AS SENIOR MANAGERS IN ANY FACILITY WE MUST TAKE HEALTH AND SAFETY SERIOUSLY AND WALK THE TALK. THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXCELLENT SAFETY PROCEDURES AND POLICIES. EMC MEMBERS LARGELY HAVE THEM AS A DIRECT RESULT OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE WSIB SAFETY GROUP, LED BY VERY PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT EMC. HOWEVER, WHAT IS PUT ON PAPER DOESN'T MEAN A THING UNLESS ALL EMPLOYEES WALK THE TALK.

 I ADMIT THAT (IN THE PAST) WHEN I RECEIVED A CUT TO MY HAND AS A RESULT OF LOOKING AT A  MACHINE WITH MAINTENANCE   I WOULD TAKE THE MACHO APPROACH, PUT A BANDAID ON AND KEEP GOING.  I PREACH TO THE STAFF IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT NO MATTER HOW MINOR IT MUST BE REPORT  IT, AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMPLETED AND AN EVALUATION BY THE JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE TO ANALYSIS IF AN IMPROVEMENT CAN BE MADE TO PREVENT A RE-OCCURANCE.

BUT (IN THE PAST) I WOULD NOT  WALK THE TALK, MAN UP,  STOP THE BLEEDING AND GO BACK TO WORK.  I CUT MY FINGER QUITE BADLY LAST WEEK OPENING A BOX. EVEN THOUGH I ADMINISTERED MY OWN FIRST AID I INSISTED THAT AN ACCIDENT REPORT BE COMPLETED BY THE SHOP SUPERVISOR AND HANDED IN TO THE JOINT CHAIR OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE.

I WAS RECENTLY AT A LOCAL  EVENT THAT HAD  ONE OF CANADAS GREAT MILITARY GENERALS , GENERAL RICK HILLIER AS A GUEST SPEAKER. I QUOTE HIM "AS A LEADER, YOU LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE TALKERS AND THERE ARE DOERS. I TALKED A LOT ABOUT VALUES: HONESTY, LOYALTY, HARD WORK AND RESPECT. BUT NAMING THESE VALUES IS NOT THE SAME AS SHOWING THEM. THERE IS A TIME TO TALK AND A TIME TO DO. AS A LEADER, IF YOU WANT TO GET A BRICK WALL BUILT, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PICK UP THE FIRST BRICK AND DEMONSTRATE, BY YOUR ACTION, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD IT."

THE BOTTOM LINE IS EVEN THOUGH MANAGEMENT (ME INCLUDED) SAYS THEY SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMS THEY MUST SUPPORT IT IN EVERY WAY.

HAVE A SAFE DAY.