Amputated fingers, pounded body, crushed skull, broken back, amputated hand. This gruesome list is not a summary of scenes from a Fright Night movie at a teen-age Halloween party. It is a few of the serious physical injuries, two of which were deadly, reported by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Heath Act) in just the past 30 days.Each of these 'accidents' finds origins in serious, willful safety violations and has resulted in citations, legal ramifications, and fines issued to organizations across the United States in September 2010. OSHA defines a willful violation as "one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health." OSHA fines vary and reflect the severe and recurring nature of hazards. They are based on the hazard potential and, perhaps surprisingly, not entirely based on the seriousness of a resulting accident. Many, many fines are issued even without episode of serious accidents or injuries.
Interestingly, in the list above, an employee death situation resulted in a total fine of only $119,500, while an amputated hand situation resulted in fines exceeding $3 million. The company facing the amputated hand $3 million fine, is accused or removing and 'tinkering' with safety equipment on machines. They are also accused of altering factory settings to speed up machines to enhance production numbers. These safety violations raise somber ethical concerns which should be addressed by supply management personnel under existing contract language with such suppliers or when analyzing potential suppliers.
Sample Test Question: Task 1-D-3
Which of the following is NOT a purpose of the Occupational Safety and Heath Act (OSHA):
A) Provide rules for conducting investigations of accidents
B) Implement record keeping requirements
C) Require research on safety-in-the-workplace issues
D) Ensure supply management includes "compliance with law" clauses in contracts with suppliers
2 comments:
The answer is D) as it is not the purpose of the OSHA.
Even if Supply management professional do not include "compliance with the law" clauses in their contract, suppliers (and supply management organization)by default, comes under the ambit of OSHA.
Satyam,
You are correct, the answer is D). Ensuring that supply chain personnel include OSHA and legal compliance clauses in their contracts is not a purpose of the act.
However, as supply chain management we are wise to ensure that the suppliers with whom we work, are in compliance with all laws and regulations including, but not limited to OSHA. Contract clauses to this effect are one way to protect the safety and compliance of the supply chain.
Debbie
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