A reader recently asked me why I make such a big deal about safety. The reason is, because it is so important, and I remember far too many stories like this.

I remember during a training event, a well-meaning worker raised his hand and asked a rather disturbing question: “How much should the floor machine tingle when I am scrubbing a floor?" Upon closer investigation, we learned that the only thing saving the worker from electrocution was that he wore well insulated boots when scrubbing floors. The floor machine he was using was all metal with a chewed up electrical cord (yes, with lots of electrical tape) and a missing ground plug. He had been using it for over six months and no one in a supervisory capacity ever noticed the hazard.

I fault not only his immediate supervisor but also the Quality Control inspector who should inspect janitor closets, equipment, chemicals, vehicles, etc. while also observing crews lift correctly and handle slip/falls risks safely.

When I asked the company how this could have happened they indicated that during budget cuts they had slacked off on safety in a cost saving move. After a while, it became the accepted way to use tape to patch cords and look the other way. If the young man had been injured or even electrocuted, he or his family would have had a field day in court. The few dollars

As I repeatedly suggest, go to www.osha.gov for the latest in safety. We will cover the basics in a future article.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.


posted on 8/26/2015