A Simple Question Deserves a Simple Answer……

“What is Safe 6?”

That’s a simple question I’ve been asked many times over the past 12 months.  It really deserves a simple answer.  In my mind, it is simple. (I know what you are thinking – please keep it to yourself.)  I understand it but, it always seems to take too long to describe Safe 6.  Here are some of the pat answers I’ve given in response to that simple question:

• Safe 6 is the core concept that drives The Safely Working Project
• Safe 6 is based on an approach easy to understand and simply applied by employees and supervisors
• Safe 6 is organized around six simple actions: Recognize, Prepare, Inspect, Control, Engage, Guard
• Safe 6 is used to develop workplace and task specific Safely Working Skills, not generic safe work practices
• Safe 6 can be used as a mentoring guide and to support corrective conversations
• Safe 6 can be used as a meeting agenda or as training objectives
• The Safe 6 format provides for practical and effective employee training by supervisors
• Safe 6 is the key to a Safely Working Environment.

Not one of those statements represents a simple answer to the question.  There’s the challenge.   It’s all important information but, if it takes such a detailed explanation I am not going to succeed at persuading anyone to give Safe 6 a try.

Maybe there is no simple answer since Safe 6 is such a versatile tool for workplace safety.  While developing the Safe 6 concept, The Safely Working Project has been doing its best to make sure that what it develops is not just useful, but compatible with existing workplace safety systems.  However, we’ve not discussed it much.

Here’s a practical representation of where Safe 6 does fit.  Click on the table below.  In the left column is a list of elements in a sound EHS management system loosely based on the OSHA Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines.  I added the Quality Management element because of the importance of safety in maintaining quality.

As you can see, each action in Safe 6 is related to a major element of safety management.  This is not a surprise but, it is significant.  It is why we recently announced our new focus on the Safely Working System.  We’ve never suggested we are applying rocket science.  We’ve always said we are promoting simple, sensible guidance that can be used regardless of whether or not you have a safety professional or safety staff.  Safe 6 is that kind of a tool.

Now, when I am asked “What is Safe 6?” …… I provide a simple answer:

“Safe 6 is a Personal EHS Management System.”

(Originally published 9/8/15)