WE live and work in a performance-driven culture. Everything is defined by how well it performs, from the companies we invest in and the vehicles we drive to the laptop computers, i-Pods, and cellphones we use to increase our personal productivity and individual performance. Interestingly, sometimes devices designed for a much humbler purpose turn out to be a bridge to other functional data that prove to be a significant boost to productivity, personal accountability, and major leaps forward in organizational performance.
We live in a world of labels. We trust some labels to be precise: We expect a 250 mg capsule to deliver 250 milligrams of medication, and our 2-liter soft drink bottle undoubtedly holds two liters. But we also accept that some labels provide us only with an estimate.
IN the previous two articles, we discussed the need for clear ownership and a driving focus on exposure in creating an injury-free culture. These two attributes in themselves may compel leaders to reorient their thinking around safety. There is a third attribute, however, where the injury-free culture truly begins to take shape: measurements and metrics.
In recent years, the health and safety industry has recognized and embraced technology in an effort to find a better way to manage chemical information. MSDS management, in particular, has found a ready audience for technology.
ONE of the most rapidly emerging service industries is that of industrial maintenance, and more specifically, water jetting or water blasting. As with any new or growing industry, specific standards and regulations are non-existent, and the industry is left to regulate itself. Fortunately for the water jetting industry, most of the companies providing this service are professionally oriented and strive to take every precaution necessary to protect the interests of employees and clients.
ACCORDING to recent information from OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workplace fall-related deaths in the industrial and construction sector rank second only to occupationally related traffic accidents. When it comes to industrial fall protection systems, while challenges exist in designing systems that facilitate workflow, worker protection and safety must come first: Failure is not an option.
"THE Windy City." "Second City." "Chi-town." More recently, "Da Chi." Chicago is known the world over by these and other monikers, but it is the nickname coined by the city's former Mayor Richard J. Daley (father of current long-term Mayor Richard M. Daley) that the National Safety Council has apparently found most appealing. He called his hometown "The City That Works," and, riffing on that, NSC has made "Safety Works" the theme for its annual Congress & Expo.
You wouldn't let a lawyer operate on you. You wouldn't let a lawyer design a bridge or skyscraper. You wouldn't even let a lawyer drill your tooth. So how on earth did lawyers become the definitive authority on accidental injury causation? Maybe more to the point, why did the safety profession let them? The "I got hurt, so who do I sue?" mentality is spreading rapidly across North America.
WORK and safety footwear is developed for a specific end user, whether that person is an electrician or a drywaller. Choosing the proper safety and work boot can be as easy as breaking down what is most important to keep safe and comfortable on the job. Here are a few things to consider.
CAPT. Scott Perko. That name never leaves me. He was at first my nemesis--and then, over time, my best friend. It was the first day of Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams Air Force Base in Phoenix, Ariz., and it wasn't just the blistering heat of the Arizona sun in June that made me sweat. As my assigned Instructor Pilot (IP) in the Cessna T-37B twin engine jet trainer, Capt. Perko stood between me and something I wanted more than anything else.
ANIL Mathur is the CEO of Alaska Tanker Corporation. He leads according to Lao Tsu's precept, "Things that are not growing are dying." Consistent with this, Anil, an incisive thinker and articulate, no-nonsense communicator, directs safety with strong expectations of watchful and continuous improvement.
In any work environment, there can be many reasons to keep sound levels within a reasonable range. Sound levels above this range are perceived as "noise." Noise can distract the workforce, creating an unsafe workplace. Or, worse yet, it can cause hearing loss.
A recent USA Today list of the 25 Top Medical Events of the past 25 years listed "The rise of the AED" at number 9: "Hundreds and perhaps thousands of cardiac arrest victims are saved each year by folks using an AED, which delivers a shock to a dying heart. The first models were sold for home use in 1986, but it was in the early 1990s when the device became so simplified with voice prompts that even children could use one to save a life." (Big Dose of Medical Change, July 16, 2007)
IGNORANCE is never bliss when it comes to the safety clothing you should be wearing. In fact, ignorance is no longer an excuse accepted by employers for workers not wearing the proper gear. Organizations such as OSHA impose a variety of safety requirements, and some insurance companies compel certain shops to publish minimum safety requirements in full view of the workers.
COMPANIES all over the world are being challenged to do more with less, gain a competitive advantage by maximizing the effectiveness of their employees, and boost productivity in their operations--none of which is an easy task to accomplish. Although there's no silver bullet to magically attain these noble goals, there is a proven methodology for achieving just that in your safety incentive programs.
IN the world of gas detection, one fact stands out above all else: Gas monitors are made to protect and preserve your life. And while serving as a life-saving device, they can be considered a multi-purpose tool in many other ways, as well. For example, they can be used to monitor a confined space prior to entry to ensure the area is safe for anyone entering the space.
GLOBAL economic growth—spurred by the popularity of outsourcing manufactured goods—continues its unprecedented rise. During this period, it’s interesting to note that much of the offshore industrial windfall is focused within warmer, often downright hot, climates. Geographically warm areas in Asia are struggling to keep pace with a mushrooming demand for lower-cost parts, components, and finished products.