Safety
AROUND YOUR HOME

Take time to remind

Such a simple thing to do. And if done in the proper context and tone of voice it can be anywhere from a gesture of friendship to a life-saving statement.

I can remember back to my first days as a groundman on the line crew with Adams Electric Cooperative in western Illinois. A lineman who had several years of experience would constantly remind me of the obvious, as well as the not-so-obvious, hazards on the job.

Brian Anderson

Believe me, there are plenty of both in electrical line work. He continued this welcome habit as I progressed through my apprenticeship program up until he was no longer with us. I have tried to continue that tradition with new employees who have worked on crews with me over the years. I hope they appreciate it as much as I did and still do.

Some jobs have several distractions. A trencher running, construction noises, maybe approaching bad weather. All these things can have a tendency to break your concentration. Even problems that are not related to the job can be a serious distraction. Things like problems at home, a sick relative, or even something pleasurable like an upcoming vacation can make your mind wander.

If you sense any of these problems, it might be a wise gesture to mention possible hazards that might be lurking just around the corner. It would be an awful feeling to have recognized there was a problem, not said anything, and then have an accident happen. Expressing concern verbally is sometimes hard for some people to do, especially men. You've got that old ego thing going there.

Accepting that someone is genuinely concerned for you and not trying to belittle you or make you look bad in front of others can also be difficult.

That is why it's important to choose your words wisely and put your voice in the proper tone. I've seen it happen before when someone is trying to help and says the wrong thing or it is taken the wrong way and does more harm than good. A good point to remember is if you are the recipient of a well-meaning safety reminder, take the time to thank that person for the reminder and let him or her know that you appreciate it.

If the person knows it helped, he or she will be more apt to do it again in the future. Take note of how the concern was presented and how you received it and learn from that exchange.

I am relating this issue to the electric line crew field because that is where I have worked for so many years. The important thing to realize is that this safety gesture can relate to almost any job.

Take something as simple and redundant as mowing the yard. I remember the first few times that I let my son run the mower. I didn't realize that there were so many possible hazards in a job that I had become so complacent in doing. So before each mowing I would remind Matt of this low spot or that tree root sticking up, until he was as aware of the possible hazards as I was.

Practicing with a family member, preferably not a husband or wife might be a good idea. Another good idea would be to mention before you give the reminder that you are not trying to be bossy but simply trying to make the job safer.

And remember that if someone offers you advice, accept it with the same gratitude that you would hope for if you were giving the tip.

My brother is a perfect example of taking time to remind. Every year during harvest, he hires a part-time farm hand to help during the busy time. Derrick is constantly thinking ahead of possible problems and hazards that he is fully aware of but knows that the new helper is not.

Everything from overhead power lines to chuckholes in the road, Derrick sees them and reminds his helpers of the possible problems they could cause. Some might see this as borrowing trouble or nagging. I don't. He has had several helpers over the years, some very capable and some not. Some very safety conscious, some not. He has managed to get through the years with no serious accidents. I am convinced that taking the time to remind, along with keeping his machinery in safe working order, has a lot to do with his clean safety record.

Not everyone is as fortunate as I was to have a co-worker who was willing to take the time to remind me of possible hazards and make sure that I was working safely. I hope after reading this article that a few of you will realize that the right words at the right time with the right tone might help someone return home safely to their family and friends after a good day's work.

14 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2000