Data and comparisons for workplace injuries

jmcscrap

jmcscrap

Participating member
Location
Woodbury, MN
So, We were just told that we need to fill out accident reports for "ALL" injuries no matter how minor, which in theory is good practice. However, this has come back to bite me and my department in the A$$. I have a 4 person crew including myself, all working 40hrs a week doing removals and pruning. Anyways - in the last month since we were asked to report everything, I have filled out 2 reports, 1 for a cut on the top of my hand from a thorn that went through my glove (a band-aid is all that was needed) and a pinched finger/knuckle from pulling the outrigger pads out of the holders that bruised a little. Neither of these required any medical attention, or even a delay in our operations (minus putting on a band-aid). I show up to work this morning and find out that our fire cheif and head of the safety commitee want to know how to fix this "rash" of injuries occurring in my department. My first reaction was "WTF, a "rash" of injuries? These wouldn't have been mentioned if I wasn't told to report everything, no matter how small". We are very safety conscience and in the 6 years I have had my crew, this is the 2nd and 3rd accident report filled out (the 1st was a broken pinky finger 4yrs ago).

My question is where can I find data to show that we have one of the most dangerous jobs, in comparison to other occupations.

I'm not on a witch hunt to vindicate myself, I am a huge believer in doing things as safe as possible. We take every precaution and wear all the PPE when working. I realize that the number of "small" injuries can lead up to bigger, more serious injury - but really, to get called out for a cut and a bruise????

Thanks for any info and letting me rant!
 
I can top that, I was at a friend's medical office a couple of minutes ago. He now has his 4-step step-ladder locked so that only he can use it. If it is not locked his entire office would be required to take a two hour ladder safety course and fill out the inspection form each time they use the form.

Is this silly or taking safety seriously? Should the doctor be required to use a ladder to get something off a shelf rather than an assistant?

I think its a bit excessive but if it keeps somebody from falling, breaking their wrist and never being able to do their job again than maybe its appropiate.

Should an arborist be required to report a poke or a scrape? What happens if there is not report and a severe infection occurs? Does insurance cover a worker who does not report?
 
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Should an arborist be required to report a poke or a scrape? What happens if there is not report and a severe infection occurs? Does insurance cover a worker who does not report?

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That's the only thing I can think of as being a reason to report cuts and scrapes is an infection 3 days later. If that's the case, OK - but really, is there a need to make a big deal over this!!!

Thanks Tom - I will have a look at their site.
 
Do you have a 'Loss Control' person on staff? How about talking with your WC carrier to get a definition of what should be reported.

What was the outcome of the chief and safety rep? Did they understand the magnitude of the 'injuries'? Is there going to be any consequences?
 
Tom, I like the idea of talking to the WC carrier and getting their perspective. The Cheif is being a dick about this for lack of a "better" word for him. He wants 0 accidents and will not settle for anything else. He is asking that I come up with 2 safety plans to avoid this type of accident again. Not too bad, but still pretty ridiculous IMO.

My plan now is to have him come out and work with us for a day to see what we do and realize that there are literally hundreds of times a day when someone could get a small cut dragging brush when we are doing buckthorn projects.

Although..... This may be my chance to get a grapple loader!! Spend a hundred grand plus so we don't have to put on a band-aid? Makes about as much sense as this whole cluster F*** I have now!
 
In highrise construction it was once considered the "norm" for there to be one death for every floor above 15 stories. The approach taken during the building of the Chrysler Building in Manhattan proved that wrong.

I'll play devil's advocate. Sometimes we are missing something because we perceive it as not significant enough to be concerning. However, after a serious accident it is often said that one could see it coming. Why because of the number of small accidents that had be happening beforehand. It just may be that the guys are becoming lax due to a lack of accidents and the emphasis on safety. Maybe its how it's being presented at tailboard meetings. While the thorn thing might just be a matter of more careful handling rather than a $100K grapple loader, this may also be an opportunity to do a cost benefit analysis for the purchase of one. As for the outrigger pad incident that may just be an indicator of haste, fatigue, hangover, lack of attentiveness.

Though he might be overzealous it's still being asked of you to draft a plan. Not a bad idea to go through the motions and see if there is something to it. Remember you're looking at it from the standpoint of your crew of 4 while he is looking at the larger picture.
 
