An industrial hygienist for a major manufacturer was asked about the 'Year 2000 problem,' the programming glitch that tricks many computers into misreading dates after 1999, potentially wreaking havoc with a host of business – and safety – functions. "That's a good question," he said. "I haven't really given it a lot of thought."
That's what worries OSHA chief Charles Jeffress. In recent months, Jeffress has been talking up 'Y2K' concerns in speeches around the country. "What happens when fire alarms don't sound? What happens when the automatic doors don't open or the valves malfunction? When there's a chemical spill and the MSDSs are locked in computer limbo?" he asked in a speech to The Conference Board this past May.