Vigilance is not paranoia, its just understanding and being able to process whats going on around you its a skill and a habit that takes practice something that shouldnt be ignored. Lt. Murphy. Watching your surrounding can reduce the risk of vehicle collisions, dropping objects, injuries from falling objects and many other accidents. Keep jewelry out of sight; don't flash jewelry; turn rings around so the stones don't show. Our knowledge, experience and education enables us to understand what is going on around us and helps us to determine if it is safe. Don't leave cash or valuables at the office. Questioning without judgment is a key factor in successful situational awareness. Motorcyclists can fall more easily on these surfaces. After youve done this you can more easily avoid those threats and avoid a potentially violent situation. In the case of Sikh Temple, Lt. Murphy did arrive at the scene in under two minutes, but if he had been only 15 seconds later, there would have been another 15 people killed based on how the shooter had people cornered, according to Lt. Murphy. This is one of the easiest ways to increase your awareness. Be alert of your surroundings. The habit of staying calm in chaotic situations takes practice. Do not be afraid to speak to someone to ask them to not come closer if approaching you in a parking lot. Being able to communicate with others your perception of the risks is a vital part of the awareness strategy. #1 Be Aware of Your Surroundings Every job site has inherent dangers whether that's heavy machinery, conveyor belts, or even tripping over items in the office. Situational awareness is only as good as your perception. In this video, I go over a simple driving lesson on paying attention to your surroundings. Respond to medical emergencies properly. Drive either ahead of or behind the other vehicle. To provide you with the Top 5 Tips for Staying Safe, Guard911 consulted safety expert, Lt. Brian Murphy, a 23-year former Oak Creek, Wisconsin police officer who trains law enforcement officers on situational awareness techniques and strategies, as well as educating citizens on what it means to be aware of your surroundings.. Once your business or organization has a response plan, Guard911 mobile panic button apps offer a convenient place to store it where its immediately available with the touch of an icon on the users phone. Watch for hazardsLook beyond the vehicle ahead of you. An even better offensive precaution is to keep a perpetual mental image of every potential weapon and attack vector as you about your daily life. Tech Support document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In this post, Ill discuss a number of techniques and tips that can help you learn how to increase awareness of your surroundings. There are hazards and risks every day on the job site and to keep yourself and your coworkers safe you have to be aware of them. For example, when you reach across a table to grab a pencil, you use proprioception to know how much. To maintain a space cushion on each side of your vehicle: It is very important to check behind you before you: Check traffic behind you often to know if you are being tailgated (another driver is following too closely). In the city, 1015 seconds is about one block. Even listening to music can be a distraction and a safety hazard. The US Department of Homeland Security reminds us to be aware of our surroundings, if you see something, say something.Lawrence Tech is a private, accredited. It is important that you know how many problems you face and how serious they are. Protect your Back: Utilize walls and other barriers to protect your back and sides and maximize your field of vision, taking care not to back yourself into a corner. There are a lot of blind spots, corners, turns, and on the equipment itself. A basic breathing practice that can be used throughout the day, especially during times of stress, is the Four Square Breathing Technique. A driver may decide to exit suddenly or swerve back onto the freeway. These are all useful questions to start the conversation around training drills. Senses: Practice engaging all your senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) to their fullest extent to increase your personal safety. Remember that we all want to go home safely the way we came to work safely. Being aware of potential hazards is the best way to turn an incident into a near miss. What would you do? Lacking or not having adequate situation awareness has been identified as one of the primary factors in accidents related to errors or mistakes. Carefree yet cautious. Only use devices in areas or situations where it's safe to do so and remember to look up regularly to scan surroundings. 14. What would you do? You can pick up lots of information up just from listening. 3. Manage - If you feel that the operation is unsafe, stop working. As you scan ahead, be alert for vehicles around you. Practice devising alternate methods of escape if your primary exit becomes compromised. Invest in workplace safety and you can expect cost savings such as reduced workers' compensation costs, medical expenses, avoiding citations, and reducing unplanned work stoppages caused by occupational injuries. Lt. Murphy has been onsite at several schools during active shooter drills. Taking fifteen minutes to disconnect can help you to be more connected during the rest of the day with life offline. Be alert to pickpocketers on crowded buses; check your purse or wallet if someone is jostling, crowding or pushing you. If there are no uniformed people, look for grandparents, women, and people with children who may be able to help. If you are out shopping and you notice someone frequently and they appear to be overly observant of or interested in, or acting out of normal (remember, point 4), trust your gut. Watch for large vehicles because they can gather speed very quickly. Proceed With Caution A warehouse is a busy place, with many different things going on at once. Your instincts exist to protect you it is always better to be overcautious than to ignore warning signs that turned out to be legitimate. The best way to keep yourself and others safe is to identify the hazards in your workplace and be aware of your surroundings. At least half of the crimes in the Unites States go unreported, either because people don't think the police can do anything about it, or because people don't want to get involved. Avoid situations that could force you to suddenly use your brakes. Safety is the key to happy living, A little care can prevent much grieving. Guard911 is here to help. Panicking adds to the chaos and breeds knee-jerk reactions, causing people to abandon all protocol and enter a fight-or-flight mentality. 