OHS

I'm sure you've seen a sign like this as you approach a road crew - a warning sign reinforcing the seriousness of driving too fast through a construction zone.

Why such a big jump in the penalty - doubling the fines? Because you could be endangering the lives of those young women and men wearing the hard hats and safety vests while they improve your roads, that's why!

Everyone seems to accept the doubling of fines in these high-risk circumstances when it comes to road crew safety... so why don't we apply the same principle to workplace safety in general?

The case is being made in Wisconsin right now to ban smoking in the workplace... Hold up - what year is this? That has not happened yet??

Seems that state is looking southwards to Colorado where the number of heart attacks dropped significantly in the 18 months since smoking in workplaces was banned: from 399 heart attack hospitalizations to 237.

Fortunately it looks like new state legislators in Wisconsin are going to set this right, by passing a new smoking prohibition law this winter.

Another upsetting poll result I just read: apparently, every year, the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia polls citizens in that province to ask: Do you believe workplace injury is an inevitable part of life? And every year, more than 50% answer: Yes, it is. (What do you think?)

What?? Inevitable? Like my brother, David, was fated to fall into an industrial mixer and die of his injuries because... bad stuff happens? Nobody's perfect?

Take a quick poll and see where you "stand" next to others when it comes to footwear in the shop... a cute blog, Tom's Workshop, offers this poll, and so far, 45% of poll takers indicate they wear sneakers or athletic shoes in the workshop. Problem? What do you think?

Tom writes: "we often overlook one very important part of shop safety - what we’re wearing on our feet.  There are lots of hazards that could affect us down there - from dropped objects to stepping on sharp items.  And then there’s the slipping hazards, splashed chemicals and other concerns."

I sat up tall in my chair when I read an article this week in one of the many workplace blogs I follow, Construction News, which, to my horror, reported on how some companies are cutting safety processes hoping to reduce costs during these recessionary times!

Apparently, I am not the only one horrified by the prospect of companies cutting corners in safety processes, safety training, safety equipment in their workplace in the hopes of staying in business.