Don’t Give Hazards the Silent Treatment

Like anyone else with a job to do, reporters are under pressure to find stories of interest and there’s no denying that a big blast at a chemical plant or the collapse of a bridge under construction is big news. If such an event occurs at your workplace, reporters will be all over it within minutes.

Imagine the horror of knowing that 10 workers are dead because an unsafe condition was not reported and dealt with. We are talking about a different kind of reporting here – the responsibility of workers to report unsafe conditions to their managers before an incident occurs.

But plenty of other workplace hazards can be addressed if managers are made aware of them. Maybe you know about people getting high or drinking during company time. If you think you have no business in bringing this information to management’s attention, even through an anonymous note, you are wrong.

Do the right thing and report unsafe incidents before the news reporters show up at your workplace. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.