Safe Workplace and Safety News
This is the safety news blog for the Safe Workplace web site. We cover workplace safety related news with a focus on how safety, or a lack of safety, impacts employers, employees and their families. We also cover topics such as safety training, safety tools, and legal issues related to safety. For regular safety news and information enter your email address in the box above the Subscribe button to the right (then click on the button).
Monday, February 11, 2008
Do Employers Underreport Workers' Injuries?
The Charlotte News & Observer is reporting today that an OSHA official says that OSHA lets employers underreport workers' injuries. The article states that Bob Whitmore, "chief of record-keeping requirements for the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said OSHA is allowing employers to vastly underreport the number of injuries and illnesses their workers suffer."
Mr. Whitmore is claiming that inuries and illnesses are actually two to three times higher than reported in some industries.
Towards the end the article also reports that Mr. Whitmore has been on administrative leave since last July. This resulted from a confrontation with a supervisor in which, Mr. Whitmore says, "the supervisor spat on him, so he stuck his foot in the man's door and threatened, 'If you ever do that again, I'll kick your [rear].'"
What do you think?
Are injuries and illnesses being underreported, or is Mr. Whitmore just trying to stir up trouble for his employer?
Mr. Whitmore is claiming that inuries and illnesses are actually two to three times higher than reported in some industries.
Towards the end the article also reports that Mr. Whitmore has been on administrative leave since last July. This resulted from a confrontation with a supervisor in which, Mr. Whitmore says, "the supervisor spat on him, so he stuck his foot in the man's door and threatened, 'If you ever do that again, I'll kick your [rear].'"
What do you think?
Are injuries and illnesses being underreported, or is Mr. Whitmore just trying to stir up trouble for his employer?
Labels: Industrial Health, Industrial Safety, OSHA
posted by Steve Hudgik - Go to this Workplace Safety Post |
1 Comments:
There is a response, published on the Cattle Network web site today to the articles in the Charlotte Observer.
The complete Cattle Network article is at: Cattle Network
The article opens by saying:
"Raeford, N.C.-based poultry processor House of Raeford Farms said it is further investigating allegations by the Charlotte Observer that it has underreported worker injuries.
'This article does not provide an accurate portrayal of the programs, policies and practices of our company or the poultry industry,' the company said in a statement, adding, 'We are proactive in looking for ways to improve our safety programs.'"
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home