The Importance of Working Safe: A Post by Dylan Angus

Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post from Dylan Angus, a Construction Safety Supervisor in British Columbia, Canada. Dylan’s father Ross Angus was killed in a trade-related accident in October of 2011.

In the world of elevators, where we move the equivalent of the world’s population every three days, I’ve come to understand a profound truth: safety isn’t just a regulation, it’s a lifeline.

It’s a lesson that struck home on that pivotal day in 2011, forever altering my family’s course. This is a story of my father, Ross Angus, a loving parent and elevator constructor of unwavering dedication. This series of events reshaped my life—it was a stark reminder that regardless of skill or experience, complacency and distraction kill. Each worker deserves to return home safely to their loved ones. This is my tribute to my father, and an urgent call to prioritize safety above all else.

My dad was an elevator adjustor. He had 30 years of experience in the trade, starting when he was 17, and was the top adjuster at his company. The week of October 12th, 2011, he and a helper had been getting an elevator ready for inspection. On October 12th, the day of the inspection, his regular helper called in sick, so the company dispatched a new helper to the site. My dad was late, and when the helper tried to call him, the calls weren’t going through. There was a BlackBerry outage that day, which caused the phones not to work.

So, not being able to reach my dad, the helper decided to take the elevator up to the machine room to get started on some things for the inspection. My dad walked into the building exactly 45 seconds later and made his way to the hoistway. He inserted his lunar key into the door. When he had opened the door a couple of inches, he heard a disturbance down the hallway. Something about the situation concerned him. With his head still turned toward the people causing the disturbance, he opened the door the rest of the way and stepped in to an empty hoistway. He fell and died instantly. The helper and the inspector found him in the elevator pit a couple of hours later.

I was 16 years old at the time, in a class at school when I found out. My teacher got a call over the intercom. He told me to pack my things; I would be going home. I made my way down to the office, and that’s when I could hear my mom crying. I walked into the room, and she looked up at me and said, ‘Dylan, something horrible happened. Your father was killed at work.’

My world shattered, and the course of my life changed instantly. My whole family suffered when my dad died. He was intelligent, kind-hearted, loyal, hardworking, and selfless. He was a father, brother, son, and a husband. He was a role model to many people, and his home was a welcome place to all.

How did this happen? Well, something unanticipated happened. My dad was distracted, he assumed that the elevator was there, and it cost him his life. Let this serve as a lesson to all – no one goes to work one day expecting not to make it home. My dad was supposed to pick me up from school. Little did I know that when he dropped me off in the morning, the ‘have a good day buddy, love you’ would be the last words he ever said to me.

Allow me to be candid: rules and procedures such as the six-inch rule, live-dead-live, Lockout Tagout, hoistway/pit access, and several more, are written in blood. Let the fallen workers before you serve as a lesson to slow down, and to follow the IUEC and your company’s safety guidelines. We work to live, not live to work. We work to be able to provide for our loved ones, to secure their future, and enjoy our retirement. No job is so urgent that it should come before the ultimate goal: going home to your loved ones.

If you are an elevator mechanic, chances are that at least one time in your career you have opened a hoistway door to discover the car was not there. I ask you this – how long does it take for you to take a step forward? That is how long it takes for distraction to lead to a fatal mistake.

As I reflect on the heartbreaking story of my father, I am reminded of the fragility of life and the paramount importance of workplace safety. His story serves as a powerful lesson and an important reminder that we work in an industry with inherent risks. I hope that my father’s story causes all of us in the elevator industry to redouble our commitment to safety. May his memory inspire us to maintain the highest safety standards, protect one another, and ensure that every worker has the chance to be there for their family, just as it should be.

In the end, we work not just to make a living but to make a life—a life filled with cherished moments, family gatherings, graduations, and the joy of witnessing your children grow. Let us strive to make these moments possible for every family, for every worker, by valuing safety above all else in our industry.

Ernest Hemingway said, “Every man has two deaths, when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name.” Keep the names of those on the IUEC Memorial Wall in Columbia, Maryland, in your hearts and on your lips. May their legacy be a constant reminder, so they did not die in vain.

