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"Anna Wells, Wells Anna, IMPO, outsourcing safety, safety outsourcing, outsourcing, outsource safety, plant engineers, maintenance, industrial maintenance, plant operation, labor pool, pool of labor, operating efficiency, operational jeopardy, jeopardy, competitive jeopardy, safety program, HSE manager, hse manager, plant manager, plant management" />
"Lost time accidents due to employee injury are scary-not only do employees suffer, but so does productivity and efficiency" />
alt="<em>IMPO</em> Editor Anna Wells" /> |
In this new segment, our editors square off on timely issues relating to industrial
maintenance and plant operation. The editorial staff would like to stress that we are not
intending to specifically endorse any one viewpoint, however our intent is only to
encourage dialogue by showing a point-counter-point on contentious issues.
Although outsourcing your safety program does have its benefits-bringing in a company
with the resources to maintain a consistent working knowledge of existing and upcoming
safety requirements and tools-this is something that can also be maintained in-house,
with the adequate resources. This can be accomplished simply through proactive training
of safety management and giving them the time and budgetary capacity to keep improving
the program.
The problems crop up when an HSE manager has his/her hands in too many programs: if an
HSE manager is dealing with severe time constraints, areas will inevitably suffer. This
individual's job is arguably the most important in the plant-keeping accountable the
well-being of the employees and ensuring the consistent operation of the facility with no
lost-time incidents. There is no element to this job than you can afford to
overlook.
Still, if you have the resources, then it might pay to make sure your employees see the
'face' of this program. In order to maintain buy-in, it might be beneficial to make the
employees understand fully that the safety program is embedded in company culture-not an
'add-on' that can be brought in and 'retrofitted,' so to speak, to an existing
organization.
OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Association) offers plenty of resources to plant
management in the way of basic accident prevention programs, and new information on PPE
(personal protective equipment). The website also offers links to materials you can
utilize to properly assess your program: do you have a handle on precisely how safe your
employees are? Could they be safer?
Whether you decide to outsource the role of safety director, or keep it in-house, the
most critical aspect is that the money and time be devoted to this all too important
role. Lost time accidents due to employee injury are scary-not only do employees suffer,
but so does productivity and efficiency.
Click here to read IMPO Editorial Director Jeff Reinke’s take on outsourcing safety.
Comments? Email IMPO Editor, Anna Wells:
"mailto:anna.wells@advantagemedia.com">anna.wells@advantagemedia.com.
