Delaware DMV warns of E-ZPass text scam demanding fake toll payments. E-ZPass Delaware never solicits payments via text or email. Avoid clicking links, report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and visit E-ZPass Delaware for official account information. (Delaware.gov)
UD students used autonomous robots to map the Lewes campus, creating a 3D-printed model and VR twin. The project provided hands-on experience in robotics, data analysis and environmental mapping, preparing students for careers in the Blue Economy. (UDAILY)
UD presents seven free exhibitions in spring 2025, featuring art, history geology and activism. Highlights include Old College history, Black womens artivism, Lincolns legacy, global minerals, Indigenous struggles, sculptural copper, and historical keepsakes. (UDAILY)
Over 80% of all workplace injury arises from worker behaviour. We make mistakes, errors in judgement or simply do not have our full attention on the job and something happens. There is also a tendency to get so focused on getting the job done that we do not recognize the obvious.
A few years ago in the main shops there was an incident where a fairly new worker fell into a hole in the floor and required several stitches in his leg. The opening was well flagged off and the whole affair seemed a mystery. The post incident interview went something like this: So, you saw the caution tape? “Yes”. And you do understand what caution tape means? “Oh, yes.” And you stepped over the caution tape and fell into the hole? “Yes, that is pretty much what happened.” Either this guy was a complete moron or there was some other explanation.
This applies directly to vehicle operation such as forklifts or even pickup trucks. There is a felt sense of pressure to get something done, we are driving totally wrapped up in the job and do not even seen the person walking in the path of travel. Every year there are countless incidents like this.
Are there pressures and intense focus in our jobs? You bet. But it is how we deal with the pressure, how we handle the intense focus that is important. Now and again we have talked about the four second reset as a way of attuning ourselves to the hazards around us. Sometimes all it takes is a big breath when we sit behind the wheel of a vehicle. In truth, it is some conscious act of getting outside of the pressure or job focus that prevents this type of incident. How we do this is our individual preference or way of psychologically handling the job demands here.
There is an old story about a man who is riding a very fast horse. As he gallops past a bystander the person shouts, “Where are you going in such a hurry?” The man answers, “I don’t know. Ask the horse.” The very same situation happens with many of us at work. We get caught up in the busy day. Direct the horse once in a while and you won’t ride over one of your co-workers or fall into a hole.
UD celebrates Black History Month with events, discussions, a book giveaway, an exhibition on Black women’s activism, educational resources, highlighting Black contributions, resilience, and storytelling in history, culture and social justice. (UDAILY)
When there are hazards present or some other issue that interferes with being able to perform a work task safely, then it is important to feel comfortable to stop the work until it is safe to continue. Many companies stress the importance of being able to stop work without punishment, but there are many employees who do not feel comfortable doing this for many reasons.
It is easier said than done to stop work in the name of safety, but it needs to be communicated that it is encouraged and okay to do so. Even if the highest levels of management in a company stress the importance of being able to stop work, a single individual can make it hard for the employees on the worksite actually to do so comfortably. Employees need to know different avenues of reporting safety hazards to the management in a company.
If a certain manager or supervisor makes it uncomfortable for you to stop work or report a hazard, go to another supervisor or your safety officer to do so. You should be able to go to someone who will work to fix the problem, as well as not disclose who reported the hazard in the first place if you feel that you could be punished for doing so. Outside of the company, you have the right as an employee to report safety issues to OSHA without the fear of retaliation. You can do so confidentially.
These are just a few of the situations where stopping work is necessary. Individuals need to feel comfortable stopping work to address whatever the problem is to be able to complete the work safely and efficiently. Many times the fixes that will make a job safer are quick and easy. You have the power to make a difference and stop work when it is needed. Despite how uncomfortable some of these situations can be, if an incident occurs, it is much more painful for everyone involved.
-What are some situations that could come up in your work today where stopping work is necessary?
-Do you feel comfortable stopping work? Why or why not?
-Discuss a past incident and how stopping work could have prevented it.
UD Lerner College launched the Lerner Delaware Early Career Co-op program which offers paid, credit-earning internships to students while connecting businesses with future talent. The initiative aims to retain graduates in Delaware and strengthen academia-industry ties. (UDAILY)
Much of the time spent talking about safety on the job is focused on educating workers to be able to recognize or identify hazards on the job. Less time is spent discussing how to mitigate those hazards correctly. Part of correctly mitigating a hazard in the workplace is taking ownership of it and seeing it through so that it gets corrected.
Recognizing Versus Taking OwnershipThere is a huge difference between a worker who is able to recognize a hazard and a worker who recognizes a hazard and owns it until it is corrected. You may have heard someone say after an incident occurs, “yeah, I saw him doing that, I knew something was going to happen” or “I knew someone was going to trip over that broken concrete at some point.”
These statements show that the person saying this recognized the hazard, but most likely stopped there. They identified it as a hazard, but they did not take ownership of the hazard and follow through on making sure it gets corrected.
There are situations where a hazard is reported by a worker, but not fixed by management. In these cases, it is often a failure by management or the person above you who is responsible for taking your concern about a hazard and correcting it if needed. As the worker, there are still options for you if this occurs. It may be a case of the person who is responsible for fixing the problem just simply forgetting about it.
As the worker on the ground near the hazard, remind them that it needs to be fixed. If it is a case of a supervisor not taking the concern of a hazard seriously, then go to a different supervisor or a higher level of management. Having the mindset of “I did my part” is not good enough when it leaves a hazard for others to be exposed to.
Safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility, and injuries affect everyone in that workplace, not just the person who gets hurt. When you recognize a hazard, do not just keep it to yourself. Doing this may protect you, but it leaves everyone else in that area vulnerable to an injury or incident.
-What is a hazard that people are likely to recognize in a workplace and think to themselves, “it is not a big deal” or “someone else will take care of it”?
