THE PAUSE IS MOST CRITICAL SAFETY TOOL

Impulse: noun > a sudden strong wish or need to do something, without stopping to think about the results

• You are aware that work needs to be done with Safety in mind.
• You need to reach an overhead light bulb (above, out of reach)
• The ladder to safely access that light bulb is in the Garage (other side of house)
• Your brain activates a series of urges, desires, and impulses for a quick and easy approach.
• These urges are stimulated by external stimuli such as time (a 10 second job), energy (getting the ladder), convenience (shortcut).
• You climb on a wheeled desk chair and reach over to the light bulb

?When one’s actions later become cause for regret, we can hear statements like, “It seemed like a good thing to do”, or “At the time, seemed reasonable”.? Afterwards, upon reflection, we can admit that there were better (safer) ways to execute that task.? If only we had stopped to think about it.

That is why, even with proper training and instruction, a skilled worker can still engage in an unsafe activity.

Over many years of my career completing injury investigations, the majority were a result of an impulse – a thought or desire to do something, without taking a moment to consider the consequences and weigh the risks.? And in discussions with the injured worker, during an incident follow up, they usually acknowledge that if they had thought more about it, they would likely not have done the at-risk behavior.

Sure, there may be factors such as lack of training, poor instructions, or poor supervision.? But even if training, instructions, and supervision are properly addressed, you are still left with the impulses that occur in people.

The mechanism of a person receiving an impulse and taking immediate action (without consideration of consequence) can be illustrated as a BANG-BOOM sequence.?

?BANG, the Impulse >>> BOOM, the immediate following action.

The BOOM occurs quickly after the BANG.? Notice there is no time for contemplating what the following action should be after the BANG (Impulse) is received.?

• BANG >> A person cuts us off on the road
• BOOM >> We yell obscenities, proffer the single digit, blow our horn and ride their bumper.
• CONSEQUENCE >> The offending driver retaliates and we’re in a violent confrontation.

Now consider if there was a time lag between the BANG (Impulse) and the BOOM (immediate following action) – a moment to reflect, analyze, consider good (safe) versus bad (at risk) options and what we really value as an outcome (safety).? We now have the BANG-PAUSE-BOOM sequence.

• BANG >> Quick and easy way to access the light bulb – stand on a wheeled desk chair.
• PAUSE >> Standing on the chair which may move or topple over can cause a fall injury.? Is Safety important or not.
• BOOM >> Go get the ladder.

Granted this may be oversimplification, but it is the concept that is important here.? The PAUSE between the Impulse and the next action to be taken.

A fully documented and implemented Safety Program is necessary - policies, procedures, training, PPE, risk assessment and hazard control, etc..? It is the “Hardware” part of managing Safety.

There is also the “Software” side of managing Safety that is complementary to the Hardware part.? Helping workers manage those impulses that often lead to an unsafe act or at-risk behavior.? That is, the ability to manage one's impulses, emotions, and behaviors to achieve the end goal of safe performance.

There is debate surrounding the degree to which self-control is an innate individual difference, versus a learned skill. Most experts believe that people who are disposed to lower levels of less self-control can still cultivate healthy habits and take counter-measures to control their behavior.

• (Hofmann W, Friese M, Strack F. Impulse and Self-Control From a Dual-Systems Perspective. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2009 Mar;4(2):162-76).

People who think about “why” they are doing something are able to exert greater self-control and persist longer at a task than those who think about “how” to do something. When we know the goal we seek, rather than the means of getting there, we’re more likely to take the time and energy to acquire the ladder and then handle that lightbulb.

• (David Lewis,? Impulse, Why We Do What We Do Without Knowing Why We Do It , ISBN 9780674725492? Publication date: 10/01/2013)

There are a variety of techniques and processes that can be employed to have workers PAUSE and think about “why” they are doing something versus “how” to do something. The following are just a small sampling:

• Observation & Feedback
• The 5 Second Rule
• Take 2 minutes exercise
• Checklists
• Stop Think Act/Ask Review
• Take 5
• STOPLIGHT – Stop, Assess, Go

We are humans.? And it is a basic human trait that we all get Impulses.? And if we are to be successful in whatever endeavor we are engaged (being Safe, being socially responsible, being financially smart, etc.) we must incorporate the PAUSE.

Any organization that is going to achieve Goal Zero performance (no harm to people) must have the PAUSE in how they conduct work/tasks.?