CHAPTER SIX

Ask any employer in the Mainland Industrial Complex and they will tell you that job safety is THE most important priority of their business. They will also tell you that their first safety goal is to make each employee safety conscious, and that their training programs for safety are designed to develop a "safety first" attitude in everyone from part-time clerical help to the Plant Manager. Put your safety training to work, all the time. Your injury on the job hurts you more than anyone else, but everyone suffers from unsafe workers.

Ask questions: learn how things work and if you don't understand what you have been told, ask again. Don't be afraid of asking a "dumb" question. There isn't one.

Be on the lookout for safer ways to do a job; help fellow workers to work safely; work as a team.

Be aware of and follow special safety procedures for climate and disaster conditions: know how to deal with the dangers of heat and humidity in the summer on the Gulf Coast, for example.

Remember that even people in offices get hurt: don't be careless.

Stress is one of the leading causes of lower job performance and on-the-job UNsafety. Learn how to manage stress, recognize it, and avoid it. Get help if needed: it's not a crime.

Bring safety concerns to your supervisor's attention. Your efforts will be appreciated. And keep yourself up-to-date on changing safety regulations. Ignorance is no excuse.

Don't expect to be the exception to safety rules. If you're not suppose to wear jewelry on the job, don't. If you're not suppose to have facial or long hair, don't. If you're suppose to wear safety glasses or other protective gear, do so. Accidents can happen in a flash - once you're in the emergency room, it's too late to backtrack.

Plan your work: think of each job as a set of steps to be handled in order and do it that way. Plan safety into every task you are given. Insist that others work safely as well - impulsive behavior has no place in the work arena.

The saddest words in the English language are "if only I had thought." You are paid to think before you act.