“… provided uniforms with a high poly content…”
Define “high poly content”. No really, define does a 30P/70C count?
Do I live in a 'moon suit?' No- but seeing to it that my ordinary clothing at least has a high content of less dangerous fibers seems a reasonable precaution.
Define “high content of less dangerous fibers”
I already provide hardhats and work safety glasses, should I also provide them with “safe” clothes and boots? Should I make sure they don’t have underwear that chafes? Where does personal responsibility come in? I know that as an electrician I showed every day, on time, dressed ready for work with my own hand tools. Is that too much to ask of my employees?
(My crew that does medium voltage terminations is provided with shirts and flash suits and anything else they want for that matter.)
As a side note, I have had many goals in my career ... but "maxing out my insurance premiuns" has never been one of them! Indeed, since one of the main functions of management is to reduce overhaed expenses, such a situation ought to be a 'wake up call.'
There you go taking things completely out of context to somehow make a point that does not exists otherwise. Read this and consider the word I use, “Unemployment Premiums” I did not say “insurance premiums”.
My general liability and bond premiums are some the lowest in town, I have even picked up jobs when we were not the lowest bidder based on my insurance and safety records alone.
One of the pit falls of running bigger crews is that your work is directly connected to the economy. A dip in the economy means less big jobs, which equals a dip in your labor force, which means layoffs and if it happens enough times (or even once) you can max out your “Unemployment Premiums” very quickly. I guess you could just hire short timers work them 89 days, and then rotate in a hole new crew and never pay un-employment, but I don’t believe in reducing my overhead expenses like that no matter what kind of wake up call you imply it maybe.
Safety is, first and foremost, a management issue. Tools, equipment, training, procedures will only get you so far; what really makes a difference is the "company culture." Simply put, management has to care, employees have to feel in control, everyone needs to be on the same team. Nothing good can come from a "Lord and Serf" or "Us vs Them" attitude.
To some how characterize my view of whining about a poly cotton blend shirt as a “lord and serf” mentality or to imply that it also somehow means that I would ignore legitimate safety issues, is in itself whining and a gross misrepresentation of what I said.
Having said all that this discussion was about whether or not a person who was furnished work shirts had a legitimate safety concern because it was a poly cotton blend. In my opinion no, unless he was doing medium voltage work. Granted 480V could also be an issue but then again 1) we do not work 480V hot and 2) there is a whole class of electrician that never even sees 480V.
Is wearing the new company shirts mandatory?
Do you work 480V hot?
I can see being forces to wear this shirt and work 480V as a problem, are you saying that is what you boss is doing to you?
[This message has been edited by ITO (edited 12-12-2006).]
[This message has been edited by ITO (edited 12-12-2006).]
[This message has been edited by ITO (edited 12-12-2006).]
