| For safety's sake, fix it in ninety minutes |
When something needs repair, you can put it
on a list
. . . or you can fix it in ninety minutes.
contributed by Harold Ford, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
As principal of a school with several hundred pupils, I learned
that small defects in our physical environment can easily cause
injuries. When not attended to promptly, they can also have a negative
impact on morale.
If a desk leg became unstable, for instance, a student would complain.
If it was a reasonable complaint, the teacher sent in a requisition
to an administrative assistant, who passed it on to our maintenance
employee, who placed it on a "get around to it" list.
Sometimes, the student would have to put up with an unstable desk
for days. Our maintenance department for ever had a constant list
of repairs that needed attention. Some were more urgent than others,
but few repairs can be classified as absolutely "urgent",
so repairs took time to complete.
I would see a broken floor tile in the hall, and notice that it
was still broken a week later. When I asked about it, I would be
told that it had been reported, and was on someone's list.
To break the logjam, I initiated a 90 minute
rule. I asked for all minor problems to be resolved in ninety minutes.
Staff quickly caught on to the idea. If things are to be repaired
in ninety minutes, you cannot leave it to someone else—the
ninety minutes begin to run as soon as you learn of the problem.
People have to become involved. A teacher who has a broken desk
has to do something right away. It might involve a call to supplies
to replace the offending item.
On one occasion a washroom closet was vandalized, the seat broken,
and feces smeared on the wall. A student reported it to an administrative
assistant. Maintaining order and cleanliness in school washrooms
is important for health and safety. The administrative assistant
called in the janitor and our maintenance person. While they were
attending to cleaning, she nipped down to the local hardware store
to purchase a replacement seat. In less than ninety minutes the
closet was repaired and cleaned up.
We have used the ninety-minute rule to respond to damaged walking
surfaces, a dislodged drainage downpipe, a broken hinge on a security
door. But most importantly, we have used the rule to make the point
that we are not helpless in the event of a problem. Everyone can
and should pitch in to keep the environment safe
and healthy.
Our ninety-minute rule did us really proud the day we experienced
a break-in. The moment we discovered the break-in we
made an announcement to all teachers and support staff. Within ninety
minutes a complete security procedure was completed. Our ninety-minute
achievement included a check of students, staff, all venues, stock,
equipment and personal belongings. Each staff member had just sufficient
time to conduct a quick, intensive check of premises, equipment,
facilities and security. The time-constraint gave rise to a great
deal of quick thinking and initiative—people unfamiliar with
a venue or equipment had to step in, assess the situation and make
judgment calls. We all learned fresh perspectives. The safety reports,
compiled while everything was fresh in everyone's minds, were comprehensive
and accurate. Within ninety minutes the break-in had been fully
investigated, police and insurance procedures completed and the
damaged lock and window repaired.
An event such as this will always cause disruption, but we scored
because we limited the disruption and sent out a powerful message
to everyone that we were completely in control. It was with pride
that I wrote up "We did it again!" on our bulletin board.
Why ninety minutes?
Sixty minutes to make a repair tends to be unreasonably short and
disruptive. Ninety minutes allows for the item to be reported, for
needed parts to be taken out of stock or purchased, for someone
to apply the solution.
The ninety-minute rule is empowering
The rule breaks down barriers, and helps people feel they can do
something about a problem. People feel they can, and must use their
initiative to do something. Everyone likes the ninety minute rule.
We reward people for doing something in ninety
minutes
When people sort out a problem in ninety minutes, they receive recognition,
maybe just a pat on the back, more likely a mention in our school
newsletter. It becomes a matter of honor to accomplish the task
in ninety minutes. It leads to greater pride in the physical appearance
of our learning and working environment. This one small "rule"
leads to greater job satisfaction and a sense of pride in the organization.
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