ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMPLIANCE
ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMPLIANCE
IS SMART BUSINESS
Undoubtedly, protecting the personnel that works in your critical facility is and should be a top priority. But simply caring for your workers’ well-being isn’t the only reason you should carefully manage regulatory compliance.
American business owners are quickly discovering the depth of consequences they face from having gaps in their electrical safety program.
A Shocking Fact
Electrocution is
6th
Among causes of workplace deaths in America. The need for compliance is truly a matter of life or death.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
WHY SAFETY FIRST?
Risks to the pre-industrial laborer included animals, hand tools, ladders, and chairs, but times have changed!
1900
Developing American production methods were both highly productive and very dangerous.
Only about half of all workers fatally injured recovered any financial damages from employers and average compensation was only about half a year's pay.
Only 15% of injured workers obtained any damages from employers under common law.
Power Proliferation
American industrial methods developed with little reference to safety, especially in manufacturing, where machines and power sources were largely unguarded.
Commissions
Developing regulatory commissions had few powers and were rarely able to influence working conditions.
1908
Congress passed a federal employers’ liability law that applied to railroad workers and automatically compensated all injuries at a fixed rate.
1911 - 1921
Forty-four states passed compensation laws stimulating business interest in safety.
Source: Economic History Association
The power problem
In 2017
2 out of the 10
Most frequent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations are related to electrical safety.
INSPECTIONS
OSHA is making a difference across the nation.
Scope of Inspections
OSHA inspectors have a big job with big responsibilities.
Why Inspect?
OSHA inspectors are responsible for the health and safety of 130 million workers.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
SHOW OSHA
THE MONEY
Fines for violations can reach $12,600 per violation. Repeat offenders can pay 10x that much.
With a death, companies face up to $10,000 in fees and up to six months in jail. A second conviction is 2x those amounts.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
COSTLY CONSEQUENCES
Even one workplace fatality is too many for any business.
Employee Deaths
There were 14 deaths per day in 2016.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Illness & Injuries
Non-fatal accidents tax workplace resources and impact production. There were nearly 2.9 million non-fatal injuries and illnesses in 2016.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Damages
The costs incurred by a business due to workplace accidents are profound and come straight out of company profits.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
NO TIME TO REST
ON OUR LAURELS
Although accidents are declining across many critical industries, there is still room for improvement.
0 INJURIES IS
THE GOAL
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Why Safety Now
THE TAKEWAY
Protecting your people, equipment, and profits means being proactive to comply with regulatory requirements from organizations like OSHA, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and others.
Compliance isn’t a project with a start and finish. It’s an endless responsibility.
Shifts in the regulatory environment require new strategies to ensure compliance. You may need a partner with the expertise to help you stay abreast of the changing requirements and mitigate risk across your business.
After all, a well-managed electrical safety program has benefits beyond your safety organization including reduced healthcare and insurance costs, minimized human resource losses, integrated practices for maximum protection, and improved image and culture.