Critical Incidents & Stress: Signs an Operator May Need Help
WreckMaster urges towers to Keep Your Mind Where Your Body Is; A distracted operator is not a safe operator, and anything the impacts your mental health can have a negative effect on your work. WreckMaster urges operators that are unable to focus on the task at hand to take a step back and help prevent dangerous situations on a scene. If you notice that you are distracted, nervous, short-tempered or unfocused while on a job, it is recommended that an operator remove themselves from the job and seeks some form of assistance.
In skilled trade industries such as towing, mental health and stress are often associated with a certain stigma; the perception that if an operator asks for help or is unable to “man up” then they are weak. This way of thinking is detrimental to keeping the industry safe and efficient. There is no shame in asking for help.