Why Stress Safety Issues

Readers sometimes ask why we stress safety so heavily. Obviously, professionals in our industry already understand the importance of proper safety, so why do we always have to remind them?

Well, I didn't realize I was making such a big deal, but if my constant reminders saves just one person from injury or saves a company from a law suit or OSHA investigation then it will be worth it. One of my slogans is that "Quality does not cost; it pays." The same can be said for safety. The cheapest way of performing a task (in the long run) is to do it safely with the very least exposure to any chance of injury.

First of all, it shows respect for our workers as well as customers when we have a real focus on safety by means of training, regular reminders and just plain oversight. An injured worker is a non-productive worker until they heal which may take days or even longer. If they were injured in spite of their being trained in correct procedures the company has a much more defensible position than if it is determined that the accident could have been avoided with better training and oversight.

Second, the company put themselves at risk unnecessarily when safety is either down played or ignored. The company may be facing increased workers compensation rates, OSHA investigations, bad publicity and other negative outcomes. If it can be proven that the company was remiss in protecting workers and tenants, the negative outcomes could grow considerably. Most custodial contracts require or at least expect work to be performed safely and taken seriously. I know of one company that had a fatality that so far, has cost close to $1,000,000.00 and has reminded them the importance of doing it not only right but doing it safely.

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.