workplace safety

Both the employer and the employee have responsibilities when it comes to their workplace and keeping it safe. What do you need to do to make sure that you and your companions are safe at work? ‘The Importance of Workplace Safety’ by Audra Bianca highlights what both the employer and the employee needs to do, and personal actions that have to take place. Find out what your responsibility is to make your business safer.

Workplace safety laws are becoming more complex, and businesses are meeting all the new codes with trepidations and doubt. Sure, their workers might be safe; but they might also be out of a job, especially if the WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) continues to increase their premiums. If the price keeps going up, what will be the result? Read more about this issue in this article by Kelly Lapointe.

That’s what some businesses are saying. But they could be right, when you consider what ‘workplace safety’ means according to the law. Not only will all the laws for workplace safety require a lot of expense, they’re also absolutely smothered with red tape. Business owners say they’re swamped with restrictions and codes and laws and maybe edicts, and there’s no way it will work. Officials say that there should be no difficulty. Who do you believe? Read this article by Lauren Novak and decide for yourself.

It’s important to keep the area where you work free from danger. You probably spend more time at your workplace than you do anywhere else, and it deserves just as much protection and attention as your home does. If you’re a businessman, then you need to attend this event from Times-Standard. Learn about the seven steps to workplace safety.

Employers are not only responsible for providing correct payments, they are also expected to ensure that there is proper employee safety in the workplace. Otherwise, they are going to end up like Linda and Philip Medland who are currently facing a case in court. Read the full story of the “Workplace Safety Case” by Cornish Guardian.

Workplace safety measures are put into place to protect the employer and the employee. Millions of people are affected each day by simple violations. Agencies such as the OSHA have their hands full with the number of infractions that are taking place, all of which are causing costly, if not fatal, consequences.

According to an article concerning Marquette County, small violations can add up quickly. This county received over 60 infractions between their courthouse and waste water treatment plant alone. After a 60% reduction in fines, the overall cost was $15,000, a hit that just about everyone is going to feel. This is small amount compared to what a Excel, a packing plant, is going to have to pay after 43% of their accidents went unreported. Companies are shelling out major money for negligence of safety standards.

It is important to remember that it is not just the monetary cost that makes an impact for violating company safety regulations. Hundreds of people are being injured or killed as a result of workplace safety violations. In Alberta, Five are Dead as a Result of Work Related Accidents this week alone. The impact of these fatalities is affecting families, friends and coworkers of all those who fall victim to safety negligence.

There are a number of consequences that are a result of not applying safety regulations regularly. All it takes is one minor violation to result in an injury for a costly undertaking to occur. Many organizations and private businesses are taking a step up in their safety measures in order to protect their employees and enterprises alike.

After over sixty noted violations for workplace safety, Marquette County is to Pay $15,000 in Workplace Safety Fines. This is a substantial 60% reduction compared to the original $37,000 quote given before negotiations. The county courthouse and a local waste water treatment plant inspection results have given the Marquette safety board a new heartbeat; the full story by John Pepin can be found here!

Workers at Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG) do not feel safe in their current working environment. The fuel truck drivers have been especially vocal about safety issues, but management has only responded to their concerns with threats and acts of intimidation. The workers have had enough and are giving ASIG firm notice that there will be a strike if conditions do not improve. Nathan Jackson explains the details of this event as the fuelers fight for their rights.

Master vs. slave is no longer the game of society. History has taught us a hard lesson on this relationship of injustice. Today, employees have rights over compensations, company decision (in some cases), and (most of all) workplace safety. But, it seems that not all these rights are given the appropriate priority, especially those on health and safety.

As Patrrick Smellie (who wrote “Our Slack Attitude to Workplace Safety”) said, health and safety in the workplace is just a boring issue requiring annoying precautions. In fact, instead of a concern that focuses on employees, it has become the subject of office politics. Employees are not even enthusiastic about safety reminders and measures. This attitude of carelessness is only changed during photo shoots, which require “model employees” to be in their safest gear (otherwise, the photo shoot would take forever to finish). Until someone dies, the wake-up call is far from the ears of employers and workers.

The death of Christopher Fontaine should be a reminder to us all that workplace safety is a very serious matter. His sister, Catheline Fontaine, was so devastated by his preventable death that she strongly urged workers to look out for each other. After all, safety is not a one-man responsibility, but a shared one.

Working at energy companies poses many great dangers, and the problem for workers lies with whether or not they have safety devices to protect them from these dangers. This is no longer a question in Wyoming as the state commission on safety recently approved a provision that requires employers to provide their workers with flame-resistant gear. Kyle Roerink wrote the full story: Wyoming Commission Adopts Workplace Safety Measures.