Summer Safety and its not so hidden costs - August 2009
It’s August and lots of people are getting the last few days of summer in before the kids return to school. Some of my fondest memories are those regarding our two week long summer vacations which generally finished up on Labor Day weekend. Great times, I was a kid back then and had little to worry about - today I see things in a very different light. I have been in this industry and dread the loss of production that is caused by those employees that take that same Labor Day Vacation. I long for the carefree days when I did not understand the hazards of a family vacation.
The hazards I am referring to are those within the family travelling while tired. Travelling with kids that constantly ask “are we there yet?” Vacations where we push the limits of our sporting ability – isn’t that a positive spin on telling people that we are out of shape! Many people get hurt during a harmless summer vacation, because we push our limits. I am certainly guilty. Perhaps we could tone it down a bit and return in the same shape that we left. No one will say it at work - but people ought to be grateful that you returned in good shape.
On to the work place, when an employee leaves for a hopefully well deserved vacation it can cause a strain on those employees that are left to complete the project in their absences. Have a heart and let your employer know as soon as possible that you’re planning a trip so that plans can be made to replace you during your trip. For those employers that must take up the slack, find a replacement so that the limits of those left on the projects are not overtaxed and wind up getting injured on the job attempting to do more then they are capable of. As most employers know jobsite accidents are extremely costly, from a personal point someone that you employ is hurt often losing money that they can scarcely afford to lose. Workers Compensation rarely pays a weekly dividend that matches an employee’s pay check. Now the cost to the company for a jobsite loss time injury is staggering. What it can do to your modifier rate for workers compensation insurance should be a crime, yet to my knowledge it is perfectly legal.
The best solution I can think of is to play it safe while on vacation, play hard but within your physical limitations - advice that I should apply to myself. Then try to plan your trip ahead of schedule so that your employer has time to schedule a replacement for your time away from work. Finally for the employer - schedule that replacement so that production will not suffer and the projects milestone dates are accomplished. Trust is a strong motivator for many, hopefully most employees, when your employees trust their employer to protect them to the best of their ability, often the quality of those employees improves. At least I keep praying this is true - I believe it still is.
Any input to these ideas are more then welcome.
Thank you for reading mine.