 

Dylan Angus

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To find out more about the basic elevator constructor safety training provided by the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) and the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), take a look at these recent articles:

The Fundamentals of Safety for Elevator Technicians/Constructors

NEIEP: Increasing Elevator Mechanics’ Safety, Knowledge, and Value

Elevator Hoistway Safety and Need for Vigilance

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IUEC Launches Veterans’ Assistance Program

The International Union of Elevator Constructors has never forgotten that the sacrifices and patriotism of our servicemembers are the reasons we are able to live and work in freedom. Our trade, our very existence as Americans and Canadians, would be nothing if not for our Armed Forces. The IUEC couldn’t be prouder to have thousands of Veteran servicemembers among our IUEC membership. This pride was the impetus for the creation of the new Elevator Constructors Veterans’ Assistance Program (VAP), which seeks to serve our military members and help provide them with critical support and resources.

 

IUEC National Organizer Jason Gray, Local 32 member and U.S. Marines Corps Veteran; Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund National Coordinator Ryan Donnell, Local 21 member and spouse of a U.S. Air Force Veteran; and IUEC IT Director Gil Duncan, U.S. Navy Veteran, are the lead officers on this new initiative.

 

Servicemembers face unique challenges, from understanding and receiving their military benefits and navigating civilian life to receiving proper health care and gaining meaningful employment. The VAP intends to bridge the gap for our Veteran members, serving in an advocacy role as a marketing department promoting efforts our members are doing to support our Veterans, and as a powerful lobbying arm, as needed, in the halls of government on issues of importance to Veterans and their families. The new Elevator Constructors VAP is a valuable benefit to our Veteran members and their families that will help our nations’ bravest receive the benefits and recognition they deserve.

 

IUEC Veteran members are asked to register themselves with the VAP by either filling out the VAP form located in the back of the Elevator Constructor journal or emailing vap@iuec.org with their name and contact information, International union number and ULink ID, branch of military service, years served, and rank. All members and local unions are encouraged to support our new VAP by providing any information (via vap@iuec.org) that may be important to our Veteran members, as well as efforts undertaken to serve our military community.

 

Additionally, check out the statement Frank J. Christensen, IUEC General President, has made about the new IUEC Veteran Assistance Program (VAP) here.

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World-Class Apprenticeship Training Takes Center Stage in Downtown Miami

Editor’s note: The following is a press release from the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC).

MIAMI (May 10, 2023) – The International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF), and Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) this week joined the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) and IUEC Local 71 to highlight for Miami-Dade lawmakers and other County officials the value of hands-on training and education opportunities in the organized elevator industry.

“This week, our union put on a great show at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center,” said IUEC Local 71 Business Manager John Herbert. “As Miami-Dade lawmakers and County officials walked from station to station, I was so proud to witness firsthand as they realized just how sophisticated our union’s training and education program is – I saw the lightbulbs go off, as attendees recognized how our union’s robust safety standards are necessary to prioritize worker safety and the safety of the riding public.”

Florida is one of nearly 40 states that currently requires licensing for the workers installing, maintaining, and repairing elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.

“Everything the IUEC does – it’s all about safety. We fight every day not only for the safety of our members, but for a safer industry as a whole. What’s more, the IUEC advocates for the safety of the men, women, and children riding elevators and escalators as part of their daily routines,” said IUEC Organizer Abel Arabitg. “In November 2022, news broke that certain Florida elevator mechanics had participated in a scheme to illegally obtain their licenses. I immediately thought of the potential repercussions. We could see serious injuries. Worse yet, we could see fatalities. This was and remains very personal for me, as Miami is my home. Showcasing our apprenticeship program in Miami this week was a great step to help ensure key stakeholders understand how critical education and training are in the elevator industry.”

IUEC members entering the trade are immediately enrolled in a four-plus year U.S. Department of Labor-Registered Apprenticeship program. Through classroom courses, hands-on experiential learning, and online virtual simulations, the NEIEP curriculum provides apprentices with the theoretical foundations and practical skills they need to become the industry’s most highly-skilled elevator constructors.

