Did you know that just a few key behavioral traits are represented in about 86% of accidents? Fortunately, Chris Loomis of Loomis Safety Education will be discussing each of these in the opening session of this year's ChemEdge Trade Show and Conference on August 11.
Drawing from over 20 years of plant safety experience, including a decade working at chemical major DuPont, Loomis will host an entertaining and enlightening presentation that examines the common mistakes that often lead to these incidents – and how best to avoid them.
The interactive session promises some lively and thought-provoking discussion, mixed with plenty of case studies and real-world examples.
"It's all about attitude," he says. "If people believe they can have an accident-free work environment, then it's possible."
"Almost all accidents are preventable. Developing a safer attitude is the first step in developing and creating a safety culture."
Although chemical distribution is an intrinsically safe industry, with high standards reinforced by rules, regulations, and initiatives such as the NACD Responsible Distribution® program, when incidents do happen, they can be significant and dangerous, he says.
"If you have an accident, it affects the corporation as a whole. The simplest accidents are due to bad judgment and poor procedures," says Loomis. "And safety doesn't stop when you get off-site either – you have to look at near misses at home and on the road and learn as much as you can from them."
Complacency, distraction, and fatigue often play a significant role in industrial accidents, so developing a safety mindset and instilling the right attitude in the workplace and beyond is essential, he says.
"As a business, if you want fewer lost workdays, you need to realize that it will really benefit the company if you help your employees stay safe all of the time," insists Loomis.
"The most effective way of preventing accidents at work is by helping your employees avoid accidents at home and when they're on the road. In fact, by far the most dangerous time for most people is when they're going to and from work – and many have to take time off because of an incident they've had at home."
Responsibility should fall to everyone across an organization, he adds. Employees should adopt a shared safety ethic and take responsibility for their actions; they must lead by example and look out for one another.
A separate breakout session will see Loomis explore several plant disasters in detail, where he will highlight the importance of practicing a "safety attitude." He will take a deep dive into the issues that led to the incidents and outline the simple measures and procedures that could have avoided such an outcome.
“Safety shouldn't be an afterthought”, says Loomis. “Instead, safety should be an attitude.”
Secure your place and register now. To find out more about this year's ChemEdge event visit, https://www.nacd.com/chemedge.
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