Rob - I can certainly see the validity of the points you made. As for my plan of action to decrease the number of reports filed I have gone through the motions and completed it. What it boiled down to for me was to take the extra couple seconds to make sure that what and where you are grabbing anything (brush, outrigger pads, etc.) is free of thorns, pinch points or any other potential hazard. While we are not a "production" crew getting paid by the number of jobs we do, I still run a crew with efficiency in mind. I can't see being any less efficient (possibly more) by taking that extra 2 seconds to look for pinch points with the outrigger pads which get taken out 5-10 times a day for an extra 10-20 seconds of time.

So - do I agree with him getting worked up over this? NO. Do I understand that small mishaps can lead to bigger problems? YES. In the end I guess that it comes down to the little things, and if it gets addressed at this point, we can hope that we are not filling out a report for something much worse. A couple seconds here and there may just save us from losing a person for a day or even worse.

Thanks guys!
 
Dr. John Ball of South Dakota U, keeps comprehensive records of workplace injuries and statistics for forestry and arboriculture. He might be able to provide you with information you can use to compare your crew against.
 
with common sense like that, you better stay in government work... that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.. you "reported" a thorn poking through a glove on tree job as an injury... You're a dumbass for reporting it and even more senseless for thinking "its a GOOD IDEA in theory".

You've been running a 4 man tree crew with 1 broken finger in 4 years. That's a great safety record. WTF are they worried about? You should have told your boss to stick those reports up his arse! And if he didn't like it, tell him to get his asz up a tree the next time he wants some work done.. Grow some balls.. are you a tree man or a boy scout?

Now if you're not the confrontational type... smile in your bosses face, nod a few times in agreement, then file reports in the round container by your desk.
 
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In the end I guess that it comes down to the little things, and if it gets addressed at this point, we can hope that we are not filling out a report for something much worse. A couple seconds here and there may just save us from losing a person for a day or even worse.

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NO... there's nothing wrong with your work practices... you have a proven track record of safety.. What's more likely to happen is you get distracted by all this garbage, and make a mental error because you were thinking about bureaucratic BS instead of what you doing..
 
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In the end I guess that it comes down to the little things, and if it gets addressed at this point, we can hope that we are not filling out a report for something much worse. A couple seconds here and there may just save us from losing a person for a day or even worse.

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NO... there's nothing wrong with your work practices... you have a proven track record of safety.. What's more likely to happen is you get distracted by all this garbage, and make a mental error because you were thinking about bureaucratic BS instead of what you doing..

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How's your broken ankle? You've been doing treework for over 30 years, which is almost 3 decades according to your website, and your track record was probably spotless (knowing you). But then again, yours was a "freak" accident, NO way you could have prevented it, right?


SZ
 
Daniel, as someone else pointed out your whole career in comparison to say Davey represents just over 0.5% of their annual man-hours. This means that your freak accident is equivalent to over 186 accidents in 1 year. What was your lost time/productivity? How much would that cost in insurance premiums?

Large organizations have safety people looking at the big picture because the ramifications for them are significant.

Your frame of reference is too small, scale it up and you'll see why the attitude.

As far as getting distracted, by what? Safety? hmmmmmm..... Speaking from experience I'd have loved to have been distracted by safety, it would've saved me thousands and a life time of aggravation. Now besides the barometric abilities of my arthritic foot and wrist, I'll have a thermometer for a fingertip. Now that is certainly not going to be a distraction, eh?
 
Daniel - Not sure how to take your comments? On one hand you are calling me a dumbas$ for following the rules, and then letting me know I have a great safety record. I guess I could tell my boss to shove it up his as$ - but then I would just be an unemployed "treeguy" instead of an employed "boyscout". Oh how I would love to work on your crew and not worry about those silly little things like chaps, and when you gave me direction I could just tell you to shove it your as$ cause I'm a big bad treeguy!

My past safety record has been pointed out, and we are now discussing what in reality should be reportable vs. something that is truly a non-issue.
 
FWIW, the process of reporting it will reveal whether it is or isn't a non-issue. We all too readily assess minor accidents as incidental and not worth looking at while they are a early indicator of a more serious issue.

When we watch daredevil acts we usually aren't shown the hours upon hours of practice and designing where the little things are addressed and worked out. It's just not that exciting after all that.
 
A little common sense goes a long way..... when the fire dept shows up with sirens blazing, and the emt's are called in to treat the flesh wound from a thorn puncture, something's a bit off...

Such bureaucratic BS.. sounds like the peter principle at work...

Ya you have to learn from your mistakes, near misses, and actually ANYTHING that did not go as planned.... Its up to the leader to keep things in balance, and recognize when they are off, and take appropriate corrective measures. That's hard to do from a desk.. you have to be there with the men, seeing it first hand...
 
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