Whose Responsibility Is It?

After an accident has occurred, it is not unusual for those who were around the injured worker to feel guilty. This guilt is part of each person’s inner awareness that there was possibly something they could or should have done to prevent the accident. Sometimes the accident is the result of someone else’s mistakes. But who causes the accident is not as important as who is responsible for the accident, and what steps will be taken to correct future similar accidents from happening.

The following is a partial list of responsibilities for safety on the job.

Guide for Discussion

Who’s Responsible? (Discussion Points)  

• Senior company management?
• Crew supervisor?
• Each person on the job?
• Trained safety professionals?
• Company safety committee?

Some Responsibility Rules for Everyone

• If it’s unsafe for you then it’s unsafe for the next person and the hazard should be corrected.
• Safety doesn’t belong to any one construction craft; rather it is part of every construction craft to be responsible.
• If safety doesn’t begin with you, it won’t begin at all.

An Individual’s Responsibility

• To yourself
• To your family
• To your co-workers
• To your company

Injuries should be reported immediately to your supervisor. OSHA’s new injury and illness reporting requirements prohibits employers from discouraging workers from reporting an injury or illness. The rule requires employers to inform employees of their right to report work-related injuries and illnesses free from retaliation, which can be satisfied by posting the already-required OSHA workplace poster.

OSHA Reminder: As of January 2015, reporting procedures to OSHA changed: Under the previous OSHA regulations, certain employers had to report deaths or in-patient hospitalizations when THREE OR MORE employees were involved. Under the new rules, every employer must report:

• Every work-related death within 8 hours. Fatalities must be reported if they occur within 30 days of the incident.
• Each work-related in-patient hospitalization, all amputations and all losses of an eye, within 24 hours. You only need to report these issues if they occur within 24 hours of the incident.

The deadline for employers to electronically submit to OSHA information regarding 2017 workplace injuries and illnesses was July 1, 2018. In 2019, the same information for workplace injuries and illnesses occurring in 2018 must be submitted before March 2, 2019.