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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Joel Sacks: Honor Labor Day by thinking job safety

Joel Sacks

Ask kids what they want to be when they grow up and you’ll get answers like fireman, dancer, veterinarian and teacher. Some will actually go on to fulfill those childhood dreams, while others will follow different paths.

My first job wasn’t exactly what I had dreamed of; I was a telemarketer. I worked hard and it didn’t pay much, but I certainly learned from it.

I had some brief training on my first day and went to work. I made it through that job and many others safe and healthy. Unfortunately, not everyone does. Tens of thousands of people in our state are hurt on the job every year – some so seriously that they never work again.

Monday, Americans celebrate Labor Day. For many it’s the traditional last breath of summer. Of course, that’s not why the holiday was created more than 130 years ago.

Oregon was the first state to officially celebrate it in 1887 to recognize the contributions of workers to the strength and prosperity of our country. Seven years later, it became a national holiday.

One of the best ways to honor all workers is to make sure they’re as safe on the job as they can possibly be. Most of us can’t imagine getting seriously hurt at work, but it happens to conscientious, hardworking people every day. A sawmill employee is caught in machinery in Tacoma. A department store worker in Spokane falls from a ladder. A convenience store clerk in King County is shot during a violent incident at work.

In 2014 alone, nearly 90 people in our state died from work-related injuries and illness. More than 85,000 workers received workers’ compensation assistance from the state Department of Labor & Industries after being hurt at work or exposed to something on the job that made them sick. The workplace injury rate in our state has been steadily declining, and we have among the lowest workplace death rates in the country, yet these numbers are still too high and there’s much more we all can do.

When employers create a culture of safety, their employees are much more likely to take it seriously. Think about how safe you would want your wife, husband or adult child’s workplace to be. Then create a safety plan like that. Figure out what can hurt workers. Figure out how to prevent it, and then make sure your employees know about it. Proactively seek out safety “best practices” in your industry and put them to use at your worksite. Train your new employees and let them know that if they don’t follow the rules, they won’t have a job.

Employees, you have a major role, too. You have a right to be trained and to understand potential hazards at work. Make sure it happens. Pay attention and take it seriously. Your life may depend on it. Earlier this year, a Tri-Cities man had a serious incident at work. He was wearing a fall protection harness and it saved his life like it’s designed to do. It doesn’t work when you leave it in the trunk.

When you see a safety hazard at work, fix it if you can, and then report it. And if nothing is done about it, give the Department of Labor & Industries a call and let us know. Speaking up may prevent a serious injury to you or one of your co-workers.

Labor & Industries offers training around the state to help employers and workers improve safety on the job. It is time well spent. We also provide safety consultations to help businesses spot safety issues and deal with them before someone gets hurt.

Safety on the job is a right, and it should be an expectation. Most companies and organizations truly believe that employees are their most valuable asset. Let’s all walk the walk by doing everything we can to make sure that everyone comes home from work as safe and healthy as when they left their home that day.

That would truly be a happy Labor Day.

Joel Sacks is the director of the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.