“IUEC members are dedicated to the safety of any person traveling on elevators, escalators, and moving walks,” said Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin Cabrera (District 6). “As I spoke to instructors from the union’s apprenticeship program, it was evident that classroom learning coupled with hands-on training is a recipe for success. In my district, and across the Sunshine State, I want to know the riding public is safe, and for that to be a reality, the hardworking men and women building and maintaining the equipment must be properly trained and licensed.”

 

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IUEC Members Attended the 2023 North America’s Building Trades (NABTU) Legislative Conference

This week, nearly 100 members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) attended the 2023 North America’s Building Trades (NABTU) Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. While in Washington, DC, IUEC elevator constructors and leadership met with dozens of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to voice their support for strengthening our current labor laws, passing the National Apprenticeship Act, and increasing OSHA funding.

President Joe Biden spoke to building trades workers about building and rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, crediting the skills they gained by participating in USDOL-registered apprenticeship programs like the conveyance industry’s National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) along with pre-apprenticeship programs as a critical part of ensuring this work is done right while creating pathways to middle-class incomes for tradespeople and their families.

Speakers including Sean McGarvey (President, NABTU), Marty Walsh (former U.S. Department of Labor Secretary), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R) (PA-01) – who this week, along with Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and a bipartisan group of members, introduced the National Apprenticeship Act of 2023 – addressed attendees representing NABTU-affiliated construction trade unions from across the country.

IUEC General President Frank J. Christensen welcomed IUEC elevator constructors from Locals across the country, representing them on the stage alongside leaders of a number of NABTU-affiliated unions. At a private breakfast event, President Christensen spoke to IUEC leadership, organizers, and staff about the progress being made by the union. He talked about the value of the IUEC’s apprenticeship training program, the IUEC’s role in ensuring Americans from coast to coast have access to fulfilling careers with strong wage and benefit standards, and the union’s commitment to investing in IUEC members’ health and safety.

NABTU is an alliance of 14 national and international unions in the building and construction industry that collectively represent more than 3 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada. Current members include:

  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
  • International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters)
  • International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
  • International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC)
  • International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
  • Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA)
  • Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA)
  • International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)
  • United Association – Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs (UA)
  • United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers (Roofers)
  • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
  • International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (Boilermakers)
  • International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (Insulators)
  • International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW)
  • The Canadian Building Trades Unions (CBTU)

Each April, members from NABTU-affiliated construction unions gather on Capitol Hill to discuss issues of importance to working people such as protecting Davis-Bacon, supporting project labor agreements, and passing both the PRO Act and the National Apprenticeship Act.

 

 

 

 

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IUEC Community Supports Local 10 Member Affected by Fire

In the middle of the night on December 21, 2022, Local #10 member Kelly Catterton and his family were asleep in their home in Mechanicsville, MD. After finishing a long shift working on elevator modernizations as a mechanic for Action Elevator, it had been an evening like any other.

“My one-year-old was sleeping in his crib, my four-year-old was in his room, my wife had gone to bed,” Kelly said. “I just happened to fall asleep on the couch. And then around 12:30-1:00, I woke up because I smelled something burning. I thought I left something in the oven.” He ran into the kitchen and pulled the oven open, but found the stove was off. “And then I opened the door to the garage – it was like an inferno in there. I ran back to the bedrooms, grabbed my kids and my wife and got everyone outside. Once I knew everyone was safe, I went back in to grab the car keys because it was 18 degrees and we were all out there in t-shirts and pajamas.”

Within minutes, Kelly’s house was completely engulfed in flames. Amazingly, everyone in his family had escaped unharmed. But with only four days before Christmas, two small children, and another baby on the way in a few short months, it was just about the worst time for a tragedy like this to happen.

A few hours later, Charmain Colicchio, Office Manager from Local 10, received a call from a retired member with the news. “My immediate thought was – what can I do, how can I help right now. It was like my own family at that point.”

Charmain reached out to EIWPF National Coordinator and longtime Local 10 member Matt Rusch. Having served as a volunteer firefighter for Queenstown and Solomons Fire Departments for close to 30 years, Matt had an idea of what the family would need in the aftermath. And having been Kelly’s teacher when he was an apprentice in the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), he was especially concerned about the family.

