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Workplace
Safety the Right Way
Pondering
Ethics and Morality
Many
say they have ethical standards but the ethical principles they use are
incased by legal jargon. Ethics
are taught and/or conformed to, they can change according to times and it
requires a stand be taken. Whereas
morality is instinctive, it is a state of mind and heartfelt and also
requires a stand. Ethics can
be influenced by morality and therefore to an extent morals can be taught.
So why am I making such a big deal out of these two little words?
I feel both ethics and morals are important but simply put; Hitler
had a code of ethics but no morals.
Is
Anyone out There?
I
do not endorse many organizations because their procedures tend to leave
out the moral aspects of workers safety.
However in my correspondence with Tom Hardin Executive Director of
NASP/IASP I found that they focus
on just such a thing. Tom
stated, “…To
put it simply, we believe that an employer has a moral and ethical
responsibly to do whatever is necessary to provide a safe workplace.”
Needless to say I had no chose but to look into this matter after a
statement like that.
Who
Are They
National
Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) and (IASP) International
Association of Safety Professionals.
NASP/IASP is a nonprofit, support, training, membership, and
certifying agency for those responsible for workplace safety.
NASP/IASP basis their programs and training on eight principles.
-
Safety
is an Ethical Responsibility.
-
Safety
is a Culture Not a Program.
-
Management
is Responsible
-
Employees
Must Be Trained to Work Safely
-
Safety
is a Condition of Employment.
-
All
Injuries Are Preventable.
-
Safety
Programs Must Be Site Specific with Recurring Audits of the Workplace and
Prompt Corrective Action.
-
Safety
is Good Business
-
NASP/IASP
has a philosophy for each principal explaining how it will benefit
companies and in turn this benefits the employees and their families.
When these principals are instated the companies will not only be
in compliance with OHSA but will also save them money in workers
comp.
What
I chose to do
If
you lost someone you love to a workplace death then your thoughts
eventually turn to: What can I do to prevent this from happening to my
children, spouse and other family members? How can I keep another family from going through what I have?
After
loosing my brother I mulled over on these same questions.
Without a collage degree my options were limited.
I came up with USMWF because nothing was out there for workers lost,
there were many for injured and ill and some lost workers were posted on
union sites but not one thing for this type of support or a national
memorial. It isn’t much but
it is a start. USMWF is in part intended to bring public awareness, give
others some type of support and hope in their time of need, bring real
people to the numbers*
and opportunity to change laws down the road.
What
you can do?
There
are many ways that you can help out but I am going to focus on training
because ultimately it is the best resource.
The laws do need to be changed but that doesn’t keep our friends
and family any safer. NASP/IASP
is approved by the United Nations and requires no collage,
presents ten professional safety certifications and twenty-six specialty
certifications in the US and offers both classroom and distance learning
courses with a extensive range of topics, from ergonomics to hazardous
materials and bloodborne pathogens to electrical protection.
All
this is offered and no college degree is required in safety making it
easier for companies and individuals to gain need knowledge.
The
NASP Board of Certification was created to provide a different type of
credential than any previously available. While employers value the more
general credentials, they often do not achieve specific knowledge, skills,
and abilities sought by the employer. Nor do the generalized credentials
demonstrate to OSHA, the courts, or students, the specific qualifications
of safety trainers, planners, and auditors. NASP Certification provides a
third party verification of specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Making
it easy
NASP
makes it easy to get your credentials by providing several options.
Many companies offer to pay for their employees training and
Veterans have a governmental option that NASP will assist you with.
NASP also offers scholarships, which pay up to 100% of the courses.
These
scholarships are named in honor of five men and their families from
Shelby, NC. These five men gave their lives to preserve the safety of the
citizens of Shelby. Their families suffered the terrible loss of their
loved ones who rushed to the aid of others and never returned home.
The
Max Bolin and family Scholarship
pays 20% of course tuition.
The
Nathan Hall and family Scholarship
pays 40% of course tuition.
The
Nick Sharts and family Scholarship
pays 60% of course tuition.
The
George Magness and family Scholarship
pays 80% of course tuition.
The
Gene Melton and family Scholarship
pays 100% of course tuition.
The
Right Way
Do
you want to protect your family, friends and employees?
You have the information and an easy resource through NASP.
For workplace safety the right way!
NASP
Office of Member Services
PO
Box 22
Burgaw, NC 28425
Phone: (800) 922-2219
FAX: (910)-259-7574
Email
NASP
NASP
Site
*5,559
workers lost in 2003*
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