What is the Take Two Process?
"Take Two" is a quick, two-minute safety check workers perform before beginning a task. It's a pause to reflect and identify potential risks, ensuring safety remains the top priority before jumping into a job. The idea is to stop, think, and assess. By taking just two minutes, workers can significantly reduce the chances of injuries, accidents, or near misses.
How to Do a "Take Two"
A "Take Two" involves a few critical steps that help employees evaluate the work area, equipment, and processes before starting a job:
Stop and Survey: Stop what you’re doing and survey the environment. Look at the work area for any potential hazards—such as slip, trip, and fall risks, improper tools, or clutter.
Ask Questions:
Are the tools and equipment you need in good condition?
Is there a safer way to perform the task?
Do you have all the necessary PPE (personal protective equipment)?
Are you familiar with the procedure or is additional training needed?
Assess Risks: Identify any hazards and assess the level of risk involved. Determine if it can be controlled and what actions are required to mitigate the risk.
Act Accordingly: Implement necessary controls, such as wearing appropriate PPE, removing obstructions, or seeking additional help.
Communicate: Share information about any hazards or changes with the team. Team awareness boosts overall safety, especially when tasks are complex or conditions are variable.
Why Should You Do a Take Two?
The "Take Two" process is important because it integrates a proactive safety culture at every level of work. Here are some key reasons to take those two minutes:
Prevents Complacency: Routine tasks can often lead to complacency, where workers overlook potential hazards. A "Take Two" helps break the monotony and refocus attention on the risks, even in routine jobs.
Enhances Situational Awareness: Safety is about awareness. This practice encourages workers to be alert and mindful of their surroundings, adjusting to any changes in the work environment.
Reduces Accidents: Many workplace incidents happen because people fail to assess the situation properly. Taking two minutes to think and evaluate risks can prevent small mistakes that might lead to injuries.
Reinforces Accountability: The "Take Two" process also fosters a sense of individual responsibility and accountability. It empowers workers to take charge of their safety, not relying solely on supervisors or safety personnel.
Pros and Cons of the Take Two Process
Pros
Simple and Time-Efficient: "Take Two" is a quick and easy way to incorporate risk assessment without major disruption. Since it only takes about two minutes, it’s time-efficient and doesn’t hinder productivity.
Adaptable to Any Job: This process is flexible and can be used in any industry or environment—whether it’s a construction site, an office setting, or manufacturing.
Promotes a Safety Culture: Encouraging every worker to pause and consider safety reinforces a positive safety culture. It ensures that everyone, from entry-level staff to senior management, is on the same page about prioritizing safety.
Prevents Risky Shortcuts: Under time pressure, workers may be tempted to cut corners. A "Take Two" helps mitigate this by ensuring that employees take a moment to focus on the safe way to proceed, even if they’re in a hurry.
Cons
Dependence on Individual Discipline: The success of the "Take Two" relies heavily on individual discipline and honesty. If a worker rushes through it or performs it only as a formality, the benefits are minimized.
Potential for Inconsistent Application: Without proper training or reinforcement, some workers might not take it seriously, leading to inconsistent application across teams.
Perceived as a Delay: In high-pressure environments where speed is critical, taking two minutes can be perceived as slowing down work. This perception might lead to resistance, especially if workers don’t understand the safety benefits.
Lack of Documentation: Unlike more formal risk assessments, "Take Two" typically isn’t documented. Without documentation, tracking recurring hazards or holding people accountable can become difficult.
Making the Most of a Take Two
To maximize the effectiveness of the "Take Two" process:
Training is Key: Train employees on the importance of taking two minutes to assess their environment. Demonstrate how quickly hazards can be overlooked, even in routine tasks.
Leadership Involvement: When supervisors model the "Take Two" behavior, it encourages workers to do the same. Leadership participation and support are critical to the success of this practice.
Consistent Reinforcement: Supervisors should encourage the use of "Take Two" regularly, possibly even using short safety talks to remind workers about its importance and share examples where taking a couple of minutes prevented an incident.
Conclusion
The "Take Two" safety process is a simple yet effective tool that encourages proactive hazard identification and risk management. By taking two minutes to stop, think, and assess, workers can catch potential hazards before they become serious issues. While there are a few challenges to overcome, such as maintaining consistency and worker buy-in, the benefits are significant.
Ultimately, "Take Two" empowers individuals to prioritize their safety and that of their teammates, leading to fewer accidents and a more conscientious work environment. In an industry where even small mistakes can have significant consequences, investing a couple of minutes in assessing risks is a wise and impactful practice.
References
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2021). “Situational Awareness and Hazard Identification in the Workplace”. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2020). “Workplace Safety: Reducing Risks and Increasing Awareness”. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/
Safety and Health Magazine. (2019). "Promoting a Safety Culture: The Power of Short Safety Assessments". Retrieved from https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/
The next time you're faced with a task, remember to "Take Two"—because those two minutes could save your life or someone else’s.
Training
This online Hazard Identification course will help keep you safe on the job by showing you how to prevent injuries and illness in the workplace through hazard identification, assessment, and control.
Continuing Education Units - This course contains 3.25 technical hours.
BCRSP
This course may be eligible for 0.3 CEUs for Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) – Continuing Professional Development Program (CPD Program) for the purpose of recertification in maintaining the BCRSP certification. See the BCRSP website at www.bcrsp.ca for CPD point criteria.