EMC Spotlight on Safety
April 15, 2024
For the most recent year we have OSHA safety statistics (October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022) the number of reported non-fatal injuries at work went up 7.5% to 2.8 million.
Considering the economy was still a bit sluggish and jobs were not yet in full swing, this is not a good number.
Even if these statistics were low, we’d be concerned. Yet, this spike has us thinking about how to build awareness and get the word out, not just to those of you who get our Labor Partner Network communications, but to those who are out at EMC sites where injuries are most on-the-job injuries are likely to occur.
While we are kicking off this topic with a fall protection blog, know that it will be a regular feature in our Labor Partner Newsletter going forward and available on our website. Our plan is to feature relevant and timely safety topics.
We ask that you share these with your colleagues in the field.
What will we talk about?
We get a good list of topics looking at that list of Top 10 most frequent OSHA citations. Most recently, 7 of the top 10 relate directly to our industry. They are:
Ladder issues (#3)
Scaffolding (#5)
Lockout/Tagout (#6)
Forklifts/Powered lifts (#7)
Fall Protection Training (#8)
PPE/gloves, eyewear, hearing protection, shoes (where necessary) (#9)
Every one of these seven are day-to-day, normal, taken-for-granted issues.
We get complacent. We get comfortable. Comfort watching TV is fine but doing it on the job is not acceptable.
Awareness of our teammates, our surroundings, and our equipment are key to not only injury prevention, but to going home at the end of the day.
Someone is waiting for you to come home. Somebody cares. It is YOUR obligation to follow through. For them, for yourself, for your team, and for your employer.
Look for more on these topics and let us know if you have others you would like us should cover. Share them with your colleagues and BE SAFE!
Gary Giesen, CLMC CALT, is Principal Master Electrician and Field Quality Lead for EMC. In addition to a passion for Safety, Gary brings more than 40 years of Safety/EMS experience, with more than 20 years as an OSHA 10/30 Instructor, and almost 30 years as an EMT and CPR instructor.
