Posted By Merv Newman Just got back from a sales trip, 400 mile drive there and back again, two hotel nights. Probably (even hopefully) a total waste of time. Client (not yet) makes plastic page holders. Millions and millions of them. Was quite happy with last year's LTI rate. It was only twice the national average. Getting a bit worried this year as it is now about three times the average. Have you ever seen an "Inverted Heinrich" ? 2 first aid injuries, 3 medical treatments, 12 LTIs. All that in the first quarter for 220 employees. "The little everyday cuts and scrapes ? They take care of those themselves" Actually, when I got there yesterday morning, the maintenance department were at 16 times the national average. That afternoon it went up to 20 times the average. Aaargh Unique "lock out" system : Saw an employee half leaning into a machine, watching a maintenance man inside that machine. "Can I have a word ?" says I. "Sorry" says he, "I can't move as I'm blocking the safety detector cells so that the machine won't start up" Double Aaargh Suggested to senior management that they got their full-time safety coordinator some basic training in safety. He got the job as he is an ex-fireman. So the fire protection looks pretty good. Suggested to senior management that they look into some sort of safety management system (easy money, thinks I) Risk assessments, method statements, safety policy, work permits, all that juicy stuff the consultants love. "Well, not really" Says senior management. "We don't go much on documentation and written procedures here. Look, we all know it's the employee's fault. Why don't we just do some of that behavioural thingy you've been doing up the road" Treble Aaargh. Any consultant out there who wants their name and telephone number ? It's free. Please !

Posted By Heather Aston Run as fast as you can Merv, run for the hills! But seriously, if you feel able to say, which European country was this? Please don't say the UK....... Heather

Posted By Graham Peters Merv, if you think an employee will be hurt by unsafe working practises at this company I would give the company name and contact number to some one who will do something to prevent it.

Posted By Merv Newman Graham, no need to name names to anyone. All registered injuries (even, for this plant) the first aids, are declared to the authorities within 48 hours (I saw the forms). One of the problems is that the plant/work areas are technically pretty good - housekeeping, machine guarding and so on. So, by French standards an inspector might not find too much to moan about. Another problem is the French social security system. Companies are taxed partly on their accident rate. No LTIs for three years and you only pay a "safety" tax of 0,8% of the wage bill. The more accidents you declare the higher it goes. (17% is the national average for roofers and tilers) so, in some ways, they sort of welcome the opportunity to put your rate up a bit. (this plant does have the legally required union safety committe, so they can't hide much) The other problem is that senior management is partly right : there are behavioural problems. But who is allowing or causing those behaviours ? Yesterday's accident to a maintenance man : wearing gloves while drilling a hole in a metal piece. Gloves got caught on the swarf, hand was instantly wound around the drill bit. Cuts, bruises, a sprained wrist and a dislocated finger. You should see what it did to the glove ! Safety man told me that "only a few weeks ago they watched a video on safety during maintenance activities : "use a tool to clear away swarf"" Stand very well back - I'm going to go Aaargh again !