Links on Worker Safety: * WORKSAFE * OSHA * History of Industrial Safety (MSN Encarta) * Central NY Committee on Occupational Safety & Health (cnycosh@igc.org) * Rochester Council on Occupational Safety & Health (ROCOSH) * New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) * National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
Ergonomics & Repetive Strain Injury Safety Resources You Should Know About see related information on: |
Local 527 online newsletter: safety |
Ergonomics & Repetive Strain Injury Safety Resources You Should Know About see related information on: |
3/24/02
Links on Worker Safety: * WORKSAFE * OSHA * History of Industrial Safety (MSN Encarta) * Central NY Committee on Occupational Safety & Health (cnycosh@igc.org) * Rochester Council on Occupational Safety & Health (ROCOSH) * New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) * National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
Unsafe Conditions vs. Unsafe Acts For over ten years I have had a debate with company officials over what causes accidents and injuries. Many in the Company would say, most emphatically, that accidents/injuries happen 95% of the time because of "unsafe acts," meaning of course, that it was the workers performance that was the cause for being injured on the job. I, on the other hand, would state with equal emphasis, that it was "unsafe conditions" that caused 95% of the accidents /injuries on the job, meaning of course that it was the company's failure to change or improve conditions that was the cause for workers being injured on the job. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has written standards which to my interpretation speak mostly to the conditions in which we work not the manner in which we do our work. They go to great lengths to detail machine guarding, conditions of ladders, floors, fork trucks, lifting devises, lighting, numbers of exits, noise levels.etc. Not once in all my years of EH/S have I heard an OSHA inspector site a worker for acting unsafely. So where is the logic? Why would so many company people take such a strong position that "unsafe acts" cause accidents? However, another view is that a certain amount of performance is required in OSHA training for lock-out/tag-out, power industrial truck operation, power tool operation.etc. Years ago it appeared that it was easier for the Company to find fault with the worker than take the time to spend the money to improve conditions. (If a worker stepped off the back of a stacker truck, it would be cheaper to find fault with the worker than to buy harnesses for everyone and train them to use them.) But over time, I, like everyone else, have seen Carrier spend literally millions of dollars to do training and improve safety conditions with some dramatic and positive results such as decreases in the injury rates. So we in the Union must be right in our position that improving conditions do and will reduce injuries. Yet company officials still look to changing routines that in their minds contribute to injuries and accidents. An example given to me was the TR20 Safety Incentive Program. After implementing the performance based program the total recordable incident rate plummeted from 8.0 to 4.6 annually. Given these numbers the Company might be right in their position that affecting performance or conduct reduces injuries. This probably means that both the Union and the Company are right. Affecting both conditions and performance makes for a healthier and safer workplace. If a program is implemented that addresses both views then the probability of success would be high. There are many so called "Behaviors-Based" programs on the "market" but few fit our needs here at Carrier. What we need is a plan that addresses both improvement of conditions and the Company's need to affect worker routines. Most importantly we all need a plan that improves health and safety but isn't used for discipline. The difference between performance enhancements and discipline is truly the biggest issue. If we put together a strategy that addresses unsafe acts; allows for improvements in unsafe conditions and stays away from discipline it would be a good thing. Dawson Minsch Vice President / Recording Secretary Union Safety Specialist |
WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY SUNDAY APRIL 28, 2002 |
