Maintenance, Repair & Operations

Unsafe Conditions in Your Facility― Part 4

April 7, 2020

Bad attitudes make for dangerous coworkers

One of the most commonly ignored unsafe conditions in a facility is the unsafe coworker. There was a time when safety violations were “for management to deal with.” If Bob didn't wear his safety glasses, it was up to the supervisor to say something.

Now stop and think about how many blind electricians you know. Did you think of any?

There is something wrong with how Bob is “wired” if he won't use a simple measure to protect such a precious asset as his eyesight.

The problem for you is not that Bob could be blinded — it's that Bob's attitude makes him a danger to others. If he won't protect his own eyes, what other unsafe acts will he commit? Can you truly trust him to properly verify de-energization as part of lockout/tagout? How can you be confident he won't create an arc blast by improperly taking a voltage measurement?

Don't ignore an unsafe act. Ask the person to stop and then to tell you what he can do differently to be safer.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.