Matt and Charmain got right to work coordinating donations of clothing, shoes, diapers, coats – anything they could think of that could help. They also set up a GoFundMe so that the family could have access to funds to meet their immediate needs quickly. Once it was ready, it was shared widely on Facebook and other online platforms. Within four days, 165 people from all across the country contributed and raised over $17,000. “All of the members came together. We even received donations from folks who had been laid off,” said Charmain.

It wasn’t just the people in Local 10’s jurisdiction who contributed. Friends and family members set up additional GoFundMe accounts. And the membership of Local 5 in Philadelphia sent an additional check for $5,000. Kelly was floored by the generosity of his IUEC brothers and sisters. “I don’t know anyone in Local 5. I’ve never even been there.” he said.

Business Manager John O’Connor reached out to IUEC Regional Director Jim Chapman, who had worked in the past with Michelle Maxia at the Toy Box Connection, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that provides toys and emergency supplies for children and families in need – including those who have been affected by fires, floods, tornadoes, and other disasters. Receiving a request for help so close to Christmas – their busiest time of year – may have fazed other organizations, but with Michelle at the helm, they jumped into action and sent a truckload of donations all the way to Mechanicsville, MD the next day.

Members of Local 10 had also loaded up a truck with more clothing, household goods, and Christmas gifts for Kelly and his family. And to the delight of the children, when they arrived, Matt Rusch had dressed up as Santa Claus to deliver them. “We wanted the kids to know that wherever they were, Santa could find them,” said Charmain. “We didn’t want them to worry about Santa not knowing where to bring their gifts on Christmas.”

While it will take a long time for Kelly and his family to rebuild their house, he emphasized over and over how thankful he was for the support of his IUEC brothers and sisters. “In the relatively short time I’ve been in the IUEC, I’ve made lifelong friends. There are some really good people here,” he said. “Five years ago, before I worked in the elevator trade, I used to paint cars. I hate to think where I’d be right now if I hadn’t become an elevator constructor. This is a great trade – it’s very rewarding if you put in the effort and are willing to learn. Wherever I go, if I’m wearing a union shirt, people come up to me – we take care of each other.”

For more information, visit IUEC Local 10’s website.

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The IUEC and Dixon Center Laid a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, VA

Colonel David Sutherland, Chairman of Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services and Chris Gardner, author of “The Pursuit of Happyness,” joined the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

IUEC General President Frank Christensen along with Brothers Abel Arabitg, Steve Simpson, and more than 20 friends and family members attended the event. The solemn ceremony connected leaders from the IUEC with representatives from Dixon Center whose actions are leading veterans to a better and more secure future.

President Christensen has been a strong advocate for veterans and a supporter of Dixon Center’s work for many years. Because he has many family members who served, he understands the importance of taking care of veterans who fought for the rights and liberties we enjoy today. In an interview, he mentioned, “My father served in WWII, in the Navy…I had six uncles that served in WWII; my brother also served, and I got the chance to see that veterans aren’t taken care of in this country as they should [be]. I believe so much in our veterans today, and we owe them everything – our freedoms and everything we have today.”

Helmets to Hardhats Partnership

Through a partnership with Helmets to Hardhats, a national non-profit program, the IUEC offers veterans priority status during the apprenticeship’s recruitment process.

Helmets to Hardhats connects military service members with superior training and education programs in the building trades. It provides veterans with solid, family-wage career opportunities through federally-registered apprenticeship programs, such as the IUEC’s National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP).

Frank Christensen also shares a strong friendship with Dixon Center Chairman Col. David Sutherland.  Col. Sutherland says, “We embrace the opportunities that the IUEC is creating for veterans in the building trades. Now, we showcase the way you do it to other organizations. Don’t create a new program; integrate them in – recruit and train them – the way [the IUEC] does it with the Apprenticeship Programs, and retain them. They feel appreciated, they feel connected, and they know they’ve got opportunities to advance; and not just them, but also their families.”

A Day Well Spent

The day was spent walking through the grounds, visiting gravesites, and sharing stories of those who served. All who participated hope events like this will not only pay homage to the memories of veterans and their families, but also aid in linking past experiences to the present day feelings and behavior, ultimately shaping the development of leaders who learn from the lives and experiences of others.

