You can’t manage what you can’t measure

This year has brought with it many interesting challenges: the global financial crisis and, just recently, the outbreak of Swine Flu. In spite of all these things happening, we still have the ongoing challenge to ensure people enjoy that basic human right of being safe at work.

Maintaining a safe workplace has quite a way to go, as many safety hazards are cumulative over time and we need to educate people that things catch up with us later in life. For example, hearing loss often results from cumulative damage. Despite what many think, we’re not invincible.

How do we change this culture to provide that basic human right of safety? Many companies provide quality safety products, but how do you ensure it’s worn correctly and is providing the correct level of protection?

I manage a business that provides many quality products in respiratory protection, noise management and hazard control. How can I ensure that our customers’ investment is being used and worn correctly? In my first career, I was a lawyer and general counsel of some leading Australian companies, having responsibility to ensure they provided safe systems of work. Again - how do you do this?

Some may argue we need more safety regulation. Our safety regulations are all-pervasive with general requirements for safe workplaces. However, the real issue for industry is getting access to technical information and resources to deal with their safety issues. This is particularly true in the current economic climate. Costs are associated with developing a safety culture. Time and effort is needed to change the way people think about improving safety. But how can you measure and verify this change is happening?

Some hold the view that industry lacks detailed understanding of what constitutes effective PPE usage. Currently, people are talking about surgical masks and respirators because of swine flu. They’re both useful in dealing with infectious situations, but how can you ensure there’s a good facial seal?

The underlying theme is the need for knowledge on the correct selection, use and maintenance of PPE, because all PPE have deficiencies and these must be taken into account. Just giving someone a mask doesn’t provide a framework for correct and effective PPE use. It needs to be properly managed.

But you simply can’t manage and improve a culture if you can’t measure it. For example, we all know a respirator needs to have a proper face seal. But how do you know if someone is wearing it correctly? A measurement system is essential.

For face seals, this is done simply with a ‘bitrex test’. A more quantitative method like ‘portacount’ actually measures the seal. If it records a poor measurement, there’s no seal. This leads to working out why: is it the type of respirator; or the way a worker was shown how to wear it; or the worker has a three-day growth and can’t get a decent seal?

Knowledge and data helps to understand why. Data gives measurement. This is a catalyst to asking why. Now we’re managing the situation.

A relatively unknown fact is that 3M invented the concept of fit-testing. We believe we manufacture effective PPE products, so we wanted a way to ensure people knew that what they bought actually worked. We have the same ability with ear-fit validation and earplugs.

At the end of the day, you can have all the regulations and management programs, but unless people measure what’s being worn, you’ll never be able to determine if it works. Put simply - if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Tools that achieve this allow companies to manage and maintain safety equipment, thus ensuring that basic human right of being safe at work.

John Hallam is the National Sales & Marketing Manager of the 3M Australia Safety Division. Prior to this, Hallam was the Strategic Business Manager for 3M Australia’s Government Markets and, before joining 3M, was a practising lawyer for 10 years.