Question: We have a couple of areas where our equipment or practices are out of compliance, but our employees prefer the efficiency and ease of our current practices. While we know we run the risk of getting cited by OSHA, we also feel that safety citations are just a cost of doing business. Do other companies view safety citations the same way?
Answer: While it may be true that you’re not alone in viewing safety citations as a “cost of doing business,” it sounds like you’re not seeing the full picture. In a recent instance, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) cited and fined CommCaseworks, Inc., because the company had not fixed the safety issues that they were cited for almost six years prior. In addition to having to pay a hefty $187,000 in fines, L&I placed “red tags” on the problematic equipment and shut down the worksite until the issues were fixed.
Beyond Citations: The Hidden Costs of Ignoring Safety Standards
Citations and fines aren’t the only potential consequence of disregarding safety requirements. People’s lives are at stake, and so is your business; you may be shut down if you don’t take action to address hazards. You are also likely missing the indirect costs that come from loose safety practices, such as higher workers’ compensation premiums, recruiting and training replacement employees, and employee absenteeism. To avoid problems, make sure you have adequate and up-to-date safety practices, an effective safety training program, processes that immediately address safety concerns (including safety citations), and have created an atmosphere where employees are encouraged to communicate safety concerns and near misses. Members, you can ask your Vigilant Safety Professional for assistance, including a location walk through, to help identify concerns before they become injuries or citations. Start with our Legal Guide, Employer and Employee Safety Responsibilities, for guidance.
Looking to enhance your safety practices? Contact us to discover how our Vigilant Safety Professionals can help identify hazards and improve your protocols, ensuring a safer workplace from the start.
