Nearly 1,000 EHS professionals responded to the 2013 National Safety Survey. Most said that safety has improved at their organization in the past year, but many admitted the safety versus production argument is ongoing and some shared truly horrifying stories of workplace violence and bullying.
The respondents to the 2013 National Safety Survey generally are well-paid (approximately 80 percent earn more than $55,000 and 15 percent earn more than $105,000 per year); most have responsibility for safety (96 percent) followed closely by emergency preparedness (74 percent), occupational health (73 percent), ergonomics (66 percent) and industrial hygiene (65 percent); 94 percent attended college; and three-quarters are certified safety professionals (CSP).
Most rate their organization’s EHS performance as “good” (31.8 percent), “very good” (34.2 percent) or world-class (4.9 percent). Companies that offer a “one-size-fits-all” approach to EHS were criticized and the “production versus safety” argument appears to be ongoing.
Here is a sample of what some respondents said when asked: “What is the most frequent complaint you hear from employees about your organization’s safety and health program?”:
• Our managers care more about product than safety.
• The foremen of the company still push and drive with disregard to safety. The foremen are not held accountable [for poor safety performance].
• Management does not follow safety programs.
• That our side (construction) has to follow the regulations but the facilities and maintenance sides do not have to follow safety policies, training or OSHA requirements.
• They identify a hazard and it does not get fixed in a timely manner.
• Some safety rules make the job more difficult.
• Lack of consistency in policies vs. procedures.
• Inconsistent messages and an overwhelming number of corporate (global) “one size fits all” procedures.
• The people enacting rules and regulations have never gotten their hands dirty.
• We don’t know what happens to folks that are poor performers in relation to safety
• Management does not really listen to the employees.
• No money (many mentioned money/budget concerns).
