Scanning and focusing

What can I do to avoid distractions and other traps that prevent me from seeing hazards?

There are two tools you can use to overcome hazard recognition traps – scanning and focusing.

We often go about our business with blinders on. When we’re busy and concentrating on a task at hand, we forget to look up and divert our attention elsewhere. So what can we do to make sure we’re not rudely surprised by a forklift that speeds around the corner, or some other risk that catches us off guard?

When you’re focusing on details, step back intermittently and take a wider view of the situation. Scan for possible risks.