Disqus - Latest Comments for RickR

Re: GAO: OSHA�s VPP Program Lacking in Oversight

RickR — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:35:29 -0000

Mr Walsh this may be true for some VVP comapnies who have strong cultures that are driven from the top down, but we all know and I am a safety graduate from RIT, unlike many in the field without safety degrees, have found that the gao office is correct. After consulting at hundreds of companies I have found no better ratings amoung lost time and injury rates from VPP sites to non-VPP sites. Its whoever can get a feather in their hat first in NY State between the State assitance program SHARP and VPP Federal program who compete with eachother in this area and its all a matter of funding. i have found numerous VPP sites with so many regulatory violations that I wonder how the heck are they VPP? No employer will implement and voluntary especially OSHA regualtions. When ti comes down to the nitty gritty and who stays and who goes during bad times and cutbacks, Safety is number 1 and maintenance is number 2, and if you disagree you do not know what you are talking about mr Walsh because you haven't been there. One big reason why I believe many OSHA implementation efforts fail within companies is because they hire non safety graduates. Those who could not find work in their own field have now looked for somewhere else to go and safety is the only field that offers non-linear employment. Meaning anyone can be a safety person. There are no regulations, rules, certifications that speak otherwise. So they worked in engineering dept as a mechanic have safety training from the company and now said to be qualified to perform safety management. Well you cannot just be a nurse, or an engineer( which many safety people think they are), a discredit and mockery to those with four year engineering degrees and PE licenses.There is so much turn over from safety professional to safety professional it probably ranks as the highest now in industry turnover rate. No one want it, it cost money, its the first to go in a budget crisis, not many who saerve as safety managers have four year degrees in the field, and oSHA will not enforce the rules. industry knows this and will always have the upper hand until someone from the government steps in to stop the most absured profession out their at its current standing, safety. Now mandate a safety manager for industry, mandate safety manager to be a four year graduate in safety, then pass a test just like nursing, or engineering, or any other licensed professional service then safety will be taken seriously by all. For those who keep ruining the safety profession because you think you are a safety manager/professional without the education, stop calling yourselves engineers. Go back to school get your engineering degree pass the state test and then call yourself an engineer but right now the profession has enough difficulties than having to prove why you lied about your engineering qualifications. In many states like NY you would be arrested and fined for impersonating and engineer without the proper qualifications the education law requires. Without true representation from all sides, safety will never be what it should.

Re: Ruling Upholds the Legality of Guns in Workplace Parking Lots | EHS Today | March 2009

RickR — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:25:31 -0000

i must disagree with the individual who advises the front door is the employees property. Private property conisists under the law that to which a person rents, owns or has a right to legally possess. The parking lot is the property of the employer no ifs ands or buts. They can set the rules and terms on thier property and if you do not like it, you will be asked to leave and if you did not I would fire you and win in court 100 percent of the time. Any property I own where I deem no weapon or any other activity is not allowed, i have the right to control my property and do what ever under the law I may to protect that property. Again you do not have the right to possess any weapon in the parking lot of a GIN Free school zone. i have known cases where everyperson who has tried and caught was arrested. If you think you wish to push the envelope, go ahead but heed my warning as free advise you will cause nothing but headaches for you and your family and court costs and fines that drive some broke. if you have a gun in your vehicle, why would you tell anyone anyway??? Thats all we need are criminals knowing they have somewhere to get a weapon with ease. Is this responsilbe gun ownership, I do not think so. Leave the guns at home or if you must, dont tell anyone, keep it to yourself. Weapons scare people and the cops will be called by those who are threatened just by the fact a weapon is close by. What the employer does not know wont hurt them. If they are made aware and its on their property where a sign is posted a policy exists, then you do not have a leg to stand on. My property where I live is my fence not the front door, stay out of my yard or you trespass. Remeber if you do not appreciate someone in your yard respect the yard of the employer, its their property not yours!

Re: Ruling Upholds the Legality of Guns in Workplace Parking Lots | EHS Today | March 2009

RickR — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:15:04 -0000

Regarding guns in cars and trunks within parking lots may be the right of an employee but an employee may not have the right to have the weapon in their vehicle on employer property parking lots. To avoid litigation and possible confrontation it is imperative that employers quickly control their workplace by procuring and implementing a policy where guns are against the policy of the company the employee works for. Employers can set many poklicies rules and procedures they feel necessary to protect thier employees and workplace.
Just because a person has a right to a certain issue, they do not have the right to the same on private property. A person has the right to have a gun, locked in their car but not in my driveway on my property. There are alos rules for GUN Free school zones. Just because this right exists, the right does not exist in the parking lot of a GUN Free School zone. Be clear, having training, employees must be made aware and sign off prior to employment and during employment when a new rule is introduced. This law has always existed and the ruling only affirms the right to bear arms. It does not affirm the right to bear arms on private property so do not get frazzled by this decision. It has always been there. Remeber you have the right on your proprty to set whatever rules necessary to protect your workplace and employees.