Get Tough: Cell-Phones And Snow Tires

Employees driving a company vehicle from Steels Industrial Products can be fired if they are caught using any kind of cellphone or texting device while driving -- period. Hooray. Steels president Jim Sidwell laid down the law to his 180 workers in British Columbia and Alberta a few weeks ago. Similar policies are in force at large companies such as Finning Canada, Husky Energy, Halliburton and ConocoPhilipps.

Studies show that drivers who talk on cellphones are six times more likely to be involved in dangerous collisions. And they are 23 times more likely to have a crash if they're texting and driving, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. People who chat on cellphones or text are 10 times more likely to run a stop sign.

It's a safety issue. And personally, I would like to see a way to enact legislation to company employees who freely chat or text on the cell phones while OFF the job too. Hey if they only do it while on the job, it's proof positive that those people do not possess a Safety Attitude. They just tolerate the rules at work. And they will cut corners in safety.

Oh, and speaking of Safety Attitude, let's make sure that if you really want to walk the safety-talk, let's make sure that there are winter tires on those company vehicles if they run where there is snow on the ground for long periods of time.

It's December and snow is falling. There is no comparison between driving on all-season tires and driving on winter tires. People though, whine about the additional expense. There is NO additional expense. Running winter tires for six months extends your all-season tires by six months every season. So a set of tires that may have lasted three years should last six by rotating all-seasons and winter tires.

Sorry but if you're in Safety and you don't have winter tires on your company vehicle AND your personal vehicle, then you're a hypocrite and as a safety supervisor, you don't walk your talk. Safety is an Attitude. Safety is more than just wearing your PPE on the job. Safety is about protecting yourself, your family and the general public off the job too.

I would encourage organizations to find a way to get personal vehicles outfitted with winter tires in snow-belt areas. I'm not saying that companies should pay for winter tires for their employees but make a deal at a tire shop and offer your people an hour off to get them changed over. If you preach safety, then make off-the-job-safety a part of your safety culture.

If you've never thought that way, then you aren't going to convince others of a safety attitude - and you could use my help to shift your culture to a Safety Culture.
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Kevin Burns - Corporate Safety Attitude/Culture Strategist
www.safety.kevburns.com
Toll Free 1-877-287-6711