Why do you work? Is it for the Almighty Dollar? Seriously, close your eyes for a moment and think about why you work. I know there are bills to pay and groceries to be bought, but more importantly, for the vast majority of us, there are people who depend on us. Many of us have spouses and children, aging parents, other family members and friends that depend on us in many ways. You bring home a paycheck and that’s a big deal but you also play an important role in the lives of others every day. Who are those people for you?
Now imagine that you have been seriously injured or killed on the job. What happens to those people? How are their lives impacted? When you take some time and think about that, your role is about much more than providing money.
I like to take time periodically and think of the people whose lives I impact. I like to think about the things I have done for them and what they have done for me. I also think about the future and the plans we have together. Like you, I do not like to think about the future without me in it.
In Michigan, where I live, there have been seventeen MIOSHA – related deaths thus far in 2016. Incidentally, ten of those were falls. In 2015, there were 29 deaths.
As I write this, there have been 594 traffic-related deaths in Michigan this year. Through the first half of 2016, deaths were up 8% versus last year. That’s a bit more than two per day for the state.
These are just the statistics for deaths. Obviously, there are a great many more debilitating accidents that happen every day.
I bring up these statistics not to be morbid but to reinforce that people get hurt and killed all of the time asin work-related incidents or in their daily commute. Many of us work in jobs where you are exposed to job-related hazards every day. We all drive and that is the greatest risk for all of us.
Our employers go to great lengths to keep us safe through safety training, safety reminders, pre-job briefs and other activities. I think the UVIG Users Group plays a role in this space and can potentially play a larger role in the future.
I am fairly certain that everyone is aware of the recent 3M Recall Notice for the Lad-Saf fall protection device. I am not going to go into 3M’s handling of that recall, but I will say that I think that UVIG’s use of the listserv email notification was handled spectacularly. The best information available at the time was delivered quickly and within 24 hours everyone who participates in the listserv was equipped with the information necessary to make decisions regarding how to safely continue work. I cannot overstate the value of timely information is such a situation. I know we stopped all climbing as did others across the country.
There are certainly other examples of UVIG’s value in addressing safety such as the work being done with AWEA to address the need for a ladder variance from OSHA.
I’m pretty sure this is the tip of the iceberg regarding how UVIG could be a greater source of safety information. Would members be willing to share corrective actions arising from safety incidents or near misses? What changes in tools and equipment could be shared that might make other workplaces safer if shared? I know Larry Barr has brought up in the past that UVIG could collectively put pressure on OEMs for design improvements for safety. What are your thoughts? I would love to hear ideas from UVIG members and test some of those ideas. Let me know what you think.
In closing, try and keep the people important to you in your thoughts as you prepare for work and before you drive a vehicle. Really use the tools and training that is provided.
When you leave the job site, don’t leave safety behind. Buckle up behind the wheel and wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle. Don’t take chances working around the house that you wouldn’t take at work. Most important, Think. Even if it’s a job you’ve done a million times before, think about what can go wrong.
Remember, five minutes of safety lasts a lifetime.
Ed Henderson
Manager, Renewable Energy Operations
DTE Energy