Pa. Safety Professionals Work Together to Change Attitudes

Oct. 31, 2000
Safety professionals from Pennsylvania focused on changing unsafe attitudes and behaviors\r\non and off the job at the Governor's Occupational Safety and Health Conference.

The Pennsylvania Governor''s Occupational Safety and Health Conference opened yesterday, as safety professionals from across the state focused on continuing to change unsafe attitudes and behaviors on and off the job.

"Pennsylvania workers and businesses are proving labor-management cooperation works effectively in every type of business environment. But much more needs to be done," said Pennsylvania Industry Secretary Johnny Butler. "While we are at record low levels of lost-time injuries and deaths, we can make those numbers even lower. We have saved millions of dollars in workers'' compensation reforms, but we must continue to use those savings to create safer workplaces and enhance productivity."

Butler told attendees that those changes, combined with Pennsylvania''s world-class workforce and skilled leadership, will produce these results.

"As Gov. Ridge emphasizes, together we can make Pennsylvania known not just as the state with the best workers, but also the state with the safest worker environment," said Butler.

Over the past five years, Pennsylvania companies have saved more than $2.5 billion in workers'' compensation costs. Total workers'' compensation premium costs in the state have been cut by $78.8 million.

Butler noted that an increased focus on joint worker-management safety efforts has helped to reduce injury rates, while record numbers of Pennsylvanians are working.

Under Gov. Ridge''s PENNSAFE -- Pennsylvania Safety First -- workplace safety initiative, the number of joint worker-management workplace safety committees has climbed from under 1,000 in 1996 to more than 4,200 covering 587,000 employees in 2000.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!