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SAFETY FOCUS

Life Changing Decisions

By, Cliff Cagle, Field Safety Specialist

Sometimes a single decision can make the difference between going home safe
and not. We’re good at identifying a single poor decision (for example, failure to
brief the crew before giving up a track authority or missing a specific step in a
lockout procedure), but few understand what it takes to make a safe decision.
The challenge is understanding what safe decision-making looks like and how to
develop and deploy it systematically.

By some estimates, the average adult makes upward of 35,000 decisions a day.
Many decisions are relatively low risk, even trivial – what to eat for breakfast or
how to respond to a social request. But the potential outcomes of some deci-

sions can have serious, even life-altering, effects. Consider the stakes of:
• An operator is unsure of their Track Authority limits and continues moving the machine
while asking for clarification.
• A Maintenance Specialist uses a grinder without a guard because they can’t find one.
• A General Laborer setting derail protection short of the required 150ft.
• A Superintendent allowing their crew to continue to work after they notice the crew is
not properly locked out.

Humans tend to choose the best they know how. But as author Jim Collins once noted,
“bad decisions made with good intentions are still bad decisions.” It’s up to leaders to
equip workers with the knowledge, skills, tools and environment to consistently make
the choice that reduces exposure for themselves and others.

Improving the quality of decision-making is a team effort. A single worker with the right
knowledge and approach can start making safer decisions; however, dramatically increas-
ing the level of safe decision-making requires support from our leaders and peers. Final-
ly, there needs to be active learning and practicing of techniques that lead to safer deci-
sions.

At Loram we pride ourselves in striving to
be the industry’s leading example of safety.
You can be a leader in good Life Changing
Decisions. With Lorams safety culture you
and your team can Learn the safe methods
of our safety programs, Engage your peers
on a daily basis to be safe, Apply your tool-
set while working, Delivery a safe a stellar product to our customers and LEAD the in-
dustry in safe operations. Are you ready to LEAD?

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