Monthly Archives: June 2013

Want Another Reason to Focus On Your Employees?

Posted on June 27, 2013 by mavity2012

Many of you know, I grew up in the hills of Northwest Georgia where about 85% of the nation’s carpet is manufactured. To put it mildly, it is a non-union area. Thirty miles North lies Chattanooga, which was once a highly … Continue reading →

Posted in attitude/culture, employee engagement, manufacturing, safety programs, union organizing, unions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Employee Engagement or Involvement?

Posted on June 26, 2013 by mavity2012

At some point we shifted the discussion from employee “involvement” to employee “engagement.”  One dictionary defines “involvement” as:  the act of taking part in an activity, event, or situation The same dictionary defines “engagement” as: the feeling of being involved … Continue reading →

Posted in attitude/culture, cultural changes, employee engagement, management and leadership, reducing injuries, safety programs, union organizing, wellness | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Can You “App” Yourself To Safety Success?

Posted on June 23, 2013 by mavity2012

Safety “apps” are a hot topic.  Even techno-challenged souls use apps to spot check noise, avoid heat stress, or conduct basic safety inspections.  Even OSHA announced in January, “Winners of an OSHA App Challenge.”  While recently teaching in the AGC’s … Continue reading →

Posted in cultural changes, employer policies, MSHA, OSHA, reducing injuries, safety programs, safety technology and apps | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Man Bites Dog – OSHA Style

Posted on June 21, 2013 by mavity2012

OSHA enforces more whistleblower laws than any other agency and has made whistleblower protection one of its principal goals. So it grabs your attention when you read “Whistleblower Wins $820,000 Settlement Against OSHA.” OSHA’s foremost official overseeing injury record keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in discipline and discharge, OSHA, whistleblower/retaliation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Common Mistakes In OSHA Inspections

Posted on June 13, 2013 by mavity2012

 This post is not a comprehensive  “guide” to handling OSHA Inspections, but rather is a few observations about reoccurring issues we see in OSHA inspections.  These comments are most appropriate to a fatality or more involved OSHA inspection. 1.         No matter what … Continue reading →

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The 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS in 2012-13

Posted on June 11, 2013 by mavity2012

My thanks to EHS Today Magazine for selecting Ed and me to EHS Magazine’s 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS in 2012 – 2013.  We really appreciate the acknowledgement and hope that we can do even better in 2013 – 2014. The … Continue reading →

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Ruminations On What makes Businesses Succeed (as if a lawyer knows!)

Posted on June 11, 2013 by mavity2012

This post is personal, and as the introduction to DVD’s state … this post does not reflect the views of F & P, etc.  It’s a labor of love, and also a reflection of my conviction that safety is inextricably … Continue reading →

Posted in attitude/culture, discipline and discharge, employee engagement, generational differences, managing legal matters, safety programs | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why Is Common Sense So Uncommon?

Posted on June 11, 2013 by mavity2012

Don’t get me wrong. I make a handsome living in part because common sense is anything but common. However, I like to prevent labor and employment problems, and I’d do anything to reduce the number of workplace deaths.  So I … Continue reading →

Posted in employer policies, harassment, hazard assessment, management and leadership, reducing injuries | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

OSHA Gets It Right On Temporary Workers – Part II

Posted on June 11, 2013 by mavity2012

I have been surprised to see so little commentary on the outgoing Deputy Assistant Secretary’s April 29 announcement of OSHA ramping up its focus on Temporary Workers.  Ed talked a bit earlier this week about OSHA’s new initiative and I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in employer policies, government inspections, hospitality, manufacturing, OSHA, safety programs, workers comp | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Employers Hesitate To Discipline Workers For Safety

Posted on June 11, 2013 by mavity2012

This from BLR Workplace Safety News … June 11, 2013 Employers hesitate to discipline workers for safety A labor lawyer says discipline is essential for safety, but employers just aren’t doing it. Fisher & Phillips partner Howard Mavity cites a … Continue reading →

Posted in discipline and discharge, employer policies, incentive plans, OSHA, safety programs | Tagged | 1 Comment