Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
task or role. A safety buddy always combines her coaching role with
her regular job. She plays the role of an older sibling in the family,
who partly takes care of raising a younger sibling.
A safety buddy plays an essential role in the induction of a new colleague
in general and in his safety education in particular.
Case 3
The driving instructor is a perfect example of a safety buddy. Driving
instructors teach a person how to drive a car, how to understand traffic,
and how to become sensitive to possible dangers and anticipate them.
7.2 WHO CAN PLAY THE ROLE OF SAFETY BUDDY?
Many employees can fulfill the role of safety buddy at work. The role
of the safety buddy is situational, which means that a person may play
this role perfectly in one job but may still have a lot to learn in another
job. Characteristics of the ideal buddy include the following:
The ideal safety buddy has seniority and a high social status within the
team. He also is a safety model.
A level of seniority in the same environment (plant, department)
and task
Competences needed to do his own job
A knowledge of the ins and outs of the work processes
An understanding of the safety regulations and their background
The ability to understand and explain why the rules are the way
they are and why work is organized the way it is
Personal sensitivity to possible risks at work and to cues that might
be a sign for potential disturbances in the process
Knowledge of the risks involved in working and an understanding
of the consequences if processes are temporarily organized in a dif-
ferent way, for example, during maintenance activities
A work history of no longer than 10 years in this function and envi-
ronment. Consider the number of 10 years as a maximum, depending
on the complexity of the job. The more complex the job, the longer it
takes to become a senior and the slower the process of habituation.
A longer stay usually leads to a decrease in anxiety feelings as a result
