Have you ever felt that nagging sense that something just isn't quite right in your environment? That's your situational awareness kicking in. It's more than just noticing your surroundings; it's about actively processing and understanding what's happening around you, and recognizing potential hazards. Whether it's a misplaced tool in the office or a puddle of water after a storm, situational awareness allows you to identify and respond to subtle changes that can impact safety.
The primary goal of situational awareness is to identify potential hazards in the workplace and improve workplace safety.
A key component of situational awareness is your sense of safety and changes around you. That sense can also extend to your co-workers.
Being aware and speaking up when something doesn't feel right or seems unsafe helps protect everyone, even if that potential danger may not apply directly to you.
For example, slips, trips, and falls make up the vast majority of workers' compensation claims.
Being situationally aware can mean:
Doing each can help reduce injury and workers' compensation claims in the workplace.
Since situational awareness is a key factor in improving safety, it's important to encourage it among employees.
It's all a part of building a safety culture in the workplace.