The Safety function wasn’t designed in most organizations, it evolved. Unfortunately when functions evolve they tend to organizational artifacts staffed by people who are long on activity and short on results.
Tens of millions are spent reminding workers to work safely and be mindful of the many hazards they will inevitably face in the course of their workdays, but scare little focus has been cast on one of the biggest contributors to workplace injuries: the lack of sleep.
The malingering global economy has created, in many workplaces, a pervasive climate of fear. Fear can undermine worker safety in many ways. But unless we understand the nature and origins of this fear, we can never implement effective countermeasures.
“When I was a young man I was given a check for a million dollars. I tore it up and went to the top of a mountain to contemplate the mistakes of mankind…one man in particular.” Joe Martin, Cartoonist.
Recent studies suggest that despite high unemployment rates and an uncertain economy, nearly half of the currently employed workers in the U.S. are actively seeking to switch employers.
I hear a lot of complaints from safety professionals. Chief among them is that they are held accountable when other people get hurt. It’s a fair bone of contention.
Last week I posted an item about workplace bullying on my personal blog (www.philladuke.wordpress.com). I asked the question “Is workplace bullying a safety issue?” and it fomented quite a debate.
Recently I was contacted by a student who is earning his degree in preparation for a career in Environmental Health & Safety. He was given an assignment during his internship to research why Unions oppose Behavior Based Safety (BBS).