1. If you stay calm, you can think, and if you can think, you can make good decisions.. 15. The response plan feature, one of the most overlooked of the Guard911, SchoolGuard, and CampusGaurd911 mobile apps, is a dedicated space to upload customized response plans. Do not respond to conversation from strangers on the streetcontinue walking. Failure to observe your surroundings before welding can drastically increase the risk of fire . If you live anywhere in the world, then its probably just about everyone you see. Quotes about Awareness of Surroundings 19 Picture Quotes 5 Written Quotes We are gifted with freedom, but with that freedom comes the reality of the unknown and the responsibility to be aware of our surroundings and on guard against those who would do us harm. Choose a product which is designed specifically for use on toilets, sinks, bathtubs and showers in both . 49 0 obj <> endobj If youre using headphones, consider using only one, or keeping the volume as low as possible in order to still be able to hear what is going on around you. A lack of situational awareness affects your personal safety in two broad . The best way to be safe is to know your surroundings and pay attention to everything and everyone around you. Body language plays an extremely important role in how you are perceived by others. When you report all the facts about a crime, it helps the police assign officers in the places where crimes are occurring or where they are most likely to occur, and your report may help prevent a crime from reoccurring. Look inside your vehicle before you get in, especially when it has been parked in a parking terminal or lot. 3. International Journal of Cognitive Informatics and Natural Intelligence, The newsletter of the ISBAs Standing Committee on Government Lawyers. In this safety talk, we will go over what situational awareness is and ways you can improve on it in your daily lives including at work. The police need the eyes and ears of all citizens. Getting situational awareness right early on is important when you are working on a construction job site. Become a Hard Target: Those with malicious intent generally single out individuals that seem meek, vulnerable, or unaware of their surroundings. That might be difficult hearing all that while wearing headphones. Should you have questions about how this pertains to your job talk to your supervisor or foreman. Understanding Your Surroundings While Driving, refer to the Basic Speed Law in the Speed Limits section. The first level, tuned out, is similar to when you are driving and are engrossed in thought and arrived somewhere in your vehicle without even thinking about driving there. Ignorance or denial of a hazard make a persons chances of quickly recognizing a threatening situation and avoiding it highly unlikely. Increase the distance between yourself and this person the amount of distance depends on the situation, but five or six feet can allow you some reaction time if they become an active threat. Information contained on this siteshould not be taken as legal advice. Allow extra room ahead, do not brake suddenly. We use cookies to manage and improve your website experience. In this toolbox talk, learn about situational awareness and how being aware of your surroundings can be an important safety precaution to preventing accidents on the construction site. Keep work areas clean and orderly. A short poem on safety. Always leave plenty of room between your vehicle and any motorcyclists or bicyclists. Wonder could this happen here to me to my family? Know which lanes are clear so you can use them if necessary. . 5. 1. Situational awareness is a great tool to use to prevent injuries and after all, you are the best resource to prevent injuries from happening. Consider, whether you need to tell someone or react. Relaxed awareness is not tiring, and it allows you to enjoy life while rewarding you with an effective level of personal safety. Not looking down at your phone the entire time youre in public fits with point number one, but it warrants its own recognition. Be aware of who you are in the electronic world. It is this panic induced paralysis that concerns us most in relation to situational awareness. We use our situational awareness to make decisions at home and at work. Make eye contact with people when walking. If you have done this, then youve experienced being tuned out. Watch for signals from other drivers. Any person wishing to rely on the information present on this site should consult with competent legal counsel before doing so. Don't presume changes in your surroundings are innocent or fine. As you are taking your different route to work, ask yourself, what if that car pulls right out in front of you where will you go? TikTok video from tarryncarla (@tarryncarla): "Keep safe and be aware of your surroundings at all times. #safety #southafricatiktok #crimeprevention #bevigilantatalltimes #fyp #femalesafety". ]dXa78Gr5Ye}J(tvW8(:wT7. One of the most effective ways to do this, short of enrolling in formal classes or self-defense training, is by practicing everyday situational awareness. If you are being tailgated, be careful! Do not develop a fixed stare. Keep scanning. Everyone that drives a car knows that feeling of forgetting what youre doing after continuously driving a few hours. No more shuffling through papers or tracking down a handbook thats often locked away in a filing cabinet. Always be aware of your surroundings. You probably think you already do this, but being intentional about locating exits and doors, paying attention to the people around you, and practicing simple habits like looking over your shoulder in a parking lot before you get into your car should be part of your daily routine. 