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29 March 2022
Follow these safety tips and steer clear of the line of fire
Are you in the line of fire? Situations where you and/ or your co-workers are in harm’s way by the virtue of the type of work you’re carrying out indicate that you're at risk. Line of fire injuries are often caused due to lack of awareness and education and may also lead to fatal injuries and incapacitate professionals in the long run. At Atlas Professionals, we have a stringent zero harm policy and want our professionals to come back home the same way they left, injury-free.
It is important to be your own shield and stay aware of the risks of being in the line of fire. In this blog post, we explain step by step, what can you do to prevent it.
What is the line of fire?
You put yourself in the line of fire when you place yourself, or any part of yourself in a position where you are directly exposing yourself to a hazard. Energy sector workers are exposed to a wider variety of hazards than employees in any other industry and face a greater risk of work-related injury or fatality due to the nature of their job. For instance: Moving machinery, the path of travel, dangers presented by the sudden release of tension, heavy equipment can often be the causes.
To not be in the ‘Line of fire’ or put somebody else in it, you must be aware of the constantly changing work environment around you. It is often noted that rushing to complete a task, being frustrated at work, or being complacent can lead to hazardous decisions.
Before starting any job, take a deep breath, pause, and ask yourself:
• What can go wrong?
• What are the consequences?
• How can I prevent it from happening?
• What if!
• Am I ready and well-equipped to do this task?
What can employees and professionals do to keep themselves and co-workers out of the Line of Fire?
• Be alert and learn to recognise Line of Fire hazards at work
• Use your eyes to your advantage before you act, this will help maintain spatial and situational awareness
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you do not understand
• Stop the job if you feel it is unsafe and report it to your supervisor
Click here for more safety tips and read our Zero Harm policy.
