[Aiming for Zero Mistakes and Injuries] How I, who used to mock 'pointing and calling,' gained control of my work just by whispering it under my breath

“Oh, I forgot to check again and touched the wrong switch.” The error rate (probability of making a mistake) of countermeasures.

“I thought I was being careful, so why do I keep making such basic mistakes?”

Have you ever experienced a mistake caused by your own carelessness or a near-miss injury during field work or your daily tasks?

Even if you swear to yourself, 'I'll be careful next time,' humans are creatures that get tired, feel rushed, and inevitably let their guard down. Frankly, it is impossible to completely prevent mistakes and injuries through willpower alone.

In the midst of this, there is a 'strongest safety life hack' that Japanese industry prides itself on. It is called 'pointing and calling' (yubisashi kosho).

It is that movement you see station staff doing on the platform, saying, 'All clear ahead!'

Actually, I used to mock it completely, thinking, 'That’s just for show,' or 'It’s something new hires do to show off.' I also felt embarrassed about what others might think. However, once I started doing it thoroughly at a certain point, the mistakes I had been making one after another decreased as if by magic, and I was able to keep the risk of injury at bay.

This time, I will talk about the 'true importance of pointing and calling' that I learned firsthand when I was full of mistakes, and how to apply it not just to field work, but to all kinds of jobs to reduce stress in life.

1. Why do 'mistakes' and 'injuries' disappear with pointing and calling?

“Point with your finger and say it out loud.”

What you are doing is a simple action that even an elementary school student can do. However, why is this considered so important in professional settings?

There are two clear reasons for this, based on brain mechanics and safety management.

① [Mistake Prevention] What you are about to 'do' becomes clear in your brain

When humans make mistakes, most of them are acting on 'unconscious automation' (inertia). The habit of thinking, 'I do this all the time, so it’s fine,' turns off the brain's switch, leading to skipped steps or pressing the wrong button.

By inserting 'pointing and calling' here, you apply a powerful brake to your brain.

By pointing at the target and putting it into words, the fact that 'I am now going to perform this operation on this target' is programmed into your brain as a top-priority task. Because your consciousness is forcibly focused on this very moment, careless mistakes become impossible to make.

② [Injury Prevention] By pausing before touching, you can notice the 'Line of Fire'

In field work, one of the most important concepts for preventing injury is the 'Line of Fire.' This refers to the path of energy or the area in a straight line where danger might fly out.

Under a suspended load, where something heavy might fall.

In front of a pipe, where high-temperature steam or chemicals might spray out the moment you open a valve.

The range of motion where parts can get caught when a machine starts moving

Most cases of serious injury occur when you unconsciously allow your body (hands or feet) to enter this 'line of fire'.

Before touching an object, if you point at it and focus your attention by saying 'All clear!', you will naturally become aware of spatial risks such as, 'Is my current position safe?' and 'Where will energy be released when I move this?' That 'moment of stillness' before you touch something becomes the strongest shield to protect your life and body.

2. Pointing alone is a waste! The surprising science behind why you should 'call out' even in a small voice

Even in workplaces dedicated to safety, I often see people who point sharply but don't make a sound (or just mouth the words) because they are embarrassed by the eyes of others.

Certainly, 'pointing only' can reduce risk compared to doing nothing. However, it is a huge waste. There is a reason why you should absolutely 'speak out (call out),' even if it is in a small voice.

There is famous scientific data on this. According to an experiment conducted by the Railway Technical Research Institute, it is known that the probability of human error occurring changes dramatically as follows.

1. When doing nothing

Error rate: 2.38% (baseline)

2. When only pointing

Error rate: 1.00% (mistakes are reduced by about 2.5 times compared to doing nothing)

3. When only calling out (vocalizing)

Error rate: 0.89%

4. When performing 'pointing' and 'calling out' simultaneously

Error rate: 0.38% (mistakes are reduced by about 6 times compared to doing nothing)

It's a surprising difference, isn't it? By not only pointing but also speaking out 'All clear!', even in a small voice, the probability of error drops to about one-sixth of what it would be if you did nothing.

