Personal Risk Management in Your Loading and Unloading Operations

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In an effort to find a solution to reduce avoidable and costly errors in the fuel transportation industry at the point of contact with the tanker truck, a brilliant tactic has emerged, called "Look-Point-Say-Go", and it has proven itself in my personal loading and offloading procedure which you can also benefit.

Kaizen

First, the procedure of "Look-Point-Say-Go" is all performed in the spirit of Kaizen, a philosophy which involves continual small improvements to enhance productivity and cultivate a more efficient and rewarding work environment.

Fuel transportation companies lose hundreds of thousands of dollars every year due to erroneously loaded fuel orders and incorrectly offloaded fuel, known as transmixes and cross-dumps (blending of multiple products), into USTs or ASTs (tanks).

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The "erroneous" factor can now be significantly reduced by incorporating a modified version of the Japanese safety philosophy of the "Point and Call" method during the loading and unloading of a #fuel #tanker.

More specifically, the Japanese "point and call" method, commonly used by rail workers in their duties, has proven to be more than just a gesture. It is a highly effective safety practice backed by empirical data. The combination of physical movements and vocalizations has been proven to increase concentration and reduce errors in task performance. This method is spreading globally and being adopted by various industries.

Point and Call

The method, known as "pointing and calling," ensures passenger safety and helps railway staff fully concentrate on their jobs.

How does it work?

First, the staff member focuses completely on the item to be checked, such as confirming no one is at the edge of the platform before the train departs. They then call out the name of the item being checked and firmly point in that direction. Once they visually confirm that everything is clear, they call out "OK." This technique has been in use for over a century since it was invented by a steam locomotive operator, and Japan's railway systems still rely on it today.


Scientific tests have conclusively proven the effectiveness of pointing and calling. "Point and Calling" has been shown to reduce user errors by about 85 percent.


Neuroscientists have also studied the technique and found that it increases blood flow in the brain's frontal lobes, which govern judgment and attentiveness. This means that pointing and calling stimulates brain activity and enhances cognitive performance.



Recognizing its effectiveness, pointing and calling has been standardized and adopted by various industries and businesses. Construction sites, known for their potential dangers, now utilize this method to ensure worker safety.


The "Look-Point-Say-Go"

The philosophy as I've coined for the fuel industry provides simple steps to incorporate into your current procedure or system in order to prevent complacency and reduce risk:


  1. Look to visually make contact with the object or information you intend to take physical action with.
  2. Point at the object or information you intend to take physical action with.
  3. Say the name of the object and/or information you intend to take physical action with.
  4. Go and take physical action according to your risk-free and safe intention.


Using a quality loading sheet can additionally help. Read more about it here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:linkedInArticle:7065585690553565184/


Download your copy now: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GMkU6YOGFhwIQNaty2ucAP-o7SUtLdKP/view?usp=drive_link


As I always say, complacency is not just an enemy to safety, it ruins production, relationships, and more, so stay on the offense.


By incorporating the procedure of the "Look-Point-Say-Go" listed above while loading and unloading your truck, you should experience greater success in purposefully combating complacency while personally managing your risk potential to zero.


Be well, stay safe and keep your hands dirty.


#FuelTransportation #TankerTruck #SafetyProcedures #PointAndCall #Kaizen #Productivity #Efficiency #RiskManagement #Complacency #ReducingErrors #LoadingProcedure #OffloadingProcedure #Transmixes #CrossDumps #UST #AST #CognitivePerformance #WorkEnvironment #ContinuousImprovement #TruckDriver #FuelOrders #TaskPerformance #WorkerSafety #Safety #TankTruck #TankerDriver #1203 #GasHauler

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