Throughout 2024, a new EMEA Health & Safety campaign will revisit one of our 12 Safety Essentials each month.

The first Safety Essential we want to emphasise is ‘Look After Yourself and Each Other’. This Safety Essential is crucial as it reinforces two key components to prevent incidents.

Firstly, it underscores the importance of self-care, for which we have a globally established procedure called ‘Take 5’ to support us all. This procedure requires every worker to be guided by three key steps: Stop, Think, Act. To accomplish this, they need to conduct a risk assessment before starting tasks in their day. This process will help them think about the task they are about to do, identify risks, and implement necessary controls to perform the job safely.

The second component involves looking out for others. In this regard, workers are encouraged to use the ‘Take 5 Together’ procedure which involves them stepping in when they observe a colleague taking any risks and supporting them by carrying out a ‘Take 5’ risk assessment together.

To foster an interdependent safety culture (caring not only for oneself but also for others), it is crucial to follow this Safety Essential consistently.