Get Out And Look – or GOAL. It’s a simple adage that the trucking industry has used for decades to remind drivers to do just that – get out, and look, when backing or maneuvering their vehicles in tight spots.
It’s a phrase that the City of Manassas uses to encourage awareness among its drivers to prevent and reduce losses. Manassas Safety Coordinator Jeff Stephens first mentioned this effort to a group gathered for a VRSA Risk Manager Forum.
“It’s the most effective way to protect or prevent loss,” said Stephens. “It’s the easiest thing you are going to do, and it’s measurable, the amount of loss it prevents, just that split second of having to get out and look.”
His remark caught the attention of VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock.
“When Jeff made the comment about GOAL, it was something that resonated with us,” said Bullock. “Not just about GOAL in the context of auto losses, but in everything. In addition to providing the broadest coverages, we want to provide and promote risk management to help prevent and reduce losses.”
In response, VRSA is launching a new Get Out And Look campaign to promote awareness and taking action to identify and reduce risks. The campaign isn’t focused solely on preventing and reducing auto losses, but also on ways members can “get out and look” at their buildings, facilities, equipment, policies, and more.
“We’re developing posters members can place around their facilities to remind staff about GOAL, so wherever they are, they can think – how can getting out and looking, and taking a second to examine things, can prevent or reduce a potential loss,” said Bullock.
Whether it’s getting out of an automobile to look before maneuvering, conducting self-inspections, checking equipment, taking a look at playgrounds and sidewalks, or reviewing policies and conducting HR audits, the campaign is focused on increasing awareness of risks and encouraging employees to take action.
“At its core, GOAL is taking a moment and pausing and giving something a second thought,” said City of Manassas Risk Manager Jim Hanley. “When you do that, you have the opportunity to reduce losses regardless of what they are, whether it’s clicking a link or stepping out onto an uneven platform, if you actually take a look at what you are doing, think about it, you might prevent a loss.”
As the campaign progresses, additional materials and stories of getting out and looking will be shared across our communications channels. For more information, contact your safety consultant!