Safety is everyone's job. We hear these little words of wisdom all the time, and do you know what; it's true! What is true is the fact that each individual is solely responsible for their own safety and well - being, both on and off the job.
The finest, most stringent safety and health guidelines ever developed could be in force, but if you as an individual decide to ignore them, you not only put yourself in jeopardy but you also undermine the well - being of your fellow employees and Union members.
Some examples: OSHA and most corporations mandate policies concerning on the job safety, be they related to the inside or outside work environment. They are there for one reason - to protect employees from injury and/or worse. All unions, especially CWA, have spent huge amounts of money and effort working through the legislative process, negotiated contracts as well as with OSHA and it's various affiliated state labor and industry groups to provide it's membership with the "best of the best" in work place safety and health. With all of this taken into consideration then, why do many of our members continually ignore the safety policies? Is it laziness? Is it unawareness? Is it an attempt to "look good" as to production? Or, is it an inborn "death wish"?
Whatever the reason, all CWA members need to understand that safety policies are there to be obeyed and followed - it's the law and it saves lives.
These laws and policies along with the "Eminent Danger' clause, offers all members a bulwark of protection that affords them the ability to ultimately decide whether a work operation can be safely done without fear of reprisal. But, conversely, corporations are using these same protections to formulate and establish safety violation disciplinary policies which in most instances negatively circumvent established disciplinary processes.
So again one ponders - with so many benefits to be derived for adhering to safety and health policies and with the drastic consequences that loom for not following these same policies, why would one not insist on full and complete adherence by not only their employer but themselves? Every safety rule and regulation was the direct result of workers becoming severely injured or worse.
That is why OSHA has mandated
The minute we as workers and union brothers and sisters, start cutting corners on safety we are leaving ourselves open for any number of negative results. Workers are not disciplined for following safety policies but they are for failing to do so. Far too many times our people are their own worst enemies where safety is concerned.
There are safety and health protections and resources - government, corporate, and CWA - available for use. Use them, follow them, adhere to them and demand them where ever necessary. It is your right. Please don't become an accident statistic. Safety is an attitude and we as workers must develop and retain that attitude on an ongoing basis.
Dennis Garrett
Local 7804 Vice President and Safety Officer
Regional MOSHC Representative.
253-640-1253
Back to the Local 7804 Home Page