Not Another Boring Shop Safety Article
Peter J. Marcucci
Special Contributor

As stone fabricators, most of us love (or at lEast like) what we do. To be able to produce a product using the most beautiful materials that nature has created for us, and make a good paycheck, keeps my interest peaked day after day. Yet so many times over the years, i've seen safety take a back seat to production when it should be paramount.

The stone industry has a unique set of hazards within the shop environment and may be one of the most dangerous environments out there. Countertops, and the like, fall into two categories: heavy or really heavy, and put us at risk for hernia and back injury every time we move them by hand.

The dust we create during production can get into our eyes, sinuses and lungs. Chemicals like acetone, agers and glues are not only a breathing risk, they are also flammable. Exposure to noise from CNC and cutting machinery can cause fatigue, and long-term exposure can damage a persons hearing.

Debris on an unswept floor can cause a fall or twisted ankle. Accidents like cuts on hands, fingers, severed tendons and eye injuries from dry cutting and so on, plague our industry on a regular basis. It is these hazards we should be mindful of every day, yet every day it seems to be production and doing our job that is really on our minds.

So, I ask you, why bother doing our jobs if the possibility exists that we may not be in good physical condition at the end of the day to enjoy the fruits of our labor? It is in the interest of every worker, manager and owner to adhere to, and promote safety in his or her work environment. Yeah, I know, safety is not what creates cash flow, but it is part of what helps to create a steady work flow. Many of these hazards are fixable, some are not.

So ask yourself, as an employee, am I doing my best to work safe and help my co-workers stay safe? Am I giving my manager input when I see a pending problem with the overall safe status of the shop that I work in? Or as a manager, am I taking 100% responsibility for creating a safe environment for the employees (and indirectly their families) that I count on everyday? And here's the big one: if OSHA walked in right now would they say "job well done?"

Oops I said the "O" word. I know nobody likes to hear it, but OSHA is a fact of life in U.S. manufacturing, and broken down into its simplest form, OSHA is just a set of rules and standards with some muscle behind it. They are here to help all of us prosper, safely and effectively. Adhering to their rules is good for our employees who must trust us as owners and managers, and good for our insurers who charge us money every year based on our track record. Less risk equals less money paid in premiums to the insurance companies and more money for a better bottom line and a Christmas bonus to say "thanks for a great job this year; we couldn't have done it without you."

It is noteworthy to mention one other point: there really is no such thing as something for nothing.You must always give to get.You must work at safety every day. It is not fun or easy, especially at the beginning of a full-blown safety program. If you already have one, then you are one step ahead of many shops. If you don't, then this is where to start.

Go online to the OSHA website and make an appointment for you, (the designated safety manager) and anybody else who is interested in attending one of the 10 or 30 hour courses they offer. In the mean time, pull out all accident reports for the last few years and review them. Then start looking at the way your shop does things; watch everything and be intuitive by trying to see accidents before they happen.

When you do see a problem, try to work over, under, or around the problem and think, how can we do this better? Could a jib crane help avoid the back injuries we are experiencing. Could a dust filtration system or a dedicated room with a wind tunnel effect, create a safer environment for everyone while cutting or grinding is being performed; or would a router or CNC be a better choice and alleviate our dust problems altogether?

Are our floors swept every day to avoid any trip hazards and could checking the bolts or vacuum pads on our lifting equipment, have avoided the accident that let a slab break into a million pieces? And last but not least, are my workers wearing their safety glasses, masks and ear protection when needed?

Buy now you should have a good idea of what's needed and have made some positive changes. It is now time to implement what you've learned at the OSHA class that you've attended. Be diligent and relentless and do exactly what you've been trained to do: save lives and limbs.

I could go on and on but like the title says, this is "not another boring shop safety article." Just one more thing, though: have regular monthly safety meetings with everyone (including the office people) to discuss all the new ways you've discovered to help everyone work safer, (and don't forget the coffee and donuts). Do whatever you have to do to get their attention and get your point across. They will trust you for it-and trust is everything when it comes to good managing. Thanks for reading.

P.S. If the coffee and donuts are really good, employees will be looking forward to the next safety meeting.

Peter Marcucci is a 25-year senior fabricator at European Marble Co., Inc. Sarasota, FL. Send any comments to pjmgsxr@aol.com .



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