Scrap Recyclers Love '2-Minute Drill' Videos
The monthly series from ISRI's safety program is a big hit among member companies, Transportation Safety Director Thomas D. Herod says.
A series of short safety videos created by the safety program of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) has been very popular with member companies since being launched in March 2009, and the latest video addresses the big driver safety topic of the day: distracted driving. (Remember, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood's distracted driving summit meeting will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 1 and available via webcast to the public.)
Thomas D. Herod, ISRI's Transportation Safety director, said the video series addresses one new topic per month. "The 1,500 member companies of ISRI had seen a dramatic increase in driver accidents and injuries between 2002 and 2008," Herod explained in an e-mail to the editor of OH&S. "$11 million in workers comp losses alone, and $15 million in vehicle damage losses. So we launched the '2-Minute Drill' series to get drivers to think about safety. We post one new topic every month on the video webpage, then mail a DVD compilation to our 3,400 member locations every quarter.
"We have gotten great responses from member companies since launching the program in March 2009," he added. "The character 'Dave' is actually an actor named Joe Hansard (JoeHansard.com). He fits the part perfectly. We have shot 10 topics so far and will shoot 3 more in October. Our members want the series to continue."
Besides representing companies in the United States and 30 other countries that process, broker, and industrially consume scrap commodities, including ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper, electronics, rubber, plastics, glass, and textiles, ISRI includes associate members -- providers of services and equipment to the scrap recycling industry, such as shredders, balers, cranes, cargo transporters, and computer systems. Safety is a core value for the institute, which offers OSHA compliance guidance and safety training materials to the membership.