Fluor Federal Petroleum Operations

Complacency occurs in every workplace. It often shows up as a feeling of security that leads to a lack of awareness of our surroundings. Though we might think we are immune, it can be as simple as letting our guard down, losing focus, or not looking for hazards as often as we should. Most jobs are repetitive, and gradually we can take things for granted in our daily work. This can lead to health and safety risks to us and colleagues. While no one plans to become complacent, we all have to be on the lookout for it and being engaged can help.

Workplace situational awareness may vary by industry, but it always boils down to one essential concept—keeping track of risks in the work environment and responding to them appropriately. The average work environment is full of potential threats. Many of them are inconsequential, easily managed, and can be dealt with before they cause harm. A frayed power cord might be nothing today, but in six months it could spark an overnight fire. Here are some examples of situational awareness on the job, from alertmedia.com.

On August 26, we celebrate Women’s Equality Day and the enactment of the 19th Amendment, which said, among other things, that “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex”. This historic event was the culmination of the decades-long struggle of courageous suffragists determined to shape the course of our Republic. On Women's Equality Day, we commemorate the efforts of those groundbreaking activists, celebrate the remarkable achievements of women, and reaffirm our commitment to equality under the law. Equality Day reminds us of the hurdles overcome by the heroic women who faced violence and discrimination in their efforts to continuously advance the Women's Movement.  

During the summer months, when working outdoors in PPE, the heat can offer a few challenges. Workers often struggle with rising temperatures on the job, and threats such as heatstroke, sun exposure, and dehydration. Strive to provide a safer environment for workers in PPE in the summer season. Just ensure that the gear you provide and the practices you adopt are also in adherence with local regulations. With these employee-friendly methods of wearing PPE correctly in the summer, you will be able to maintain productivity irrespective of season – and help prevent workplace accidents.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over runs from August 14-September 2 and aims to educate people about the dangers and consequences of driving drunk. According to the NHTSA, one person is killed about every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, totaling more than 11,000 lives lost each year. In 2022, 32% of all traffic fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver. A BAC of .08 or higher is considered drunk driving in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for people of all ages. Vaccines are recommended for adults based on age, health conditions, job, and other factors. Adults need to keep their vaccinations up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off over time. You are also at risk for different diseases as an adult. Vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventative care measures available.

The decision to take a shortcut can be influenced by many different factors, but at the end of the day, shortcuts are a choice made by an individual. It is important to realize this fact and take steps to avoid taking shortcuts, especially when it comes to safety on the job. It can be difficult to never take a shortcut when it comes to safety, but there are many actions that can be utilized to eliminate the urge to do so.

We use our hands for virtually every task we do at work, and because of this, they are commonly injured on the job. Keeping our hands and fingers out of harm’s way at work is critical. According to bls.gov: There are 110,000 lost time cases due to hand injuries annually 1 million workers are treated in an ER for hand injuries annually 70% of workers who experienced a hand injury were not wearing gloves

With summer break coming to an end and the kids heading back to school, it is more important now than ever to think about driving safely around school zones. According to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide, approximately 100 children in the United States are killed every year while walking to or from school, and 25,000 others sustain injuries as a result of school zone crashes.

Dangers remain even after the skies turn blue. This is NOT the time to put your guard down. Nearly half of hurricane fatalities occur after the storm. Visit to noaa.gov learn more.