Loading ...October, 2008
The Impact on Consumers
Obtaining ISO 9000 certification can help a company by improving its perception among consumers. The theory: Consumers will have more confidence in and are thus more likely to buy goods and services from ISO companies. But is this really true? Do consumers really care about ISO certification? Do they even know what ISO certification is?
A [...]
The ISO 9000 Case Studies
There are a few useful case studies about the financial performance of companies that have achieved ISO 9000 certification. Even though ISO 9000 is a Quality Management rather than an Environmental Management System standard, the fact that it yields economic benefits is indirect support for adopting an EMS. There are four studies demonstrating at least [...]
Does the EMS Improve Financial Performance? Part 3 of 4
Your company might be considering an Environmental Management System (EMS). Maybe it’s already implemented one. In either case, it’s fair to pose a simple question: Is building the EMS and getting it certified worth the trouble? Does it really deliver benefits? In the first two issues, we looked at the relationship between ISO and due [...]
How to Interview Job Candidates, Part 1 of 2
I usually talk about the interviewing process from the perspective of the job candidate. But today I’d like to address it from the other side of the desk. That’s because career success can be as much a function of interviewing others seeking jobs as interviewing for a job yourself.
Why You Need to Be Good at [...]
Grading the Monsters
It’s become a SafetyXChange Halloween tradition and today, in spite of popular demand, we will continue it. SafetyXChange presents its annual health and safety ratings of monsters and ghouls.
WITCHES
Safety-wise, witches are a particularly slipshod breed of monster. They stand over boiling cauldrons of vaporous materials without protective eyewear or aprons. They also zoom [...]
9 Tips for Driving on Halloween
To help everyone bring home treats – not tragedies – follow these tips for a safe Halloween:
1. Start watching for trick-or-treaters as you leave work in the afternoon or early evening.
2. Don’t use a cell phone while driving through neighborhoods. A single distraction could lead to a tragedy.
3. Stay well below the posted speed limit.
4. [...]
Halloween Safety Goes to the Dogs
In addition to ensuring the safety of children this Halloween, the American Veterinary Association (AVMA) reminds us to watch out for the safety of our dogs and prevent dog bite injuries.
Whie kids love the holiday fun of costumes and trick-or-treating, to many dogs, these Halloween activities are confusing and scary. And fearful, stressed dogs may [...]
The Gauley Bridge Tunnel Disaster
It happened in 1930-1931 at the start of the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce. About 5,000 workers came with their families to the mountains of southern West Virginia to build a railroad bridge. The pay was low and the working conditions appalling.
The workers were ordered to pulverize rocks containing high concentrations of silica – up [...]
Why We Must Rethink Our Approach
Why put so much time, money and effort into an occupational health and safety program? Wouldn’t an organization be better served investing these resources somewhere else? In my eyes, there are three justifications for a health and safety program.
The Moral Justification: Protecting people is the right thing to do.
The Compliance Justification: Safety is required by [...]
