Comments on: Top 10 safety stories of 2008

By: Chris White

Chris White — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:21:02 +0000

The way I see it, we are all in this together. In the past the government has given tax breaks for several things, but have they ever given the contruction industry breaks for providing a safe and healthy work place other than a Drug Free Work Force which involves insurance? I propose that general contractors and subcontractors that are able to prove they are doing everything in accordance to the CFR Standards will be allowed to receive a dollar for dollar tax credit or cut for all money spent on training and PPE. Most GC’s spend this money on an annual basis but rely on subcontractors for the bulk of the work on their jobs. If the government really wants to make sure everyone goes home unharmed at the end of the day, give us additional incentives to make this happen. At that point, we have no excuse.

By: Dave Rodriguez

Dave Rodriguez — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:11:29 +0000

Until the general contractor starts requiring all trades on the job to have and document they are training their workers on the job, their are still going to be injuries small or big on the job and the subcontractor is going to be included in the suit. Some companies are getting jobs without a safety program and walking around willy nilly looking at workers wearing all the right PPE and getting hurt from their own stupidity.

By: Angelia

Angelia — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:50:41 +0000

I have to agree with Steve. Compliance requirements have been in place for since 1970 and to use the defense that “workers suffer” from regulatory mandates is inexcusable. Although some aspects of OSHA have changed over the years, the basics are pretty consistent. I remember when there were no lockout requirements, no hearing conservation requirements or even HAZCOM requirements (on the first job I had in 1973 I was told “don’t sniff that stuff, it’ll make you high”. When I asked what it was, nobody could tell me.) And I also remember when safety training was a joke that consisted of the boss telling me “don’t get hurt. Now get to work”. It scares me to think that this still happens today.

For almost 40 years, OSHA has been telling companies to clean up their act and keep their people safe. Since industry could not regulate itself, the government decided to do it for them. The really sad part is that here we are, almost 40 years later, and people still get killed just trying to make a living.

Whether it’s the mining industry, logging, commercial fishing, or widget making, people get hurt everyday for various reasons, from companies failing to protect them to people being just plain stupid. And while OSHA can fine the daylights of non-compliant companies (I think “egregious” now carries the highest penalties), you just can’t fix stupid!

By: Richard Hardesty

Richard Hardesty — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:30:51 +0000

While not regulated under OSHA in the US, one of the top 10 safety stories has to be the use of melamine to fake protein test results. This has far reaching managment and cost implecations for all of industry.

By: Mike Middlemas

Mike Middlemas — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:46:34 +0000

If all other industries were scrutinized as closely as the mining industry…..including regular inspections and monetary penalties for violations, maybe we would eliminate some of the needless injuries taking place on a regular basis. I left the mining industry and worked in a distribution center for a fortune 500 company and not once was OSHA in the front door to make an inspection. Now that I have been back in the mining industry for the last 5 years, it is rare that a day goes by that we do not have a MSHA inspector on site.

By: Chuck Woodings

Chuck Woodings — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:25:05 +0000

Some of these things are great but until the worker is hit in his pocket directly when he violates a safety rule willfully we are going to have problems. The workers are far to willing to assume too much personal risk and they think they can get away with it. This said I do emphatically support the call for more and better training. In reviewing accidents, I figure that about 80% to 90% of them are the result of insufficient or total lack of training.

By: Steve H

Steve H — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:59:58 +0000

Being in compliance with OSHA is a no brainer, and companies bidding on jobs should have the sense to figure safety into the bid. On the other hand, documentation is the key on training, near miss accidents, and employee warnings about safety. Not only will this help you with OSHA if heaven forbid, there is an accident, but it might also help you when fighting Unemployement benefits for the worker that you fired because he would not comply with your safety program. I applaud OSHA for doing what should have been done 25 years ago.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:28:03 +0000

Rather than increase the amount or number of fines handed out by OSHA, perhaps the feds could help struggling companies abate unsafe conditions. Many companies have been forced into a corner where survival of the company has take precedence over compliance with OSHA (and it’s the worker that suffers).