The art of effective messaging in risk management and EHS.

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1. Guarding Against Hazards:
   “If you can reach your hand over, under, around or through the guard and into the point of operation, then it’s not guarded.” That phrase was hammered into me by my first safety supervisor, who, with many years of service with the State of Ohio, had seen it all. It was especially timely as I had recently graduated from college and found myself investigating the most severe of industrial accidents throughout Northern Ohio. In addition to conducting site surveys and investigations, I was teaching mechanical and hydraulic press safeguarding classes at various employers. The measuring tool provided by Rockford Safety Systems was an essential visual and physical communication tool that demonstrated how so many guards were in fact, not “guards.” In summary, if you are able to reach into an in-running powered roll, a point of operation, or reach a pinch-point, then the machinery or equipment is not “guarded.”
2. Acknowledging Accident Severity:
   “The severity of an accident is a matter of chance.” My supervisor would often remind me of this. His point was, of course, that no matter how minor the nature of the workplace injury or illness was that resulted from an accident, and even where no-one was hurt, that it was merely a matter of chance that the accident or event didn’t result in a more serious outcome. Don’t we often think that way? For example, “Boy was he or she lucky,” or, “That could have been a real tragedy, but thankfully it wasn’t.” In other words, that could also imply “Let’s move on.” However, the phrase was fair warning to all that even the smallest of accidents and all near-misses should be paid attention to, and that we must always strive to identify those hazards and risks that could lead to an injury or illness, so let’s mitigate the risk before anything happens.
3. Preparation for the Unexpected:
   “Be prepared for the unexpected.” Fine words they are. This phrase always reminded me of my scouting days with the Scout Motto “Be Prepared.” However, the reason I pack a blanket, warm clothing, sports drinks and a Kind bar into my 4-wheeler every winter in Cleveland is actually due to my scouting years. That’s because we experienced those frigid winter weather campouts in pup tents. And it did pay off once during a blizzard when I spent 8 hours stuck on the Ohio Turnpike with a full tank of gas, warm clothing, sufficient water, and a jar of peanut butter.
   But, was the Port of Baltimore really prepared for the very recent and unexpected tragedy involving the Dali container shipped that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and should the event have been anticipated?
   The phrase, “Be prepared for the unexpected” was always of some concern to me as there was not a clear and direct call to action. For example, wouldn’t “Plan for the unexpected” be better stated, so that planning actually became an action item? And then there’s the fuzziness associated with the term “unexpected.” What actually is “unexpected” that warrants action, and by whose determination? Perhaps a better command might be: “Risk assess, then take action,” or, “Risk assess, then mitigate.” Or ideally, “Risk assess, then mitigate with the goal of achieving zero risk.” Of course, pragmatically speaking, life certainly is not without “all” risk mitigated. So, my final suggestion is: “Risk assess, educate, communicate, and mitigate.”