Loading ...July, 2009
Cell Phones and Traffic Safety
Last Friday, we talked about how talking on a cell phone while driving increases the risk of traffic accidents. But as dangerous as that practice may be, texting and driving is even worse. Here are the grim numbers from a new study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute:
23 The number of times drivers are likely [...]
Near Misses: Getting Your Employees to Report Near Misses, Part 1
As safety professionals, we know the value of actionable information. We gather and use hazard assessments, injury, illness and workers’ compensation cost data. And we base our prevention strategies on this data. But there’s a frequent blind spot in our analysis: Near misses. It’s not enough to review injuries that have occurred; we must also [...]
ILO: Not Enough Inspectors to Protect Workers
Which countries do the best job of protecting their workers? In general, developing countries like China have cruder workplace safety laws and enforcement regimes than industrialized states like the U.S. and Canada. But there must be a more scientific way to compare national occupational health and safety systems.
The ILO Approach of Comparing National Safety Systems
The [...]
Safety Inspectors Per Worker Ratios By Country
Here’s the complete list of safety inspectors per worker ratios by country listed in the 2006 International Labor Organization report, in order from best to worst:
COUNTRY
APPROXIMATE RATIO OF SAFETY INSPECTOR PER WORKERS
Suriname
1 per 1,000
Latvia
1 per 5,000
Romania
1 per 7,500
Malaysia
1 per 7,500
Slovenia
1 per 9,000
Germany
1 per 10,000
Georgia
1 per 10,000
Hungary
1 per 10,000
Lithuania
1 per 10,000
Malta
Slightly over 1 per 10,000
Slovakia
Slightly over [...]
Older Workers Put Off Retirement
Early retirement is becoming a luxury that few of us can afford. Surveys have found that a significant number of older workers are planning to delay retirement. Although that may be bad news for those looking forward to a life without work, it’s good news for the many companies that are unprepared to transfer business [...]
Thank You, Thank You Note
I agree wholeheartedly with Lauryn’s article last week that thank you notes are important. I generally make point to send one after every job interview and in at least one case, I know that it was the reason that I got the job. The other top candidate didn’t send a note.
Monica C. Mathers
American Refining Group [...]
Are Hands-Free Devices Really Safer?
Although a few telecommunication lobbyists might deny it, most of the world has come to accept that talking on a cell phone is distracting and that people who do it while they drive are much more likely to get into accidents. An increasing number of U.S. states and Canadian provinces have adopted traffic safety laws [...]
Member Reply
While I appreciate the information in Dave Duncan’s column about the importance of providing a thorough Orientation for young and inexperienced workers I believe he left out a critical element – that of the right to refuse.
In our jurisdiction at least an employer is required to explain the right to refuse. I agree that many [...]
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Posters are an important part of any safety program. When combined with a solid safety program, a safety poster can help you bring attention to a special topic or portray multiple safety messages. They serve as advertisements, reminders, warnings and sometimes even as laugh-getters – because a little humor never hurts and often helps one [...]
How to Translate Safety Culture into Safety Performance, Part 2
Safety directors don’t have the power to impose their will—or their program—on the workplace. To improve safety performance, they must work within the context of the organization’s culture. However, the safety director can play a role in shaping and defining the culture of their organization.
Helping Shape the Safety Culture
Imposing a culture from above is, by [...]
