Situational Awareness means paying attention and being aware of what’s going on around you. No matter what your role is at work, situational awareness is an important key to keeping everyone safe.

When you practice situational awareness at work, you remain alert and aware of things like:

• where your co-workers are while they are working and what they are doing

• where operational heavy equipment is and how it is moving

• where you are supposed to be

• what sounds you hear

• what potential hazards are nearby

• what you are supposed to be doing

• what are the safe procedures for the tasks you are completing

• what changes are happening that might affect your actions

• what is going on above and behind you

• what unusual smells are in the air

• what do you see that is out of the ordinary

• what is the weather like, if you are working outdoors

Situational awareness is an on-the-job safety skill that is critical for hazard identification, effective decision making, and accident prevention

Situational awareness involves three elements which are:

1. You observe what is happening around you and take in all the elements of your environment.

2. You comprehend the situation you are experiencing.

3. You anticipate what is likely to occur next based on what you understand to be happening now.

There are many factors that will reduce situational awareness that workers must be aware of and make an effort to avoid, including:

• Rushing through a task

• Mental or physical fatigue

• Complacency

• Poor communication

• Distractions

• Daydreaming, loss of focus

• Stress

Situational awareness is something that should be happening all the time, throughout the workday. But there may be times when you should increase awareness of your surroundings and your actions, for

example, when:

• starting new or non-routine tasks

• working with new co-workers

• visitors are at the work site

• the work environment may have changed

• there is high stress, or a high workload situation

• you have a gut reaction that something may be off

• beginning work on a project, even if you have performed the tasks before

• high hazard operations are taking place (examples: near electrical, at heights, in confined spaces)

Specific examples of what situational awareness may look like on the job:

• Not walking into the “line of fire” when other workers nearby are using tools or equipment.

• Noticing that a co-worker forgot to put on PPE or missed a safety step and speaking up to ensure they follow the correct procedure.

• Stopping a task to make adjustments that will get the job done safe and efficiently.

• Correcting hazards on the spot if you notice something that can be fixed immediately.

• Reporting hazard observations and near miss incidents to management.

Safety tips to increase situational awareness:

➢ Create a habit of regularly assessing the tasks you are doing and your work environment.

➢ Pay attention to what is going on all around you, including above, to the sides, and also behind you.

➢ Observe all warning, danger, and information signs – they are posted for a reason.

➢ Acknowledge cues you are getting from your co- workers, which may be verbal, emotional, or physical.

➢ Be proactive when it comes to communicating with your supervisor and co-workers.

➢ Understand the pace of the work environment. Watch for unexpected scenarios and adjust accordingly.

➢ Avoid using electronic devices including cell phones and headphones.

➢ Prevent fatigue by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

➢ Ensure complacency is not creeping into the workday.

➢ Ask for assistance if you need it, or if it could be helpful.