At Team Fishel, our most important goal is to be Accident Free. Accident Free means no Teammate injuries, motor vehicle accidents, or job damages. Simply put, it is perfection. To be Accident Free requires a commitment, belief and – most importantly – an attitude that perfection is obtainable.

Becoming Accident Free begins with doing "the little things" well. For most Teammates these little things are the routine inspections they should be conducting at the beginning of each shift. These inspections, such as daily vehicle inspections and daily utility locate inspections, are actually anything but little. They force us to focus on safety and planning in every critical task we do.

Unfortunately, our human nature often rebels against performing routine tasks on such a frequent basis. We want to get things done quickly and move on to the next task. Why bother to check the mirrors and the tires when it's much easier to just get in the truck and go?

Many individuals may not gain great satisfaction from performing routine inspections because the immediate productivity gains may not be readily apparent. However, if an accident can be prevented by ensuring equipment is tied down correctly and verifying locates, that's potentially thousands of dollars saved and an injury (or injuries) avoided. These little things encourage safe work practices and they lead to maximizing our productivity by minimizing unnecessary errors and downtime.

Doing "the Little Things:" Performing Routine Inspections 1. Daily Vehicle Inspections 2. Daily Utility Locate Inspection 3. Checklist and the Daily Field Report (DFR) 4. Excavation Inspection Report 5. Confined Space Entry Inspection 6. Job Site Inspections

I know that some Teammates do not see the importance or value of having to complete routine inspections, especially when it comes to documenting the report. Some argue it is unnecessary paperwork. Sometimes, Teammates might simply fill out the form and fail to perform the actual inspection itself. We refer to this as "pencil whipping" a report, and Team Fishel does not permit documenting an inspection that was never really done.

The simple fact is that while documenting these inspections is important, and required by law in many instances, the real value of the inspection is the actual visual, physical or mental check that drives proper planning into every critical task we perform. The form itself is both verification that the inspection was completed and a helpful tool to remind Teammates of what is required to be inspected.

When it comes to being Accident Free, we can't afford to skip over the little things. All too often, it's the little things that matter the most.

What You May Not Know About Routine Reports First and foremost, Teammates' hours are tracked on the DFR, which determines their pay for the week. Productivity results are tracked on the DFR, which provides necessary information for maximizing our profitability and future opportunities. The Daily Utility Locate Inspection Checklist ensures visual inspections are completed prior to excavating to reduce the number of costly job damages. Job site inspections identify areas in which we need to improve our safety performance. The Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) documents safety defects on a vehicle so that it can be repaired timely. The DOT requires a daily vehicle inspection to be documented. OSHA requires routine inspections of all excavations. The Excavation Inspection Report documents that we perform proper inspections on all trenches measuring five feet or deeper. The Confined Space Entry Report is a tool required by OSHA to document that a confined space is safe to enter.