Using a cell phone is just one of a number of things that could distract your employees. Distractions can be both external and internal. Some are chosen by the employee. Some are unavoidable.
Stop or mitigate distractions that cause unsafe work. What can be the consequences of distraction in the workplace?
Examples of distracted workers can include:
Yarder engineer misses the whistles from the rigging crew
Choker setter sets the wrong log, and it's not what the rigging slinger had planned
Shovel operator starts loading logs, when the truck driver is hooking-up their hoses
Stroker operator “loses track” of the chaser, and grabs a log from the chute while chaser is un-belling chokers
Truck driver ignores CB radio reports and “loses track” of other truck locations, then forgets to call-out their own mile markers
External distractions may include the ubiquitous cell phone. What about the time lost, while an operator replies to a text or surfs on their phone. We have all been caught driving behind someone texting at a stoplight. It turns green but they do not move. How many turns per day are lost to a slow response from a yarder engineer focused on a cell phone? Does the chute pile-up as the loading operator places an online bet?
While phone distractions impact production, the greater impact is on crew safety. Cell phones should be managed with a policy. They are not all bad. Phones are valuable for tailgate talks, owner check-ins, and just saying, “hello, how’s it going there?” Phones can be managed to help employees be present—but not distracted.
Some distractions are internal. Friday afternoon, workers have a tendency to look past the task-at-hand. Illness in the family may cloud a worker’s attention during the work day.
Owners and on-site supervisors need to be vigilant in mitigating distraction.
People that feel valued are more present, less distracted, and safer. Help your crews understand and manage the distractive forces pushing on each of us.
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