Bad Habits: Breaking up is Hard to do

By The RIDGEPRO®.

Here's how you can break your bad business habits.

They say it takes 30 days of practice to break a bad habit and even longer to form a new one. Anyone who has tried to quit smoking can tell you it takes longer than a single month and often success comes only after several attempts. The same is true of many workplace practices; bad habits can be tough to break. Some unsafe practices become so ingrained that they are done unconsciously by workers in all fields.

Here are some examples: do workers really look to make sure a ladder is set at the correct angle? Or, do they simply “eyeball” it into place, shake it a bit to settle it, and climb? Do workers always secure tools when they get on the roof or could a loose hammer become a trip hazard that causes a 20’ fall? Many times, crews are going on intuition and a feeling that it’s “good enough” or “we’ll be quick and it won’t make any difference.” These behaviors can result in near misses or actual injuries way too frequently.

Know thyself

The first step in breaking bad habits or practices is to acknowledge and understand what they are. Does your company have a safety checklist available at the jobsite for each crew to follow? Crews might assume that safety procedures are the responsibility of trainers or safety managers and they don’t really need to think about it. Ask each worker to look honestly at their own workplace habits. Are tools always secured when not in use? Is it ever safe to walk backward when working at height? Is checking your cellphone OK when working on a roof? A simple admission of “Yeah… I’ve done that once or twice.” Is a step in the right direction. Next comes the hard part.

Stay in the present

It isn’t easy to stay in “the now.” In our hectic lives, we’re always looking to the next thing, the next roof, or the next weekend. Consequently, noticing our own safety lapses can be almost impossible, particularly if they’ve become part of the everyday routine. Job supervisors can help by choosing a positive behavior to focus on for a day or a week. Choose a risk area such as ladders, lifelines, tools or safety equipment such as The RIDGEPRO®. The goal is to focus workers’ intentions and divide overall behaviors into manageable pieces. 

Encourage crews and site supervisors to call “time” onsite just before work begins each day and after lunch break. Pause. Take a few seconds to get grounded, look around and identify any points of risk. Deal with them immediately.

Rinse and repeat

How are good habits formed? Repetition of desired behavior will turn the tide towards a true habit change. Don’t be discouraged when the message doesn’t get through on the first try. For best results re-send the message loud and clear: Don’t be afraid to break up with your bad habits. You CAN do better.