Top 10 US Safety Stories of 2008

Submitted by Rob on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 09:43.

As we enter the Obama Era - a time of hope and the resuscitation of the American Dream - it's a great time to look back at milestones in workplace safety in that nation this past year. The Top 10 Safety Stories of 2008 list compiled by Safety NewsAlert is a fabulous recap of the highlights, and their #1 pick is:

"President-elect Barack Obama promises an “invigorated” OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Act]. Obama supported the Protecting America’s Workers Act as a Senator, which would increase OSHA penalties. Obama has also called on OSHA to issue standards “in a timely and more effective manner.”

Increasing penalties for violations of safety and health in the workplace is a wonderful place to start. My son, 19, was killed when a machine without safety guarding failed; that machine had been inspected by Ontario health inspectors six month before who ordered that safety guards be installed. The company owner defied the order - and as a result, he was fined and sentenced to jail time - a first in Ontario.

Tougher penalties work - they send the right message, that safety violations will NOT be tolerated, that there are serious consequences for playing with fire when it comes to your workers' wellbeing.

I pray that Obama gets this right - and I have faith that his new 'Administration of Hope" will do just that.

 

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I really hope so too Rob - I

Submitted by Barry Elgie on Mon, 12/22/2008 - 23:21.
I really hope so too Rob - I feel that Canada has done a great job at tightening the distance between standards and consequences when it comes to work safety. But we can do better. And I believe that we will do even better when our neighbors to the south take on the task of adhering to higher standards. Nothing speaks louder than when change comes from the top. I have lived, worked & studied all over the world, and I have come to find that there truly is no place like Canada and My Safe Work does a fantastic job of keeping it that way! Barry E.

I think Canada is doing a

Submitted by Miron D. on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 12:47.
I think Canada is doing a fantastic job of implementing safety standards. Just this week I was having this conversation with a coworker. We were saying how in the past 5 years, our company has made greater efforts to help keep us safe in our working environment than in our entire working careers. I will say that it does make us feel more valued personally and professionally. If safety precautions are adhered then to, then we all enjoy a much more pleasant working environment. Kudos to those at the top who are working to keep safety a priority!

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