I don't think companies shy away from talking about their safety performance, good or bad, because there is a lack of interests, OSHA paranoia, or inside counsel has frowned on discussing it publicly out of fear of lawsuits, even though some of this may exist in every company. I think the reason is much more simple and straightforward.

What’s up with not talking public on safety? Here's my (hopefully unbiased) reasoning in a word: FEAR!

At age 72, it seems right to retire and move back to my roots (NEBRASKA) so I announced my retirement. There was a big party, lots of gifts, lots of nice things said about me. Then I packed up and left. I retired for 12 hours and did not like it. An opportunity came my way...

The fellow sitting next to me asked if we did these kinds of company profiles in ISHN. I said, “No, actually, a lot of companies don’t want to talk much about their safety.”

“Why’s that?” he asked.

I must say that I'm amazed at the near-hysteria of some of your readers about having an OSHA leadership that actually tries to do its job rather than just process VPP applications and praise corporate declarations of their "commitment to excellence."

At the past several conferences that I've been to, I struggled to find more than 5% of the attendees under 45 years old.

After reading your article on the Second Half of Your Life, I realized that I am on the right track in what I am doing.

My focused concern with the current OSHA administration began with their absolute arrogance at the 2009 PDC of ASSE.

There are many rules and regulations that get applied to businesses with a bureaucratic "one size fits all" attitude that do not improve the health, safety, security of the workforce or the environment in which the industry operates.

Layering another set of regulatory requirements on the private sector at this fragile economic and geopolitical moment in time, when the evidence shows it is not necessary, will only lead to higher costs of goods and services and a further increase in unemployment.

The cover story of ISHN's May issue is about how lower exposure limits lead to conservative sensor settings. Also, check out some tips on how to avoid heat stress and advice on how to improve hand hygiene.