Welcome back.
We all talk about how important life is. Our religious leaders teach us how precious life is, we have 24/7 suicide hotlines to help prevent the premature ending of life, we have doctors who are sworn to do everything they can to keep life going and we respect and honor those first responders who put their lives on the line to keep our lives from expiring. However in reality, we don’t act like we really care about life at all.
Instead we behave like Lilliputians and the Blefuscu, so desperate to be right, so desperate to win, there is no open honest discussion, there can be no consensus just hatred because you don’t like the way the other one breaks open their eggs and if they can’t crack them open like you do, they’re not worthy of life. That would be like shooting your husband just because he hung the toilet paper in the opposite direction. (Yes, I know you’ve thought it, but didn’t carry it out.) We cut off other vehicles, cause we’re special and important without a thought what the end result could be, death. We have fistfights in a metal tube cruising at 35,000 feet without thought of what the result could be, death. We bash in someone’s brains just for cheering on the visiting team without a thought of the end result, death and prison. We shoot at strangers on the freeway, cause, hey why the hell not and no thought what the result could be.
So with all that going on and all the training sessions, certifications, re-certifications, safety meetings, safety tailgates/toolboxes, drills, tests and news stories, we, in the name of expediency and under the guise of “just this time”, continue to find new ways to severely injure or kill ourselves because for that fleeting moment, we believe we’re ingenuous and immortal but for too many this reality fades too fast and in the blink of an eye, they’re dead. No body cares that you saved 10 minutes by stacking paint containers instead of getting a ladder, you’re dead. No one cares that you were mocking the boss right before you slipped and fell off the roof, you’re dead. No one cares how may times you could spin the forklift, you’re dead. They’re all in shock, stare at your dead corpse. You no longer exist, in fact you’re now a burden. The OSHA inspection, the internal inspection, the workers comp insurance company inspection, lawyers, courts, fines and settlements. Meanwhile your body has be moved, cold stored, autopsied, prepped and buried/cremated.
You’ll be remembered when the old timers are sitting around with the rookies at break and share their stories of the day you died, where they were, what they saw and over the years the story will expand and change to one of epic proportions and no where near the true story, but then, it won’t matter to you, you’re dead.
This is a company that only cares about money and how much the owner can line his pockets with as he had the nerve to blame the large OSHA fine for Layoffs Triggered by Large OSHA Fine. Aluminum Shapes was hit with a $1,922,895 fine for all the safety violations in the plant and this includes several workers receiving chemical burns while working in a tank that still contained corrosive material. To add insult to injury they told them to return to work after their hospital visit. Another worker got a broken pelvis and also was told to get back work. Rather then offering leadership and taking responsibility for his actions, he turned and laid off workers using the large fine as to why. He created the problem but blames OSHA for the layoffs but he may have done those workers a favor, since now they can’t get injured or killed. What a man. There seems to be quite a few immature, unprepared leaders around. You do not have to put up with this kind of treatment and why would you want to die here?
Another company that believes safety is fake news, Fall hazards net roofing contractor over $1.5 million in OSHA fines. Great White Construction Inc. was cited for 14 workplace violations, 11 of them Willful. As I’ve told you before, a willful violation means the company knew the hazard was there and that someone could die from it but did NOTHING about it. This also earned them a spot in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program since their concern for employee safety is nonexistent. They gave them harnesses to wear, so I guess it would look good, but didn’t tie them off to rope grabs and roof anchors. In other words, if you fall you will probably die. Learn what is proper fall protection suppose to look like and be. Don’t put yourself in harms way for someone who doesn’t care. Say no.
News flash, when people have to work more OT and longer hours, accidents increase. Research: Workplace Injuries Are More Common When Companies Face Earnings Pressure. I’m guessing you already knew this. We’ve all seen it at the factory, sales over sells and with short time lines to make it interesting, Raw goods, packaging, parts, materials all need to be ordered, production goes into full gear. With the Over time and extra work days, plus what’s going on at home and your world it begins to take it’s toll with fatigue, weary muscles and sore parts. Judgement becomes impaired, something gets missed and a mistake happens and you’re hurt. It’s tough, I’ve been there. When one of our plants went offline due to Katrina we had to help make up the difference in lost production and worked 27 straight days. People were exhausted, we found one guy who fell asleep in his car in the parking lot after his wife called looking for him. When we woke him he wasn’t sure if he was going home or coming to work. One employee had a serious car crash when she fell asleep at the wheel. We also had a sharp increase in cuts and abrasions. The schedules could have been made more employee friendly with a few more breaks thrown in, but then management’s attitude was push them until they break. The end result was we lost a few good employees who quit or retired after that streak. Was it worth it, I guess it depends on who you ask.
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My two favorite examples of companies that lack leadership and competence were in the news again. PGE where safety is important, sometimes, Collapsed Crane Lifted Off Campbell Home Amid PG&E, Cal/OSHA Investigation. Can’t wait to read the final report on this one and see if lack of training was the root cause. I’ll be sure to follow up on this one.
And then BART was at it again showing just how incompetent their leadership really is. Anyone need a Clipper card? BART has thousands after Warriors parade blunder. BART’s geniuses have a half million dollars tied up in Clipper cards, just sitting in boxes doing nothing but collecting dust and not interest. They’ve demonstrated their incompetence several times and we agree, they are incompetent so let’s move on and get some new brains in there. Maybe folks who have mass transit experience. In fact we need to look at how the whole operation is run and eliminate the current board and bring in people who know what they’re doing, not politicians.
Well that’s it for this month. Enjoy the last of your summer and now more then ever, treat everyone the same way, with respect. Just because they come in different packaging doesn’t mean they are better then you, worse then you, they’re just different then you. Vive la dif·fé·rence!! Diversity works on so many levels by getting a different POV, different ways to solutions. However, some people are just assholes. They will always be that way and they will always be around with their negative energy and view points. Don’t let assholes sour you on other people, just ignore them. Never keep quiet about safety for the live you save may be your own.
Witzshared 