3. Keep your belongings in front of you and hold close to your body with both hands. You dont need specialized training like a CIA agent or to be a born natural to have good awareness. This means you shouldn't be looking down at your phone, and you should also avoid wearing headphones. You should allow a four-second or more cushion when: If you follow too closely and another driver cuts in front of you, just take your foot off the gas. Be aware of your surroundings. Keep in mind, carrying a weapon still isnt a magic pill. This is how your strengths and opportunities for improvement can be identified. Learn how your comment data is processed. Beware electronic distractions. Jamey Noel. Login is Emory's authentication tool for logging into multiple web systems and applications. Someone may step out from between them, a vehicle door may open, or a vehicle may pull out suddenly. This technique is done as followed: Inhale the breath. If you work at a school, on any type of campus, or if your workplace needs an active shooter plan, Guard911 apps are a one-of-a-kind active shooter mobile safety alert technology that facilitates adoption of these safety tips. During the drill, we knocked on doors and people answered them! The extra space allows you to see around the vehicle. Speak Up: Report all the following situations immediately to your supervisor (while at work) or to the person in charge (when out in public): accidents, injuries, close calls, near misses, safety hazards or concerns, and any suspicious persons, activity, or behavior. For you to effectively engage in situational awareness, to make logical decisions, and look to the future with a strategic focus, the subconscious must be engaged and assessed. Meditate for 15 Minutes a Day. Always be aware of your surroundings, vigi-lant of activity around you and attentive to individuals approaching, walking purposely and with confidence. How we read a situation can be influenced by many things such as the type of information we have been given, our own experience and distractions in the workplace. Are you still searching for toolbox talks on google and then taking that information and re-packaging it for your safety meeting? At 55 mph, it takes about 400 feet to react and bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Every single day for the past 30 years, at least three workers don't make it home and thousands more experience a serious injury. This space cushion will give you room to brake or maneuver if you need the space. Teach your children danger signs. Take a quick glance in your mirrors. ASSESS - The effects that the hazards will have upon you, the people you work with, equipment, procedures, pressures and the environment around you. Be aware of your surroundings Your coworkers won't be able to hear your ideas or take you seriously when there is a pile of dirty clothes in the corner behind you. Examples that we see every day include: Talking or texting on a smart phone; Walking around listening to music on ear phones; Daydreaming; Maintaining good awareness of your surroundings helps you stay safe. A new year is often a time of taking stock: re-evaluating ones accomplishments, goals, and personal habits both the good, and the bad. Situational awareness is a critical foundation for successful decision making in most situations that you can be put in at work. 7. Basic Safety Tips for Women: Speak Up. Never leave your purse or wallet in plain view or in common accessible areas. I dont literally mean keeping your eyes wide open, but always keeping a good field of view. Assessment of your working environment should occur continually, but especially in the following situations: Why is situational awareness important to us? As a safety measure, also look over your right and left shoulders again while backing. A consistent and structured daily toolbox talk will save lives and reduce injuries. Be aware of your surroundings, and be alert to who is near you. This is a state in which you are relaxed but are also watching other cars on the road and looking ahead for potential hazards. If you get the sense that something is wrong or doesnt add up, do not ignore it. In this toolbox talk, you can cover ways to develop better safety awareness and how to practice observation skills on the job. Consider the building occupants when scheduling your work: you may need to schedule work when there are fewer people in the building/area; Put up barriers and signage to alert building occupants to avoid hazards and stay clear of the immediate work area; Report hazards to Facilities and/or Environmental Health and Safety Go to a different store. I asked the clerk for someone to escort me out. 2023 Garco Construction - General Contractor for Commercial Construction. I was going into a store. Dont make yourself vulnerable. Ask questions about certain job scenarios and even role play if it helps you get a better understanding of what you need to do. Exits: Always be aware of your exits, and have an exit strategy. %%EOF Look over your shoulder to make sure you are not getting in the way of vehicles in the lane you want to enter. 16. Report hazards immediately to your customer or manager/spervisor. Be prepared. Votes: 2 Mike Crapo Watch yourself when you would be most vulnerable down the hall to the bathroom which is tucked way back in the corner or in the parking lot when no one else is around. On the highway, 1015 seconds is about a quarter of a mile. Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you. Many of these situations can involve your health, your safety, and your job performance. Peripheral Vision: Attempt to focus on something while also observing whats happening at the edges of your vision. Falken Ziex ZE-329 Review Should You Get this Tire? In other words, not falling into a routine. Exuding an aura of confidence, awareness, and capability, regardless of how you actually feel, can help broadcast to any threats that you are an undesirable target, and increase your personal safety. There is nothing to worry about. Keep It All Clean. If you pass the same point before you finish counting, you are following too closely. Go to the store on a different day. Because of the way forklifts work, overloading can cause the rear wheels to rise off the ground and can make the whole machine fall over. Give yourself this time by keeping a "space cushion" on all sides of your vehicle. Tell your customer, supervisor, and workmates. Avoid doorways, bushes and alleys where someone could hide. Always be aware of what's going on all around the vehicle. Avoid the temptation to check your phone by turning it off or leaving it in your locker. Although a lot of us dont deal with the bad criminals who we presume are the threat, being aware of our surroundings is still important for both ourselves and our families.
