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» residential forum
The
Culture
of Safety
Safety is a state of mind; I buckle up when I drive, I wear
a helmet – and look ludicrous – when I join my kids on a
bike ride, and I regularly check out jobsites for risks. A
defining characteristic of members of the Residential Forum is
our focus on the development of a truly professional painting
company. Attention to safety is an important component of
owning a legitimate and professional business.
OSHA’s Mandate
Since its inception in 1971, OSHA has helped to cut workplace
fatalities by more than 60 percent and occupational injury and
illness rates by 40 percent. At the same time, U.S. employment
has increased from 56 million employees at 3.5 million worksites
to more than 135 million employees at 8.9 million sites. You
do the math: OSHA saves lives, and we consider their rules and
regulations not an encumbrance but an asset.
Our first experience with OSHA was expensive; an employee
with a migraine suspected exposure to lead so she called
OSHA who conducted a site inspection. Air monitoring of the
worksite, test swabs of employee clothing and personal vehicle
interiors, all came back negative but nonetheless OSHA fined
us $10,000.00 for the lack of shower facilities - on a residential
painting job. Our subsequent appeal reduced the fine to
$1500.00 but I learned a lot from the mandatory two day course
on safety, the most important maxim holding that ‘there is no
unsafe employee, only an employee exposed
to unsafe conditions’. This is a critical distinction
for it places the onus of risk assessment
on the employer, never on the employee.
The Right Tools For The Job
The images below are testament to both
what is best and what is worst about our
industry. On the one hand, creativity and a
‘can-do’ attitude have provided solutions to
the challenges of accessing the work area.
On the other hand, both painting companies
have deliberately exposed their employees to
serious risk.
The simplest of solutions, involving a phone call
to arrange the rental and use of appropriate
equipment, or the proactive loading of the
right length of ladder onto the truck, would
eliminate the potential for injury or death for
these painters.
The painter in the image below would do well
| pdca.org
by Nigel Costolloe
to acquaint himself with the hazards of working around live
wires. The electrical service just over his left shoulder should
be insulated with a rubber boot, installed free of charge by the
local utility. Chances are, he’s worked this way for years and
had no problems. But a similar hazard resulted in electrocution
in Rhode Island two years ago; aging insulation on the service
allowed an arc of electricity to hit an aluminum extension
ladder used by a painter 12 feet away from the service; another
painter rushed to help and was electrocuted as soon as he
made contact with the first; both men died.
Safety First
Putting safety first should be paramount for any small business
owner, regardless of company size. It must a key component
of any comprehensive business plan and procedures manual.
Rigorous implementation of a safety policy and weekly safety
meetings keep the topic fresh and relevant at our company.
I can count on one hand the injuries to our employees since
1994 – and ironically all of which were preventable by forethought
and planning.
Inheriting Bad Habits
The incidents at our company revealed the need to ensure that
every new employee is thoroughly vetted and tested before
being allowed to step onto a worksite. One candidate, on
his very first day was instructed to work only at ground level,