Page 2 - Suncor 360 - Summer 2017

MY JOURNEY TO ZERO
“I knew I would be working alone so I followed all the steps that I would at work – except for one.”
Doug Fingland
Director, utilities maintenance execution Fort McMurray
Doug Fingland learned the hard way that operational discipline matters at home as much as it does at work.
“I had to go onto my roof to repair a sky light, which I thought was an easy task,” says Doug. “I knew I would be working alone so I followed all the steps I would at work – except for one.”
A person is considered "alone" when they can’t be seen or heard by another person. It introduces a different set of risks and complexity to a task. “I told my wife what I was doing,” says Doug. “I accessed the roof, tied myself off and began to x the sky light. I didn’t tie down the ladder as there wasn’t a good tie-down location, but when I watched my ladder get caught by the wind and crash to the ground, I wish I would have secured it.”
During the hour Doug waited to be rescued, he had time to think about his actions and the importance of following all the operational discipline behaviours every time.
In this instance, he should have adhered to procedures by tying off the ladder. He should also have used a questioning attitude to surface problems by asking what could go wrong. Had he done so, he would have taken his cell phone.
Doug identi ed and addressed the usual risks, and was competent to do the job, but underestimated a change in weather.
“My wife did eventually come to the rescue. The only consequence, thankfully, was a bruised ego.”
SAFETY MOMENT
Ladders present risks if not used properly. Keep these tips in mind: • Set up ladders on a rm, level surface.
• Always face the ladder. Maintain three-point contact.
• Keep the centre of your body within the side rails.
• Overlap the upper and lower sections by at least one metre.
• Secure the ladder at the top and bottom by tying it off or have someone hold it.