The Effects of Being Unsafe,

Looking through the online version of a newspaper from Beaumont, Texas, I ran across an article about a demolition company from Houston that had been awarded a contract to tear down an old hotel. Accompanying the article were several large pictures of the work in progress. Someone at the demolition company took time to prod the newspaper to write an article about their success.

On close inspection of the pictures I noted almost a dozen safety violations.  Despite working with jagged concrete and steel, none of the workers wore hardhats, gloves, safety glasses or (ones I could see) boots.  Some were working close to a crane including under the boom.

What does that say to the community, competitors, prospective clients or OSHA?  What is the image they portray?  I called the contractor several months ago, the guy has yet to return my call.

Between appointments two days ago I drove by a small shopping center where two men were working in a truck-mounted boom lift removing a sign about 12’ above the ground level.  Neither of the young men wore fall protection, but they did have cool sunglasses.  I drove around to take pictures and noted their truck emblazoned with the company name.  I found the company online and wrote the owner a note telling him what I had observed.  He called me within a few minutes. Now that guy cares about the image of his company.

What does your safety program or record say?  “We care about our workers and quality so you can rely on us to do a good, safe job.”  Or: “We do not really give a flip about safety so we can be the low bidder and expose you to a lawsuit.”

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