How to enter:
Email your single submission (one per person or team) to Linda Hamilton at lhamil17@utk.edu.
Why Headspace Matters for Safety
Safety isn’t only about managing physical hazards like equipment, chemicals, or tools. It also depends on what’s happening mentally and emotionally while we work.
When someone is stressed, overwhelmed, distracted, tired, or rushing:
- Focus can narrow
- Mistakes are more likely
- Communication may break down
- Risk‑taking can increase without intent
By noticing these headspace factors and adjusting how we work, we can prevent incidents before they happen.
Submission Prompts
If you’re not sure where to start, consider:
- A time when stress or time pressure affected attention or decision‑making
- A situation where someone spoke up about workload, fatigue, or distraction
- A simple change that helped a team slow down, communicate better, or reset expectations
- A near‑miss where headspace played a role
Your submission doesn’t need to be perfect—just thoughtful and honest.
Our Goal
The Lab Safety Culture Awards are about learning from one another. By sharing how headspace influences safety, we can build a more supportive, aware, and resilient research community.
