shift here, not nearly as important as figuring out when.

When will you or me or the next guy in line— when will we be most likely to make both critical errors at the same time—where there is also a significant amount of hazardous energy involved?

Well… it will likely be doing something that you have been doing for a while, because at the beginning of any activity where there is a fair bit of hazardous energy and the potential for injury – “awareness“ or “eyes and mind on task” – is very high (see Figure #1).

During this first period with an activity or skill it is possible and normally quite natural to self-trigger or to be able to self-trigger on the amount of hazardous energy. And as a result, it’s easy to stay focused. It may even seem, at least when you first start out, that it would be impossible to become complacent.

However, as we all know, the initial fear rarely lasts forever. And over a period of time, depending on the activity or skill required, we come to the first stage of complacency. This is where the fear or skill is no longer pre-occupying.

And as mentioned in previous articles, we don’t give our minds permission to wander. It happens without our permission or without making a decision to think about something else (Figure #1). So even if you don’t have anything else you need to think about or want to think about, your mind can still drift away.

But if you’re rushing, chances are it’s for a reason. It might be because you want to get there early. More likely, it’s because you don’t want to be late. Either way, that’s what most people think about when they’re rushing—not what is the risk in the moment – right now (driving really fast on a city street). And if the consequences for being late are going to be really bad (late for meeting at work)…

Click here for the full article and to learn why understanding when moments of vulnerability occur is key to prevention, not just focusing on what we’re doing. Discover how to shift your perspective and enhance your safety strategies: https://ae.safestart.com/paradigm-shifts/8-the-complacency-continuum-and-when-vs-what/

The white paper uncovers troubling lapses in maritime fire safety practices. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

A Survitec white paper highlighting maritime fire safety risks has won the Safety in Maritime (Marine) award at the IBJ Awards

The paper, titled "Why Are the Fires Not Going Out? Unveiling the True Cost of Inadequate Fire Safety Inspections", exposes the widespread failures in fire safety practices that have led to an alarming increase in shipboard fire incidents worldwide.

Drawing on data and testimonies from Survitec’s certified service technicians, the white paper uncovers troubling lapses in fire safety practices. According to the paper, some ship operators are relying on untrained crews for fire safety maintenance due to post-COVID cost-cutting measures. These practices have led to avoidable system failures, such as the use of incorrect or counterfeit parts, poorly fitted equipment, and contamination of essential firefighting systems. Survitec also highlights instances of substandard inspections and approvals where safety certifications were granted despite obvious deficiencies.

Metkel Yohannes, director of Service & Rental Solutions at Survitec, said, “Shipboard fires have risen by 17% year-on-year, becoming one of the leading causes of maritime losses and the most expensive source of marine insurance claims, accounting for over 20% of total losses.

“While advancements in fire detection and protection technologies have been made, the industry is still seeing alarming levels of fire safety deficiencies, with thousands of incidents reported each year by international inspection authorities. This highlights an urgent need for improved oversight and maintenance practices across the sector.”

One example highlighted a vessel that experienced an engine room fire. While the crew successfully extinguished the flames, they discovered a fault in their high-expansion foam firefighting system, caused by a protective cap left inside the system after the installation of a new foam pump.

In another instance, a fire broke out aboard a bulk carrier in early 2024 after more than half the recently inspected and certified CO2 cylinders failed to activate.

The study also raises concerns about the growing risks of alternative fuels and lithium-ion batteries, which require specialised detection and firefighting systems. Survitec argues for more stringent oversight of service providers, urging the maritime industry to adopt higher quality control benchmarks and ensure that all fire safety inspections meet rigorous international standards.

Yohannes concluded, “Shipowners and operators need accredited partners with the expertise to ensure their safety systems perform under the most demanding conditions. Anything less is not only a false economy but a threat to crew safety and vessel integrity.”

Brady will be demonstrating its safety signs at ADIPEC. (Image source: Brady)

In today's fast-paced industrial environment, ensuring workplace safety is paramount

Clear and effective communication is key to preventing accidents and maintaining efficient operations.

Brady offers a comprehensive range of identification solutions, including pipemarkers, safety signs, and industrial printers, designed to enhance safety and streamline processes in challenging environments. With Brady, you can ensure that your workplace is safer, more productive, and compliant with industry regulations.

Efficient and safe operations with clear and durable pipemarkers

Pipemarking plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient and safe operations within industrial facilities. Clearly visible and legible pipe markers that indicate pipe contents and flow direction help maintenance crews quickly identify pipes needing servicing and valves that require shutdown. This not only increases efficiency but also prevents accidents by warning employees, contractors, and first responders about potential hazards.

