In our previous VOICE article, “Autopilot Isn’t Safe—Especially When Lives Are at Stake,” we explored how routine can quietly pull workers into distraction. Mental drift may seem harmless in everyday life, but in high-risk roles—driving, operating machinery, managing energy sources—one unfocused moment can change a life forever.
So the question remains: How do we stay alert when the task itself becomes predictable?
To answer this, we turn to a technique that has saved countless lives and prevented thousands of errors around the world.
What Is “Point and Call”?
Born in Japan’s railway system and now used across Asia and North America, Point and Call (Shisa Kanko) is a structured method where workers:
- Point at an object, indicator, or control.
- Call out the status or next step aloud.
It looks simple. Some might even call it strange. But it is one of the most studied and effective safety techniques ever developed.
Why?
Because it engages multiple senses at once—eyes, hands, voice, ears, and brain.
This multisensory activation breaks the “autopilot” state and forces the mind to reconnect with the task.
A conductor points at a signal:
“Signal clear.”
A technician points at a gauge:
“Pressure normal.”
A driver points at the mirror:
“Blind spot clear.”
This combination of seeing, saying, hearing, and moving dramatically reduces cognitive slips and missed steps.
Why It Works
1. Multisensory Activation
When more senses engage, the brain enters a heightened state of awareness. Attention sharpens. Error rates drop.
2. Verbal Reinforcement
Saying the step aloud strengthens memory and confirms the action.
3. Physical Reset
Pointing disrupts monotony and reorients the mind back to the present moment.
4. Proven Results
Japanese rail companies report up to 85% reduction in operational errors using this technique.
It has since been adopted by:
- Taiwan High Speed Rail
- China State Rail
- Indonesia’s transport sector
- New York Subway (MTA)
- Canada’s GO Transit
Anywhere work is repetitive and risky, Point and Call improves safety.
Leadership: Build a Culture of Awareness
Leaders have the power to normalize and reinforce Point and Call as a cultural practice. Start by:
- Training teams to verbalize and point during critical checks.
- Modelling the behavior during inspections and walk-abouts.
- Creating visual prompts to remind staff to use the technique.
- Recognizing workers who demonstrate consistent attentiveness.
Where leaders lead, culture follows.
For Workers: Staying Sharp Starts With a Simple Habit
Even if your company hasn’t formally adopted Point and Call, you can use it yourself:
- Say your steps aloud: “Gate locked. Safe to proceed.”
- Use gestures: A physical point brings your attention back.
- Take a breath before each call: Reset the mind.
- Share the method: It’s simple, effective, and easy to adopt.
Small actions protect big futures.
Final Reflection
Routine is silent.
Complacency is quiet.
But safety speaks.
Point and Call is more than a technique—it is a daily discipline that wakes up the senses, interrupts autopilot, and protects lives.
So when the task becomes familiar, when your mind begins to drift, when repetition tempts you into automatic mode—
Point.
Call.
Stay sharp.
Because safety isn’t just a checklist.
It’s an ongoing conversation with yourself—and with the people who count on you.
