Tip 52 - Raise the bar in '08

If you always do what you've always done...you'll always get what you've always got!
Ghandi says, "you must be the change you wish to see in the world."
The mining fatality count y-t-d is 63 (31 Metal/Non-metal and 32 Coal). Let's hope those numbers don't climb any higher. I find these numbers disturbing and you should too! What happened, why have we plateaued? We have made little or no progress over the last five years.

Let's Review
1907 was the worst year ever for coal mining in the U.S. with 3,242 deaths. That year, America's worst mine explosion ever killed 358 people near Monongah, WV. Total deaths in all types of U.S. mining, which had averaged 1,500 or more during earlier decades, decreased on average during the 1990's.
The metal and nonmetal mining death rate per 200,000 employee hours averaged .02 for the 1995-99 period, compared to average yearly rates about seven times higher in the 1930s and three times as high in the 1950s. The year 2004 was the safest year in modern mining history, with a total of 55 coal and metal and nonmetal mining fatalities. There were 57 mining fatalities in 2005.
There was an all-time low 22 coal mining fatalities in 2005 and the all-time low for metal/nonmetal mining was 26 in 2003. There were 35 metal/nonmetal mining fatalities in 2005. In 2006 there were 26 fatalities in metal/non-metal and 47 more in coal.

Its time to 'Raise the bar!' If we truly want things to change we have to do more than hope, and it is time we raise the bar. We can all do a better job when it comes to safety and it starts with each of us. Supervisors, managers and lead men must 'walk the walk' we have to lead by example or nothing will ever change. Union officers and safety committee members can also make a huge impact. These individuals must 'help carry the safety torch!' Others are watching and waiting for your leadership. Every employee on site should be focused on getting their job done without getting themselves hurt. We must also focus on our co-workers and keeping them safe (anybody can have an off day -- don't you want the back up?).

Production IS Important! Yes, production is important -- without it we would all be looking for work, but at what cost? We should all be focused on SAFE PRODUCTION! Cutting corners is not an option just because a piece of equipment is down...if fact that is when we should really be focused on safety. Serious injuries most often occur during non-routine tasks. The four critical states are Fatigue, Frustration, Rushing and Complaceny all of which can be a factor during an unplanned outage. Let's remember that...Safety Always!!! Because nobody should have to die earning a living.

Let's make the committment to reduce accidents, injuries, and citations in the New Year! WE can do better...it really is up to you!