December ToolBox Talk: Four Seconds To Safety

In the thick of the holiday season, with distractions on every side, it's more important than ever to stay focused on the job and be mindful of safety. That's where the "four seconds to safety" rule comes into play: pause for four seconds to look around, identify potential hazards, and focus on the task at hand. It's a mental reset, a mindfulness practice that can help to ensure a safe season, both at work and at home.
When you catch yourself working away, but your thoughts are on last-minute gifts to grab and upcoming party plans, STOP, take those four seconds and come back to the present moment. Look for a hazard in the middle of your activity. Are you standing safely on that ladder? Is your work area free of clutter that could be a tripping hazard?
Injuries happen at home around the holidays, too: falls during decorating, burns or cuts in the kitchen and traffic accidents as we rush to and from holiday gatherings. How often could we spare ourselves the pain and hassle of being injured at the holidays if we just slowed down and took four seconds to refocus on safety?
Think of those four seconds as a gift to yourself and your loved ones. Slow down and stay safe this holiday season.