Survey says …

A recent informal survey conducted in the National Safety Council’s Membership News Alert e-newsletter asked council members whether or not a standard requiring worksites to have a safety and health program is a good idea. Here are the results and what respondents had to say:

74.4 percent said it is a good idea.

“All worksites should have some sort of safety program, no matter how elementary.”

“To help protect workers from employers that ignore the laws. A safety and health program would protect workers and employers equally.”

“Worksites including construction sites with active safety and health programs display greatly reduced injury exposure to those without.”

“Employee safety should be the first plan of action before working on any jobsite. It would help place safety as the No. 1 priority to protect employees and the traveling public. Safety would not be an afterthought and complacency would be reduced.”

25.6 percent said it is a bad idea.

“It is more bureaucracy for a company. They become more focused on the paperwork instead of fixing safety problems.”

“Some worksites do not have the money to dedicate to a completely functional written program.”

“When you are a one-person shop it seems a little aggressive.”

“Another bureaucratic mandate that will see no real benefit and will be virtually unenforceable.”