An independent review has concluded that the lack of a safety culture in the state may be the chief problem behind an overly high number of job fatalities. Wyoming averaged one workplace death every 10 days over the last 10 years. Thousands of employees have sought work in the state’s booming oil, gas, and mining industries.
Occupational epidemiologist Timothy Ryan was hired by the state Workplace Safety Task Force that is charged with developing recommendations to address the high rate of occupational deaths.
Ryan reviewed fatality data from 1992 through 2008, studied fatality case reports, and spoke with hundreds of employees working for companies of various sizes. Among his conclusions:
- There is a breakdown in safety-related communication among upper management, supervisors, and employees.
- Employees report that the safety training they receive is not enforced on the jobsite.
- Employees are told to “get the job done” and safety protocol and rules are not enforced.
- On any one jobsite there can be a wide range in safety standards.
Although nonfatal injuries decreased from 2001 to 2008, Ryan notes that major injuries remain a problem, with the number of hospitalizations increasing. While emphasizing that no single solution will remedy the situation, Ryan issued recommendations, including:
- Encourage continuity of ongoing efforts.
- Develop a data monitoring system for the collection and timely analysis of occupational information.
- Promote OSHA courtesy inspections.
- Support efforts by industry to develop, monitor, and enforce safety standards and practices.
Safety.BLR.com Feb 14 2012
