In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Found this comparison of worker accident rates across Europe.
[url=http://hse.gov.uk/statistics/european/tables.htm#table3]European comparisons - Tables[/url]
Italy is about on the EU average - but twice as bad as the UK, which has the lowest rate of deaths from accidents, and the second lowest rate of 'serious' injuries.
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In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
The most difficult thing is to implement the laws and to educate workers so that they will accept safety practices. You can see that in Spain the number of victims is quite high but some construction workers refuse to wear helmets and safety harnesses. I heard that the same thing happens in Italy and Portugal. Education is vital to achieve safety goals.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Gala Placidia;105814]The most difficult thing is to implement the laws and to educate workers so that they will accept safety practices..................... Education is vital to achieve safety goals.[/quote]
True - but it is as, if not more, important to educate the management that 'good safety is good business'. Experience shows that if you cut the number of accidents, the business tends to become more efficient/profitable.
We are winning that war in the UK - It isn't easy - but we're getting there.
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In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Alan, I would say that management, in general, is aware of the advantages of safety control in their businesses. Only small operators, managed by people with a very elementary approach to business will not realise that accidents can cost a lot and not only in human lives. There is a big problem in getting everyone involved to work together to ensure that safety is the main consideration. Once this is achieved, it would just be easier.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Gala Placidia;105826]Alan, I would say that management, in general, is aware of the advantages of safety control in their businesses. .....................[/quote]
Believe me - if only it were so.
Many managers still look at what 'improving' safety will cost them - they fail to see the benefit that they will reap, in time [and that's the problem - 'in time'].
Some managers think that all they need to do is put up posters, tell people to work safely, perhaps give a little training, and all will be well. They seem to forget/ignore that they need to train all staff, retrain them regularly, monitor that staff are working properly, institute any necessary changes, keep monitoring, record everything, and [most importantly] set an exemplary example themselves.
A decent manager needs to put in at least twice as much effort as his staff where safety in concerned,
Do they do it? - usually not - unless they have some 'safety Nazi' like me pushing them along, [sometimes telling them when they could go to jail if they didn't change].
I have had more problems with some of my managers, than ever with the general workforce
[Safety Professional's rant over]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hmmm, this very sensible discussion is raising a few issues. While I accept that forcing the management to take responsibilty is a reasonable approach, (and I'll take alan's word for it that it is working in the UK), there has to be an element of leading the horse (workman) to the water, and sometimes he bl**dy well won't drink it.
I only know about building sites: these are not as easy to 'organise' from a safety point of view as, say, a factory - where the management can usually accurately predict where every employee will be, and what he'll be doing, at every moment of the day. Those factory workers will also be working in a predictable temperature range and a stable (even though sometimes hellish) environment.
Working on an Italian building site in high summer, wearing a safetly helmet and proper footwear is not comfortable. Many workmen - honestly wishing to get on with the job - will discard what they regard as 'fripperies'. (This will be reinforced by the director of works turning up in shorts and flip-flops for an inspection!)
It might well be that the safety equipment (particularly clothing) could very usefully be redesigned for hot climates. After all, Northern Europe leads the way in these areas - but maybe they don't know so much about the details of what the more southern states are being encouraged to adopt.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Perhaps it is a problem of attitude. Having lived in Australia for many years.... and it is real hot Down Under in the middle of summer..... I can still remember people wearing safety helmets, proper footwear and gloves. My husband says that in the building industry, safety was always a priority.
I can see that there are new certificates and degrees available to create specialists in the area who, hopefully, in turn will be able to educate both management and the workers about this most important matter.
Otherwise, it would be important to enforce tougher penalties, higher insurance premiums, compulsory education.... anything that would help people to change their attitudes.
It sounds totally ridiculous to have to beg people to take good care of themselves....
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
two points that come to mind... in the uk say in general... and most other countries seat belt laws are followed... not in Italy, not even for their children... and this reasoning obviously follows through to the workplace... so there is definitely a sort of bravado attitude here...
hot weather... as i also tend to work out of choice outside... and generally ignore things like heat and sun... i have found that people that i work with that strip off generally get very over heated as the sun burns down on them... at they often have to head for shade just to cool down, i tend to wear my own..ie always wear a sun hat of some sort...and generally when working keep on t-shirt and jeans... feet do not sweat as much in good solid footwear and socks as bare feet in summer stile slip ons.... maybe its just my metabolism but i think not as if i go to the pool and lay out in the sun with not much on after five minutes i begin to get too hot...
besides as anyone in australia will tell you protection from the sun lets you live longer for all sorts of reasons....
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
You are right, John. A hat, dark glasses and a long-sleeved white shirt will give you protection against the summer sun which is also a killer. People working outside should apply on themselves regular amounts of sun protection creams as well. Melanoma is also a killer and it affects those who worship sunbaking but also those who work outside.
Another thing that is worrying me with all this talk about safety is the current move to increase the number of working hours. I simply believe that 70 hours a week is crazy and in many jobs it could lead to accidents due to lack of concentration. Those extra hours could help to employ more people who need a job.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
One big difference between the Uk and Italy is that whenever there is perceived to be need to change behaviour (en masse) UK Gov will invest £££xmillions in public awareness programmes e.g Drink Driving, Seat belts, Smoke alarms, Smoking, Sticking fingers in electric sockets (just kidding). Here in Italy, for whatever reason, it seems like the Government thinks it has discharged its responsibility by simply introducing laws which we all know from experience are for the most part ignored.
Balance is needed between stick and carrot, but at the end of the day people change behaviours when they have made their mind up that it is a good thing to do. And to do that you need to be informed, not just told.
If anyone in a position to influence things truly cared about "accidental" deaths then they might care to look at driving standards.
Clunk Click Every Trip
Ghianda
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It is great to see that they have finally decided to comply with these norms which are already in practice in so many other countries. And it will certainly help to reduce the number of deaths due to accidents at work.