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ElevatorInfo Covers Collaboration between “Building Pathways” and IUEC Local 4 for Diversity in the Elevator Industry

ElevatorInfo recently covered a great collaboration between International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 4 Boston and Building Pathways – a non-profit organization based in Boston, MA with a mission to increase the number of diverse workers in the building trades workforce. Together they work on recruitment, retention, and advancement of under-represented groups in the building trades.

In their blog, ElevatorInfo interviews Desalia Gomes, a first-year apprentice at IUEC Local 4 who got her start through a pre-apprenticeship program with Building Pathways. She shares her story on how she got started in the elevator industry, the education and training she was provided access to and opportunities she sees in the elevator industry to further her career and skills.

For the full story and the video, check out ElevatorInfo’s blog.

 

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OSHA and Elevator Industry Renew Alliance

In a major shift toward improving safety in the Elevator Industry, an agreement was signed to renew an Alliance between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of US Department of Labor (OSHA) and the Elevator Industry Safety Partners (EISP).

 

OSHA’S Alliances provide organizations (in this case the entire elevator industry) an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA’S initiatives, outreach, communication, training, and education.

 

Check out the latest Alliance Agreement here  and see how OSHA and the EISP are working together with a common goal to make the elevator industry safer for all workers.

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Safety Stand Down Day 2022

Every year on April 28th IUEC, EIWPF and employers in the Elevator Industry hold safety meetings, toolbox talks, and send out safety messages to promote a safer workplace for all workers. This event is called Safety Stand Down Day and it happens on the same day as Workers Memorial Day in the United States and the National Day of Mourning in Canada.

For the first time, IUEC’s working contract now includes an additional safety article thanks to the collaborative efforts of both employers and the IUEC Labor Committee. The newly added article further protects men and women working on the elevators, escalators, and other moving conveyances, ensuring a safer working environment for members in the industry.

We encourage you to visit the IUEC Safety Page to access links for Life After Loss Videos, OSHA’s National Stand Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, and other useful tools as the industry Stands Down for Safety.

Please take a moment to listen to an important safety message from your IUEC General President Frank Christensen by calling 1-888-618-0613 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada).

Remember, we came to this industry for a better life – not a shorter one.

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Developing a Safety Culture at Home

The following article was written by Justin Ganschow, business development manager with Caterpillar Safety Services in Peoria, Illinois.  Justin is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP) with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science—Biology and a Master of Science in Biology from Bradley University. This article is being reprinted with permission from Caterpillar.

 

Q&A with safety expert Justin Ganschow on why employee safety behavior at home matters

The safest jobsites are those that have a strong safety culture – where safety isn’t just a set of rules or the managers’ job – it’s everyone’s job and just part of how the work gets done.

But what about when those employees go home? With 90% of medically consulted injuries occurring off the job, building a safety culture at home is just as important.

We spoke with Justin Ganschow of Caterpillar Safety Services. His team works with businesses to provide safety assessments, workshops, training programs, consulting, and coaching. Read our Q&A for more on building a safety culture at home:

 

  1. In your work, you help businesses grow their safety programs beyond the basics to a true workplace safety culture. Can you define safety culture for us in layman’s terms? Why is it important at work, and how can it apply at home?

    Culture is how we do things. It’s a collection of shared beliefs and practices. In terms of safety culture, it’s how we do the work when nobody’s watching—the tools we use, the methods we use to get the work done.

    When we’re at work, there’s a safety net because people are watching. But outside of work, either no one is watching, or people don’t think it’s their job to say anything about safety. So it’s all on us to make the safe choices.

  2. Do you find that people who work in safety-conscious industries are naturally more safety conscious at home?  Does the safety focus transfer automatically?

    It should transfer automatically—it should become a habit, but that’s not always the case.

    A few years ago, I was on a work trip speaking with a heavy equipment maintenance company’s safety manager. He told me he doesn’t do all this safety stuff at home because that’s what he has to do at work. I was baffled. This was the safety manager! He didn’t make the connection that the hazards at home are just as dangerous, or more so, than at work.

