Tips for Enhancing Today's Safety Awareness: A New Perspective on Safety Measures Learned from Failure

I would like to consider safety measures inspired by recent news. A report surfaced about a police officer who, while heavily intoxicated, lost investigation documents; this is a classic example of a 'human error' that could happen to any of us.

When something happens, the response is often to 'strengthen management systems,' but if that relies on human attention or awareness, the same problem will inevitably repeat itself 'when we least expect it.' Here, I would like to consider the importance of 'hard measures' and 'system building' necessary to prevent mistakes.

Humans are creatures that make mistakes

First, I want you to understand the fact that 'everyone makes mistakes.' This is not a matter of ability or awareness, but something natural both biologically and psychologically.

1. Limits of Perception

The human brain has a limit to the amount of information it can process at once. It is difficult to think about or pay attention to multiple things simultaneously. For example, when carrying important documents during a busy workday, it is not uncommon to get distracted by other things and leave the documents behind.

2. Influence of Emotion and Fatigue

When emotionally heightened or when fatigue accumulates, judgment and attention drop significantly. Even in cases not as extreme as the intoxicated state reported in the news, a slight lapse in concentration can lead to a major mistake.

3. The Trap of Habit

Humans are creatures that often rely on daily habits and routines. When performing familiar tasks, complacency arises, and one thinks, 'It should be fine if I do it as usual.' As a result, one may neglect to check or skip important steps.

4. Action Amidst Uncertainty

Especially when facing unpredictable situations, humans are prone to panic and may become unable to make appropriate judgments. These characteristics cause mistakes that would be unthinkable when calm.

These are things that 'can happen to anyone.' In other words, no matter how careful you are, and no matter how serious or excellent you may be, it is impossible to completely prevent mistakes.

Because mistakes are inevitable, a 'system' is necessary

It is impossible to reduce mistakes to zero. That is why it is important to create a system where even if a mistake occurs, it does not develop into a serious problem. This way of thinking is common in the field of occupational safety and is widely adopted as part of 'safety measures that do not rely on people.'

A method often cited in occupational safety is 'Lockout/Tagout (LOTO).' This is a physical safety measure to cut off a machine's energy source and prevent malfunctions. The point of this system is the philosophy of 'preventing accidents through physical measures rather than the operator's attention or awareness.'

To prevent situations like the recent loss of investigation documents, isn't a 'system' like lockout necessary?

Proposals for Hardware-based Measures

1. Digitization and Access Restrictions

   • Digitize investigation documents and store them in an encrypted cloud. This not only prevents physical loss but also reduces the risk of information leakage by implementing access restrictions.

2. Traceable Management System

   • Attach GPS trackers or electronic tags to important documents and introduce a system that allows for rapid tracking in case of loss. This enables early discovery after a loss occurs.

3. Physical protection measures

   • Store documents in a dedicated case with a lock so that only the owner can access them. Even if loss or theft occurs, information leakage can be prevented.

4. Measures to minimize the risk of loss

   • By encrypting documents and taking regular backups, you can minimize the damage even if they are lost.

A culture that tolerates mistakes and turns them into learning

Humans make mistakes. And it is impossible to eliminate mistakes completely. However, having a culture that tolerates failure when it happens and uses it for the future is the first step toward increasing safety.

In cases like the loss of investigation documents, simply blaming "humans" will not lead to an essential solution. Instead, it is important to create "systems that assume mistakes will happen" and build safety measures that do not rely on individual responsibility.

Recommendations for supervisors

1. Design based on human error

   • Design systems that do not rely on attentiveness and minimize damage even if a mistake occurs.

2. Integrated measures for software and hardware

   • Approach from both the aspects of human resource development and technical measures.

3. Learning from failure and continuing to improve

   • Instead of blaming mistakes, prioritize learning from them and taking the next steps for prevention.

In conclusion

This case served as a reminder that "humans are creatures that make mistakes." Accepting this fact and ensuring safety through physical and technical mechanisms, rather than just relying on individual awareness, is essential for strengthening future management systems.

I encourage you all to consider creating systems in your daily work and safety management environments that are based on the premise that "humans make mistakes."

* GPS trackers are devices used to track the location of objects, people, or vehicles in real time. They use GPS (Global Positioning System) to identify where an object is and provide that information to the user.

Main Features

1. Location acquisition

   • They communicate with GPS satellites to measure the exact location of the target, and the data can be checked via the internet or a dedicated app.

2. Real-time tracking

   • They can track the current location in real time and have features to record routes while moving.

3. Small and portable

   • Many are palm-sized or have a compact design, making them easy to attach to bags, important documents, or vehicles.

4. Notification Features

   • There are "geofencing" features that notify you when entering or leaving a set area, and alert features that immediately inform you of a location in the event of loss or theft.

5. Long-term Operation

   • Depending on the built-in battery or external power source, some can last from several days to several weeks. Types with solar panels also exist.

Usage Examples

1. Prevention of Loss of Important Documents or Confidential Items

   • Attach to important documents or bags so that their location can be identified in case of loss.

2. Theft Prevention

   • Attach to cars or motorcycles so they can be tracked if stolen.

3. Personal Safety Management

   • Use for monitoring children or the elderly to prevent them from getting lost or having accidents.

4. Logistics and transport tracking

   • Check the delivery status of packages and cargo in real time.

Discussion points

Benefits

• Enables quick response in case of loss or theft.

• Provides peace of mind for protecting important items and people.

Points to note

• Initial device costs and communication fees may apply.

• From the perspective of personal information protection, improper use could lead to privacy violations.

GPS trackers are a very effective tool for the theme of this session, 'mechanisms for protecting important things.' In particular, when managing investigative materials and important documents, combining them with physical measures can further enhance safety.

2024.11.27