Seeing more young arborists skip helmet checks worries me
I watched a crew last week and none of them buckled their chin straps. It seems like a small thing, but it's a big risk. Do you think safety gear habits are getting worse?
Saw the same thing at a job site last year. Our foreman started doing a mandatory gear check every morning, which felt annoying at first but it worked. Now everyone just does it automatically.
Confess I was the worst about skipping safety checks back in the day. My old boss had to call me out more than once for forgetting basic stuff. These days I check my gear like it's a religious ritual, even on weekends. It's embarrassing how right he was, but hey, at least I'm not duct-taping my boots together anymore.
Know exactly what you mean about it feeling weird when you skip it. I got into the same habit after a close call that still makes my stomach drop to think about. That automatic feeling is the goal, right? When you stop having to remember and it just happens.