Here is an easy tool to utilize and pass on to workers today. It doesn’t require a great deal of training and fits perfectly within any safety system an organization has. It is called STAR, stop, think, act, and review. To STAR a job, process, or task is to perform a quick and simple assessment of what the task is, the safety process in place, doing the actual task and a post job review. Think of a basketball player performing a free throw. He takes a breath, lines up his feet, puts his eyes on the target and then shoots at the goal. If he is successful he repeats. If he misses, a quick review will necessitate some corrections.
Let’s take a task most are familiar with. You have a flat tire on the highway. To get where you are going, this problem needs immediate attention. So, instead of jumping into the task, STAR the task. First Stop. Then, Think. Is the car out of traffic, do you have the necessary tools and knowledge, and can this tire change be performed safely? With those questions answered, Act. Perform the tire change. Once the task has been completed, Review. What about the task went well? What would you change next time, if anything? How might the task be done differently and what lessons learned would you pass on?
This simple tool, STAR can be applied to the simplest and most complex tasks both on the job and off. It is an easy to remember and an effective tool.
Let’s take a task most are familiar with. You have a flat tire on the highway. To get where you are going, this problem needs immediate attention. So, instead of jumping into the task, STAR the task. First Stop. Then, Think. Is the car out of traffic, do you have the necessary tools and knowledge, and can this tire change be performed safely? With those questions answered, Act. Perform the tire change. Once the task has been completed, Review. What about the task went well? What would you change next time, if anything? How might the task be done differently and what lessons learned would you pass on?
This simple tool, STAR can be applied to the simplest and most complex tasks both on the job and off. It is an easy to remember and an effective tool.