Does safety put American manufacturers on equal footing with overseas firms?
June 24, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Safety vs. production, What's Working in Safety, cost of safety
American manufacturers are increasing their international market shares due, in part, to workplace safety programs, according to one safety expert.
Michael Coleman, Manufacturing Specialty Administrator for the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) says the company he works for knows that by not cutting safety and health programs during the economic downturn, U.S. companies are holding onto and gaining in market share worldwide.
“However, those that reduce their safety and health budgets and programs are looking at losing that competitive edge,” Coleman said.
Coleman will discuss how safety programs help manufacturers stay competitive at this year’s ASSE Professional Development Conference and Expo, June 28-July 1 in San Antonio, TX.
Check in with SafetyNewsAlert.com next week for stories from the conference.
Other key presenters include acting OSHA administrator Jordan Barab and U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.
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Tags: ASSE Professional Development Conference and expo, international market share, workplace safety programs
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
In the US, we have far, far superior (and cumbersome) safety regulations than just about any other country, and our injury and death records havebeen improving for many years.
The unequal footing is on the government’s tax burdens which are pushing companies overseas. We can’t compete with labor costs either.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I agree with LEU….it won’t matter how safe a plant is when it is shut down do to horrible government policies and taxes.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
In the article » Does safety put American manufacturers on equal footing with overseas firms? June 24, 2009 by Fred Hosier quotes Michael Coleman “American manufacturers are increasing their international market shares due, in part, to workplace safety programs, according to one safety expert.”
Could you clarify this statement? It is my understanding that American manufacturing has lost significant ground to foreign competition. Some reference points are: 1981 - 25% of jobs were manufacturing, 2002 - 15% of jobs were in manufacturing, 2008 less than 12% of the jobs were in manufacturing. Wait until you see what happens in this recession. How can you report (or make a statement) that we are gaining market share? If our government does not figure out that they must compete globally for manufacturing jobs, we will not have any manufacturing jobs left. Safety (and the environment) are good things, but American manufacturing companies do not need any more burdens.
Sincerely,
Don
September 15th, 2009 at 8:05 am
I agree with Steve and LEU.