Brady’s wide range of pipemarking solutions are designed to withstand elements in offshore/marine conditions, petrochemical plants, or any industrial environments. Our pipemarkers are available in three quality levels, ensuring durability and legibility in even the harshest circumstances. We can customize pipemarkers to include specific pipe, contents, and flow information tailored to your needs.

Safety signs: immediate communication of critical information

Safety signs are essential for communicating important information quickly and effectively. Using internationally recognized pictograms, these signs can prohibit, warn, caution, mandate requirements, evacuate, or locate firefighting equipment. Brady's safety signs guarantee 100% compliance with local legal regulations. We offer a variety of materials in our standard range to suit different environmental conditions and customer preferences.

Be flexible with Brady’s DIY printing solutions

For those seeking a DIY alternative, Brady provides world-class printing solutions that enable customers to create their own safety signs, pipemarkers, and floor markings. Our professional safety and facility identification printers and software empower you to take control of workplace identification, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and enhancing efficiency.

Why our have satisfied customer chosen  Brady Printing Solutions:
• Fast: Design and print identification materials quickly, eliminating the need for lengthy delivery times.
• Customizable: Easily add custom messages, logos, and create unique combinations of signs in various sizes and shapes.
• Cost-effective: Avoid unnecessary label stock by printing only what you need.

It is important to highlight the fact Brady's printers utilize advanced inks and durable label materials to ensure maximum durability, even when exposed to UV light, moisture, heat, cold, chemicals, harsh washdown cycles, and abrasion.

Brady's commitment to safety and quality

We are proud to announce our new modern facility in Saudi Arabia, where we have regional capability to manufacture custom safety signs, pipemarking labels, and safety tags. Need our expertise? Our dedicated sales team in KSA is ready to assist you with an on site assessment, free of cost.

Visit us at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi (4-7 November, 2024) to learn more about our products and services. We are welcoming our guests in Hall 10 booth number 10530. Visitors can print their own labels and signs on our label printers, grab some samples to test them in their environments and discuss any safety challenges they are facing in their facilities.

Learn more about solutions for increased workplace safety from Brady!

BRADY Corporation in Middle East
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

For more details, visit: https://www.brady.eu/

The article discusses how the neuroscience behind Critical Error Reduction Techniques aligns with safety practices. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Larry Wilson, author and CEO, SafeStart, looks at how neuroscience aligns with critical error reduction techniques

As we continue our series on Paradigm Shifts in safety (if you haven’t yet, catch up at https://ae.safestart.com/paradigm-shifts/), we encourage you to dive into the seventh article of the twelve-part series.

In the last issue, we discussed the concept of self-triggering; the importance of learning how to self-trigger quickly, or at least quickly enough to prevent making a critical error, which means that we must train the sub-conscious mind. Now, to a certain extent, we have already discussed the importance of involving or using the sub-conscious mind to prevent injuries when we talked about developing good habits with eyes on task, so that if or when your mind goes off task, you’ll still, most likely, get the benefit of your reflexes.

Habits and reflexes are not things we are deciding to do in the moment with our conscious mind. They are both sub-conscious. All this is where the neuroscience comes in. Until recently (last 10 years or so) scientists and psychologists could speculate as to what part of the brain was being used. But it wasn’t until FMRI’s that they could prove it. And I think that it’s interesting how the neuroscience and the Critical Error Reduction Techniques (CERTs) are aligned or how the neuroscience supports or validates the CERTs. But my dad, who is an engineer, was unimpressed. When I explained it to him, he said that it was one of the best examples of, “Locking the door after the horse has got out” he’d ever heard.

So, he’s got a point. But it’s still pretty interesting. And it is science which always helps when dealing with sceptics. So, we’re going to get into at least a bit of it as we go through all four CERTs. Two of which we have discussed already: work on habits, or work on improving your safety-related habits and self-triggering on the states (rushing, frustration, fatigue) so you don’t make a critical error. And obviously, this has to happen quickly.

Even if it’s only a split-second too late, it’s still too late. And to get close to reflex speed, we need to use the sub-conscious mind. The conscious mind just isn’t quick enough. Ironically, training the sub-conscious mind—isn’t quick—and when you think about learning arithmetic, it wasn’t always exciting either. To give you an example of speed, repetition, and the power of the sub-conscious mind, just answer the following question as quickly as you can: What is 3 x 4? You probably already have the answer in your head before you read it here. It’s 12. That’s how quick your sub-conscious mind is. But how many repetitions did it take to get that quick—so you didn’t have to process anything? And very reliable: almost impossible to get it wrong… now try quickly 13 x 14.

To find out the answer to the last question (without checking your calculator) and explore how the neuroscience behind Critical Error Reduction Techniques aligns with safety practices, continue reading the full article clicking here. Stay with us as we delve deeper into the power of the subconscious mind and its role in preventing critical errors.

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