December 17 2017
By: Terry L. Mathis
Once, after two very long flights, I found that picking up my car was going to require me to stand in a series of long lines waiting at the rental counter. Whereas usually it's as easy as finding my name on a board and hopping into my car. When I finally got to the head of the line, the clerk explained there was a popular car race that week and they were overcome with reservations. I asked if this was the first year this happened and was told it occurred every year.
If something repeats every year and you get ambushed by it, you are not paying attention! Every enterprise has seasonality but the major holidays happen every year. And with the holidays come short staffs, overtime, or closures and reopens, all of which can cause problems with safety. Have a plan to minimize risks that recognizes special situations holidays cause and addresses them. The Navy says any ship can be a minesweeper — ONCE! If you are getting "ambushed" the second time, it is your own fault.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
