Each tool brings us an advantage. In physical terms, it is usually a mechanical advantage. But never a thinking advantage. Tools sometimes make us think less. We don’t always anticipate what could go wrong if we use the wrong tool or use a tool in the wrong way. A screwdriver is not a lever or a chisel. A wrench is not a hammer.

Sharpest tool in the drawer

One of the most frequently used tools in any house is a knife. A sharp edge. Table knives. Steak knives. Knives to cut vegetables or remove the skin from fruit. A knife for spreading putty. A knife used in scrapbooking. A pocket knife. A hunting knife. A utility knife, which is usually a handle with replaceable razor blades.

All these knives were designed for specific purposes. Each one should be used as designed, and the user should make sure they are always cutting in a way that does not endanger them or those around them. Use the knife that is sharp enough for the job, has the right length, and that you can apply sufficient pressure to cut with. Sounds easy enough, right?

In my experience, the utility knife is the most mis-judged knife of all those above. In using a utility knife, people frequently use too much pressure so they can get the cut done. High amounts of force, applied to a fine edge, can often lead to a slip that could result in injury. In industries where these knives are used routinely, employees are taught proper cutting techniques, given cut-proof or cut-resistant gloves to wear on their non-cutting hand, and even given careful instruction on how to change the blade when it is too dull to properly cut.

If I buy that same knife at Home Depot, I won’t get that instruction. I might read the warnings, but they won’t all come to mind each time I pick the knife up. And a cut-proof glove? They’re a little pricey for the amount of time the average home owner might ever use the knife, so they don’t get purchased and kept with the knife.

Last week, I had to replace the thermostat in my home. A simple job, but it required a couple of short jumper wires. Three inches long with about three-quarters of an inch bare wire on each end. I couldn’t find my wire strippers – the tool that is designed to do exactly this task. And it does the task well with minimal risk. I did find my utility knife, and with careful consideration and deliberate action, used that tool to strip the wires. To do it safely took some effort. I didn’t just hold the knife to the insulation and cut toward the end. Too much possibility of nicking the wire or slipping and cutting something else. Work was done without injury. It just took longer and involved more risk.

Risk, ultimately, it the thing we are willing to trade for expediency. Does that make sense to you?

The next time you are faced with compromising on tool use, ask yourself what the true compromise is. As what you are giving up or willing to risk in order to get the job done. And if you have employees that you are accountable for, ask yourself if you would be willing to allow them the same risk.

Thanks, and let’s be careful out there.

One of the more memorable answers came from a former Major League Baseball pitcher. It was raining, and his footing was not good. The umpires seemed determined to let the game go on. He played through without incident, but he didn’t pitch his best because he was compensating for the poor condition of the mound.

Over the last few weeks, the management of the NFL has had two opportunities to act in regard to safety of its employees and of the general public. First, when the collapse of the Metrodome led to scheduling a game on the fozen field of the University of Minnesota, and then two weeks later when blizzard conditions in Philadelphia made travel in the city dangerous.

Stadiums in the NFL come in two versions: covered and not-covered. Those that are not covered have an underground system to keep the turf from freezing, allowing the players some level of certainty that their cleats will work effectively. Frozen turf leads to poor footing. Poor fitting leads to injury. In addition, frozen turf is like concrete, and every tackle will have a much greater impact on the players. Yes, it’s a tough game and they wear personal protective equipment, but that equipment was still designed with turf in mind. The decision: Play the game.

In the case of the snow event, the game was postponed. The reason given was that it was not safe for the fans to travel through the storm to get to the game, and endangering the public would be in no one’s best interest.

The problem with the frozen turf scenario is that there were not a lot of options that would allow the fans of the Minnesota Vikings to attend the game they had paid for.  The University offered the nearest venue with enough seating to serve the fans and to allow the game to be played in a reasonable time. So management had to make a decision with minimal options. In the case of the weather problem in Philadelphia, it was evident that in a couple of days the conditions that caused the problem will not longer impact the opportunity to have the game. In short, it was an easier decision to make.

I’m not judging. I’m sure that the NFL has a robust protocol for decisions like this, including trainers and equipment experts who know the limitations of the equipment.

But what about where you work? Is your management faced with similar tough decisions? Does it look like there is a reasonable consistency to the decisions that impact the safety of the employees?

Your personal safety is determined one decision at a time. Sometimes you are dependent on the decisions of others. Other drivers, your doctor, the guy who puts new brakes in your car. But how does your personal decision process work? Do you know? Take a moment to answer these three questions:

1. A ball and a bat cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?
2. If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?
3. In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?

Each of these questions has an incorrect answer that many people quickly come to. In fact, in a study where these questions were posed to over 3,000 college students, the average correct score was1.24 out of 3.

Does this mean our intuition is wrong? It all depends on the models we have in our heads. The concept of doubling every day is a geometric progression, which is not in everyone’s day-to-day thinking. Neither is the concept of production planning. But, in the study, people who got all three answers correct were also more consistent in their risk-taking choices. Risk taking, the acceptance or denial of risk, is ultimately a decision process.

What does all this mean? Well primarily it points to the variability of being human. We are not 100% consistent in all we do, including the way in which we choose to protect ourselves. The reason Health and Safety regulations have become what they are is that people don’t always take precautions they could because they are inconvenient, too costly, too time consuming. When the government steps in and says “you must” then people fear the cost of the certain punishment over the cost of the low-probability potential loss.

Are you an independent thinker when it comes to safety, or do you rely on regulations and on the expectation that all products are designed with our safety in mind?

So you can check your scores, the answers to the three questions are here:

1. The bat is $1.05, and the ball is $0.05.
2. 5 minutes
3. 47 days

If you got all these correct, then you have some pretty clear thinking going on. I hope that extends to your choices regarding safety. Don’t forget, let’s be careful out there.

Anna at abdpbt is responsible for the effort to Fight Listless Mondays. Find other list links on her blog. Her lists and the others linked there always give you something to think about, and may even make you smile!

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