It really turns my stomach to hear that employees who should feel safe are actually scared every morning when they head to work.
There was an explosion claiming the lives of five workers and injuring 12 occurred earlier this week at a plant being built by Kleen Energy Systems in Middletown, CT. While the cause of the blast is unknown, it turns out workers there knew they were working in unsafe conditions.
The Wall Street Journal today quotes, Erik Dobratz, the son of one of the men killed in the blast about what his dad had been feeling before the tragedy:
“He told me numerous times that it was very dangerous when they did the procedure that ended his life.”
Raymond Dobratz, the 58-year-old pipefitter, that was killed was working on something called gas purging. A procedure, it turns out, that the Chemical Safety Board, or CSB, has issued a warning about late last year.
This from the CSB website over the weekend:
The CSB issued a safety bulletin on gas purging in October 2009, because of the occurrence of multiple serious accidents during purging operations. Key safety lessons described in the bulletin included purging gases to a safe location outdoors away from ignition sources, evacuating non-essential workers during purging, using combustible gas monitors to detect any hazardous gas accumulations, and effective training for personnel involved in purging.
The bulletin stemmed from an ongoing investigation by the CSB into a June 9, 2009, natural gas explosion at the ConAgra Slim Jim production facility in Garner, North Carolina, that resulted in “four deaths, three critical life-threatening burn injuries, and other injuries that sent a total of 67 people to the hospital.”
It’s still to early to tell what happened in Connecticut. Some speculate it could have been a worker mistake that led to the tragedy, among other theories. But what is clear is workers there felt they were in danger.
I know there are jobs that are just more dangerous than others. But if safeguards are available, and not used, who’s to blame?
February 9th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
You asked “if safeguards are available, and not used, who’s to blame?”
It depends, Eve. If an employee disregarded them in a plant that emphasizes following them, then it may be fair to blame the employee’s actions. If the plant new of the danger but never implemented available safeguards, then plant management is to blame. If an employee disregarded them and had a history of disregarding similar safeguards, then both the employee and plant management are to blame.
Unfortunately, in situations like this one, we may never know to a certainty what transpired leading up to the incident. Let it serve as a reminder to all of us–management and labor alike–that steps to ensure health and safety are in the best interests of both the company and its employees.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Well said HikingStick.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
I don’t have a job where I fear for my physical safety, but my husband has a job that makes me fear for his. He works for a small business owned by a man that went from rags to millionaire in his lifetime. He never graduated high school back in the 50’s but managed to build a multi-million dollar business he started in his backyard.
The company only follows safety rules when someone is watching. I am horrified at the situations my husband has been in. I want him to say no, but alas, he will not for fear of losing his job. I told him he could be “nice” all he wanted, but if he is killed or seriously injured on the job, I will be the millionaire when all is said and done.
It is amazing to me that people will put their employees in harm’s way knowingly. It is also amazing that even with government oversite (OSHA, various agency inspections)companies still operate as they wish, disregarding their “disposable” workers’ safety.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
I know your husband doesn’t want to lose his job, but he really has to think about whether it’s worth it to get injured, or even killed at work. He should start looking for another job and report the company to OSHA. I know it’s easier said than done in this economy, but we have to concentrate on what really matters in the end — HIS HEALTH!!
Slap him around tonight Donlyn.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Depending on what happened it could be either the employee or the company thats at fault. If the employee was neglecting certain procedures, then he or she is at fault. If the company failed to provide safe conditions and were unspecific about their rules then the company is at fault. It just boggles me that more than a handful of the employees there didn’t feel safe there and nothing was done about it. I remember when I was working retail at the local office supply chain and had to climb up ladders to pull down chairs. The ladder was unstable and one of the steps was even awkwardly bent. I asked my other co-workers about it and we all went to the manager together. Luckily are approach was successful and we had the old ladder replaced. There really is no point in risking your life for money. I think you make a great point Eve, health matters most!
February 10th, 2010 at 4:10 am
There exist an endless concern for probability in every industrial job. The probability is most assuredly heightened by any use of flammable or combustible material. In my experience, even exposure to certain material could cause harm in the future. It is a harsh reality that dangerous situations may occur any time regardless of any safety procedure. Any entity that endangers the safety of their employees is acting as a criminal and should be prosecuted as such. An employee who is negligent in safety procedure is just as guilty and if by doing so causes harm to others should equally be punished. Even if nothing occurs, it is still an act that should not be without consequence.
The argument of it all indeed comes down to money. Could the employer afford the training and the implementation of safety? Could the employee afford to find himself and perhaps countless others unemployed because of lack of safety coordination by their employer? It is impossible to declare the value of any one’s safety just as it is difficult to operate a company with out a significant implementation of cost to ensure all known precautions are implemented.