Machka
05-06-05, 06:49 PM
I'm just curious how many employers you have encountered that take safety at work, and also at home, seriously.
Safety has never seemed like a big concern in any of the places I worked previously. There were certain things encouraged, such as requiring us to wear safety glasses, work boots, and hearing protection when we went into the shop, but there were no extensive programs or policies put into place.
The place where I am employed now, however, has a VERY strong emphasis on safety. I have attended numerous sessions on various aspects of safety generally in the industry where I now work, specifically on the job, and also at home. The series of sessions I am now attending are called SafeStart:
http://www.safestart-safetrack.com/general.htm
http://www.safestart-home.com/
Have you ever gone through this program or one like it?
In conjunction with all of this, we receive informational bulletins and newsletters quite regularly. I have been pleased to see that the subject of bicycles and cyclists have appeared in some of those ... encouraging both drivers and cyclists to be more aware and careful. There was even a bulletin issued for cyclists providing us with a list of things to check on our bicycles to ensure they are as safe as possible, and a list of things we, cyclists, can do to make ourselves safer (such as wearing helmets and reflective gear, signaling our intentions, etc.) It was all fairly basic, but nevertheless it was nice to see.
One of the reasons the issue of bicycles comes up in the publications here is because they are used on site. The plant where I work is on a site the size of a small town (it has numbered roads and is divided up into blocks like a town), so bicycles have been provided outside many of the buildings and are used to travel from one building to another. I haven't had a close look at these bicycles, but they look like old coaster bikes to me. Cool!
Another reason why the company is concerned about cyclists is because a number of us commute by bicycle. There are several in my building and I've seen a number of other commuting cyclists going to and from some of the other buildings. The company seem quite supportive of the cycling commuters - even allowing us to store our bicycles inside the building! I often have people cheering me on when I arrive at work on my bicycle ... that's a very strange feeling!! And just about every day, I am asked if I have ridden my bicycle, or when I'm planning to ride next.
I came from a place where it was open season on cyclists - honking, yelling, throwing stuff, and worse; and where I frequently overheard non-cyclists (including my coworkers and people who knew me) making derogatory comments about cycling and cyclists. This attitude of acceptance where I live and work now is a very pleasant surprise.
Safety has never seemed like a big concern in any of the places I worked previously. There were certain things encouraged, such as requiring us to wear safety glasses, work boots, and hearing protection when we went into the shop, but there were no extensive programs or policies put into place.
The place where I am employed now, however, has a VERY strong emphasis on safety. I have attended numerous sessions on various aspects of safety generally in the industry where I now work, specifically on the job, and also at home. The series of sessions I am now attending are called SafeStart:
http://www.safestart-safetrack.com/general.htm
http://www.safestart-home.com/
Have you ever gone through this program or one like it?
In conjunction with all of this, we receive informational bulletins and newsletters quite regularly. I have been pleased to see that the subject of bicycles and cyclists have appeared in some of those ... encouraging both drivers and cyclists to be more aware and careful. There was even a bulletin issued for cyclists providing us with a list of things to check on our bicycles to ensure they are as safe as possible, and a list of things we, cyclists, can do to make ourselves safer (such as wearing helmets and reflective gear, signaling our intentions, etc.) It was all fairly basic, but nevertheless it was nice to see.
One of the reasons the issue of bicycles comes up in the publications here is because they are used on site. The plant where I work is on a site the size of a small town (it has numbered roads and is divided up into blocks like a town), so bicycles have been provided outside many of the buildings and are used to travel from one building to another. I haven't had a close look at these bicycles, but they look like old coaster bikes to me. Cool!
Another reason why the company is concerned about cyclists is because a number of us commute by bicycle. There are several in my building and I've seen a number of other commuting cyclists going to and from some of the other buildings. The company seem quite supportive of the cycling commuters - even allowing us to store our bicycles inside the building! I often have people cheering me on when I arrive at work on my bicycle ... that's a very strange feeling!! And just about every day, I am asked if I have ridden my bicycle, or when I'm planning to ride next.
I came from a place where it was open season on cyclists - honking, yelling, throwing stuff, and worse; and where I frequently overheard non-cyclists (including my coworkers and people who knew me) making derogatory comments about cycling and cyclists. This attitude of acceptance where I live and work now is a very pleasant surprise.