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Previous by Date: Subject: Response to recent posts regarding the UCLA fatality Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 13:46:10 -0700 Author: NEAL LANGERMAN |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: : Legal aspects of CalOSHA & UCLA/Change Focus Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 08:16:55 -0400 Author: "Hill, Robert H" |
From: lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] : Legal aspects of CalOSHA & UCLA/Change Focus Date: May 8, 2009 5:11:41 PM EDT (CA) In my experience, it is the culture of safety cultivated from the highest levels that creates a safe working environment. This means, when someone says "I don't choose to wear a lab coat because it is too hot," that management intervenes to stop the work until the person wears their PPE and, or, the heating is adjusted. When a technician says, "I won't wear safety glasses because they give me a headache," he/she is worked with to supply safety glasses that work for them. And if the employees do not comply when management is eager and willing to help them comply then there will be consequences of non-compliance. I worked in a facility that had a similar incident to the one at UCLA, and because the person was following company procedures, was fully trained and the area supervisor was in the area, all that resulted were some frayed nerves, broken glassware that was contained to the hood and very good lessons learned. The keys are: management commitment and good oversight, including frequent informal walk-throughs of the labs to make sure there is compliance insofar as is possible, and consequences for non-compliance. I am very sad that this bright young person was killed. I know that it has generated some very worthwhile discussion and thought on this board. Lucy Dillman lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net
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