National Safety Survey: Can We Still Afford to Be Safe?

“I spend time with the hourly employees on off-shifts listening and encouraging,” one wrote. “Sadly, to show pictures of mistakes made by others,” another commented. “There is no ‘one thing,’” a respondent pointed out. “It is a compilation of researching the requirements, training the work force and auditing to verify compliance.”

Sundall explains that his company works to emphasize at-home safety. “Statistics show that more people are hurt off the job than they are at work,” he says. He therefore uses monthly safety talks to highlight ways to stay safe at home, covering topics from lightning to lawn mowers to the importance of sunglasses.

“No matter what the topic is, the last part of the session is about take-home safety, something you can take home to your loved ones,” he says. “They feel that you really care about them, which we do. They're our most valuable resource, and we want to show them that not only are you important, but your children and loved ones are, too.”

The overwhelming response to this year's National Safety Survey shows that during times of change or economic hardship, people want to talk. In sharing their successes, failures, goals and concerns, these professionals added their voices to the discussion of how to make workplaces safer. Or as one respondent said, EHS professionals now more than ever must “keep fighting and pushing every day.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED IN THE EHS FIELD OR HAD EHS RESPONSIBILITIES?

Less than 5 years | 14%

5-10 years | 23%

11-15 years | 16%

16-20 years | 15%

More than 20 years | 32%

CURRENT SALARY

Less than $35,000 | 7%

$35,000-$44,000 | 8%

$45,000-$54,000 | 13%

$55,000-$64,000 | 16%

$65,000-$74,000 | 15%

$75,000-$84,000 | 12%

$85,000-$94,000 | 10%

$95,000-$104,000 | 9%

More than $105,000 | 11%

Speaking Out About VPP

In June, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report recommending strengthened oversight in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). The report took issue not only with oversight, but also with the program's documentation policies, program management, goals and performance measures and more. These findings have spurred discussion within the safety community of exactly how much help VPP needs and whether the program should be saved at all.

“Either make VPP acceptable or do away with it,” one survey respondent proposed.

Other EHS professionals who responded to the National Safety Survey acknowledged problems with VPP but largely supported working to improve it. “Do not trash something good because of a few bad apples,” one EHS professional commented. “Reorganize the VPP and other programs rather than abolishing them,” another suggested.

Some survey respondents actually wanted to see VPP grow and expand rather than fade away, while others offered suggestions for improvement, ranging from increased oversight, more closely monitoring and reviewing participating sites and directing more resources to the program. One EHS professional who said he'd like to see more VPP-type programs pointed out that those employers or companies who intentionally violate safety regulations “will always find some way” to do so anyway.

Another EHS professional said VPP has “slacked off” in recent years, but urged a recommitment to the program. “I've participated in VPP and it works,” another declared. Other respondents thought VPP should be supported as a constructive way of improving compliance.

Still others thought that the safety world has bigger problems to address. “The VPP program is fine,” one survey respondent asserted. “Efforts need to focus on enforcement for common workers doing hazardous jobs.”

DESCRIBE YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Corporate staff | 23%

Division staff | 7%

Plant/facility/worksite | 44%

Educational institution | 3%

Government | 13%

Consultant | 8%

Healthcare | 2%

COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, DID YOUR BUDGET FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN YOUR FACILITY/ORGANIZATION IN 2009:

Increase more than 10% | 4%

Increase 1-10% | 11%

Stay the same | 47%

Decrease 1-10% | 13%

Decrease more than 10% | 10%

Do not know | 15%

HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE PERFORMANCE SO FAR OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH?

Excellent | 3%

Good | 16%

Average | 26%

Fair | 13%

Poor | 15%

Do not know | 27%

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM IN YOUR FACILITY/ORGANIZATION?

World-class | 6%

Very good | 41%

Good | 29%

Average | 15%

Fair | 6%

Poor | 1%

Not applicable | 2%