| A recent crane collapse in a shipyard killed one | | | | A judge ordered the business to pay the five |
| person and seriously injured another, prompted | | | | employees $50,000 each for noise-induced hearing |
| the ship-building company to indefinitely suspended | | | | loss, a total of $250,000. And the company may |
| manufacturing vessels as officials consider how to | | | | have to pay out more for hearing loss, as the |
| move forward with repairs. Workers have been | | | | court has yet to rule on the claims of 35 other |
| laid off because work cannot proceed. | | | | former employees which would amount to $2 |
| Just stop and think what this would cost your | | | | million if they all were ordered to receive $50,000. |
| business if something like that happened to your | | | | The judge said the business had violated its duty |
| people. | | | | to its employees by failing to provide: |
| This happened in the USA but the legislation and | | | | a safe place to work free from excessive |
| work practices are similar around the world as is | | | | noise |
| human nature. | | | | an effective hearing conservation program |
| I have certainly needed to deal with crane | | | | regular and periodic hearing tests, and |
| collapses, misuse and injuries in some of the | | | | warnings of the dangers associated with |
| businesses I have worked with. | | | | long-term chronic occupational noise exposure. |
| One of the things I saw over and again is that | | | | And the court noted that the company had |
| young guys love to operate a crane or a forklift | | | | decided not to spend $110,000 for noise control |
| and of course they are supremely confident in | | | | equipment during a $35 million plant expansion in |
| their ability to do so. Unfortunately their skill and | | | | the late 1970s. |
| experience do not match their confidence in many | | | | The message is that "she WON'T be right mate!" |
| cases. Even when they have passed their "ticket" | | | | If you employ or manage people in any industry |
| I have seen a guy seriously injured by forgetting | | | | how can you prevent accidents and deaths? And |
| to refer to the lift tables in the cab and try to lift | | | | can you do this so that you don't add huge |
| a heavy load sideways at full extension. Result - | | | | overheads to your business? |
| one toppled crane, a couple of hundred thousand | | | | Could your next mobile call be to come and sort |
| dollars damage and a panicked young man who | | | | out the mess because you have the body of |
| had also forgotten his seatbelt, thrown about then | | | | someone's precious 17 year old son, or someone's |
| opening the door and jumping with totally | | | | father and husband on your workplace? |
| unnecessary severe injuries. The ego was also | | | | Or the ambulance is tending to a young lad with a |
| dented. | | | | compound fracture to his leg that may never |
| The questions you need to ask is are they | | | | recover completely. |
| qualified and also are they supervised? Do you | | | | This is not being dramatic. It happens. Can you |
| have copies of their qualifications and have you | | | | imagine the repercussions? It is not only the |
| checked their competency and kept good records | | | | shock and hurt at the time but the legal and |
| of this? | | | | financial fallout goes on for years. It may result in |
| Another example that could so easily happen | | | | you going to jail and/or losing your house to pay |
| anywhere is a hearing loss case that cost a | | | | the damages. |
| company $250,000 | | | | |