I once saw Steve Waugh the famous Australian cricket team captain give an after-dinner speech at some function or other.
At the end of the night he took a few questions from the dinner guests.
I asked him why he thought the Australian cricket team had been so strong under his leadership?
He answered that one reason was that the team had got the "one per-centers" right.
He gave an example that if training was scheduled for 9am the next day, a "one per-center" would be the simple act of turning up on time.
And having the whole team arrive on time for a 9am start.
So a "one per-center" is a simple action that takes virtually no effort.
With regard to HSE management, I use the analogy that the "one per-centers" are the simple every day actions and behaviours that we must always get right.
If an organization can't get the one per-centers right, how on Earth is it going to deal with the more complex stuff?
How will it manage stuff that requires 10 per cent effort?
Or the really big HSE problems than need 50 per cent effort?
There are a number of "one per-cent" HSE problems that are common across job locations that can be solved with about one per-cent effort.
Just thinking ahead can help control most hazardous activities.
Here are a few one per-centers to get you started today:
- Look for and eliminate junk piles;
- Organize a clean up program to remove trash, broken parts, and scrap from work areas, walkways, storerooms, and neglected corners; and
- Look out for materials that have been poorly stacked.