Slow & Steady

Slow & Steady is the way to be, to ensure everyone’s safety

How does this phrase apply to every one of us?

Rushing through anything can lead to mistakes. Have you ever rushed out of the house in the morning and forgotten lunch? We all know the tale of the tortoise and the hare, but have you thought about how the principle of “slow and steady” applies to your job? Here are a few examples:

• Don’t rush while driving through the refinery. Follow the posted speed limits for the safety of yourself and others.
• Life-critical rules take extra time but can save lives. Take the time to do them right because there is no room for mistakes.
• Follow procedures diligently and do not rush through them to save time. Steps performed incorrectly can compromise safety.
• Take the time before every job to ask yourself: What am I about to do? How can I/someone get hurt? What am I going to do to ensure no one gets hurt?

What about at your job AND at home?

• Don’t hurry when conditions are likely to be icy or slippery. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Take the extra time to completely clean ice and snow off your car and/or spread ice melt in walking paths.
• When conditions can lead to heat exhaustion, don’t rush. Instead, take frequent hydration breaks.
• Don’t rush up or down stairs and hold onto a hand rail.
• Take the time when using sharp tools to assess the location of the line of fire and protect your hands.
• Rushing will break down communication. Make sure to communicate explicitly and clearly when working on a team to avoid confusion.

Nothing needs to be accomplished quickly enough that it is worth compromising safety.