    If we make safety solely about rules and policies without understanding why we take precautions (what’s at stake if we get hurt), then we’re missing the point and missing the opportunity to make a real impact.

  3. When people are overly familiar with a situation or task, they start ignoring safety red flags. How can people break the routine and be more safety conscious?

    We see this a lot because it’s how the brain works. The first time you do something you spend more time preparing and thinking consciously about it. But the more times you do it, you think about it less and it becomes automatic. Your brain conserves energy this way. The hazard hasn’t changed, but our conscious focus on it has.

    The best way to go off autopilot is by stopping and thinking about the task before you get started. Many of our customers do this before they start every shift. The next time you’re about to start a routine task, think about:

    How you’re going to do the work

    • What’s at stake if something goes wrong
    • How you can consciously mitigate the risks

    Routinely thinking through your work before, during, and after will help break that unconscious cycle.

  4. You describe a safety culture as what people do when no one is watching. That’s a concern of many parents—what are my kids doing when I’m not there? What’s the best way parents can have peace of mind that their kids are being safe?

    As parents, I don’t know that we’ll ever stop worrying about our children’s safety, but we can do our best to set them up for success. In addition to modeling safe behavior, it’s also important to teach them good habits they can develop to protect themselves. You can read our “How to Talk to Kids About Safety” article for specific tips.

  5. As an expert in safety, what have you done to build a safety culture at home? Do you have any examples from ­others you’d like to share?

    I grew up on a farm and we never talked about safety. When I got out on my own, I continued taking all kinds of risks and shortcuts. Besides a few broken bones, stiches and scars, I luckily made it through intact. But there were a few close calls that still shake me up to this day.

    I don’t want to see bad things happen to anyone else, which is why I’m doing this job today. And I’ve learned to be ­prepared:

    • I’ve invested in buying the right tools for whatever job I’m doing so I don’t take shortcuts.
    • Instead of diving into a complex task or project like I used to, I research it ahead of time to know what I’m getting into.
    • When I’ve gone to help friends cut firewood, I’ve taken a bag of safety glasses, gloves and hearing protection in casethey didn’t bring any.
    • I’ve put fire extinguishers in the house and vehicles.
    • When backpacking and hunting, I carry a first aid kit and twice the amount of water I think we’ll need, just in case.

    While we don’t like to think about what could go wrong, it’s critical that we do and then prepare for how to mitigate or address it if it does.

  6. Being prepared is something you’ve talked a lot about. What’s the best way to prepare for emergencies at home?

    While they’re rare occurrences, emergency situations can be life-altering for your family. It’s important to be ready with resources and a plan. We have a section on cat.com dedicated to disaster preparedness, including an emergency supply shopping list and tips for evacuating your home during fires and hurricanes. There’s also great resources available at sites like the American Red Cross and Ready.gov.

  7. What would you say to people who say “formal safety processes are good for jobsites, but they’re overkill for home” or people who feel awkward talking about safety at home?  How do you make the safety stuff feel normal?

    Home feels like it should be the safest place on earth. And it can be. But it requires us to plan for safety and act accordingly. If you’re working at heights from a ladder, using power tools or chemicals, grilling, or doing landscaping, the hazards may be just as serious, or even more so, than at work. If you’re not proactively safe on the weekend, you may not make it to the job again on Monday.

    To me, off-the-job safety is just as critical as safety on the job. To make it “normal,” you have to make it a routine. And to make it a routine, you have to start. And it should be a positive experience.

    Start simple and do something small:

    • Buy a comfortable set of safety glasses and hearing protection for mowing the lawn.
    • Splurge and get some noise-canceling headphones.
    • Start catching your family members doing something safe and recognize them for it. You don’t have to make it weird. Just share why it matters to you and that you appreciate it. With consistency, it becomes the norm.
  8. You’ve given a lot of great safety tips today. What’s the biggest takeaway for people when it comes to building a ­safety culture at home?

    Know that building a culture of safety, whether at work or at home, is a continuous improvement journey. You don’t have to have it all figured out from the start. But you have to start. Safety can be simple, but you have to think and turn your intentions into action.

 

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