This is because the brain's arousal level is maximized by adding the process of 'hearing your own voice with your own ears (auditory)' to visual (seeing with eyes) and somatic (pointing with fingers) input.

Depending on the workplace environment, it may be difficult to speak loudly. You might also feel a bit embarrassed with people around you. In such cases, a 'small whisper' that only you can hear is sufficient. That one word will explosively increase the accuracy of your work.

3. [Personal Experience] The story of how I, who used to make mistakes all the time, was saved by pointing and calling

Let me share my real-life experience here.

Actually, when I first started my current job, I was someone who made mistakes constantly.

Although I had studied and obtained the necessary knowledge and certifications for the job, once I was out in the actual field, my mind would go blank from anxiety and pressure, leading to a series of careless mistakes.

Mistaking the valve opening and closing procedures and triggering an alarm.

Proceeding with operations while only 'thinking' I had checked, and getting severely scolded by my senior.

Unconsciously reaching out toward a place that could have led to a serious injury, and having a close call.

Every day was a cycle of self-loathing, and I was genuinely depressed, wondering if I wasn't cut out for this job.

Then one day, a veteran senior asked me, 'Are you properly pointing and calling when you check things?' Although I arrogantly thought to myself, 'It's meaningless to just imitate the form,' I had no other choice, so starting the next day, I began practicing it secretly where no one could see me.

When looking at a meter: 'Indicated value XX, okay.'

Before pressing a switch: 'XX switch, ON, okay.'

Then, a surprising change occurred.

I felt my heart, which had been so anxious, calm down the moment I pointed my finger and spoke out loud. What I was about to do became clear, and there was no more hesitation in my actions.

As a result, the careless mistakes I had been making so frequently disappeared completely, and near-misses on-site became non-existent. The trust of those around me, who used to only scold me, changed drastically.

Pointing and calling is not a 'forced task' done because the company says so. I learned through personal experience that it is a 'self-defense weapon' to help my imperfect self and protect my own safety.

4. Not just for the field! 'Pointing and calling life hacks' that can be used in office work too

Up to this point, I have based my story on 'field work,' but this pointing and calling technique actually has tremendous effects in desk work, office work, and even daily life.

In fact, office work done in a quiet environment is an environment where 'fatal mistakes' due to unconscious inertia are more likely to occur.

For example, in situations like the following, try pointing your index finger at the screen and whispering in a small voice.

Just before sending an email: Point at the recipient and say, 'Mr./Ms. XX, okay.' Point at the attachment and say, 'PDF attached, okay.'

Excel data entry: Point at important numerical values and say, 'Amount XX yen, okay.'

Online banking transfers: Point at the account number and amount and say, 'Account number okay, amount okay.'

When leaving the house after locking the door: Point at the keyhole and say, 'Lock confirmed.'

While you might look suspicious if you shout in the office (lol), try pausing your typing, pointing at the screen, and whispering 'Confirmed' so quietly that even the person next to you can't hear it.

This alone will completely free you from sending emails to the wrong person, making input errors, or that unpleasant, nagging feeling of 'Wait, did I lock the door?' when you're already out.

Why not make it a habit to point and confirm in a low voice, not just when you're on-site, but especially when you're sitting in front of your computer?

5. Summary: A small step you can start today to protect yourself

What did you think?

Pointing and calling is by no means an outdated, spirit-based safety activity.

It is a technique to clearly signal your upcoming actions to your brain and eradicate careless mistakes.

It is a technique to protect yourself from the line of fire by taking a brief pause before touching anything.

It is a scientific approach that utilizes all five senses to compensate for human imperfection.

There is no other life hack that is this low-cost and offers such a high return.

Set aside those feelings of 'it's embarrassing' or 'it's a hassle' for just a moment, and start by whispering to yourself where no one is watching. That small habit will dramatically improve the quality of your work and protect your precious body from injury.

I sincerely hope that your work starting tomorrow will be safe, error-free, and comfortable!

If this article resonated with you or made you think, 'I'll try pointing and confirming at my desk too,' please be sure to hit 'Like' or 'Follow'!

I will continue to share practical wisdom from the field and life hacks to reduce daily mistakes and improve your quality of life. Your support is my greatest encouragement!