In the pulp mill last night there was a minor injury involving a self dumping hopper. The employee was having difficulty latching the hopper, and injured their leg while trying to kick the latch. The employee had already tried to use a hammer without success. The hopper is in need of repair and it should have been taken out of service until it could be made safe to operate.
Everyone should take a few things away from this incident.
Always think before you act! Ask yourself a few questions before beginning a task such as:
a. Can the job be done safely?
i. If not do not attempt to do it. Find a safe way to accomplish the task!
b. Is the action I am about to take the safest way to accomplish the task?
i. If not, find another way!
c. Will the action I am about to take put me in harm’s way?
i. If yes, find another way or take the proper steps to eliminate the risk of injury.
d. When in doubt, ask for help or input from your supervisor.
2) Use the right tool for the job. Usually there is a proper tool for the task at hand and it is often not your foot or your hand. Eliminate the risk of bodily harm by employing the proper tools for the job!
3) Inspect the equipment you work with for signs of damage that may render the equipment unsafe for use. If you feel the equipment is not safe to use, take it out of service and notify your supervisor.
Our goal is to have an injury free workplace. The only way to accomplish this is for every employee to stop and think about what they are about to do and make sure it is the safest way to accomplish the job at hand.
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