You know the Severe Violator Enforcement Program by OSHA, featuring over 400 of the companies cited for some of the worst violations of the OSH Act. However, one group has looked to ramp up the awareness and shame for companies who fail to protect workers. Announced on April 28, Workers’ Memorial Day, this movement is something employers would figuratively kill to be removed from, but kill to be added.
Global Worker Watch released last week an interactive map of workplace fatalities in the United States, including industry, timeline, location and company. Touted as the largest open-source data set ever released about workers killed in the United States, the map looks to put a face (and company) to fatalities.
This is a map that you do not want to be on.
With a complete 2014 and constantly updated 2015 map, Global Worker Watch has taken safety awareness further than anyone to date. We would like to share with you some of the key findings—globally, nationally, and locally.
Global Offenders
The first list featured was that of the worst offenders across the globe. Out of the 25 employers featured, 10 companies—Georgia-Pacific, Chevron, ArcelorMittal, FedEx, Bradken, Nucor, BNSF, Duke Energy, Nordstrom, and Walmart—were from the US. For more information, see GWW Worst Offender List.
2014 US Worker Fatality Map
Using collaborative data from National Council of Occupational Safety & Health (COSH), the Construction Center for Research and Training, the United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities, NENY COSH, Massachusetts COSH, and Global Worker Watch; this map only represents 1/3 of the total workplace fatalities, but includes identifiable information for anyone searching, including:
- Date of Event
- Worker Name
- Worker Age
- Industry
- Amount of Fatalities
- Name of employer
- Description
- Location
Industry Breakdown: Worker Fatalities in the US
What industry is the most dangerous? Construction. The following are the worst offending industries in the US in 2014:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing
- Transportation, Shipping, Warehousing
- Retail and Service
- Police, Firefighters, and Federal Employees
- Mining, Oil, Gas
- Utilities, Recycling, and Waste
- Education and Healthcare
For the full visualization, again only featuring 1/3 of total fatalities noted; see the US Worker Fatality Database Industry Breakdown.
Avoid Shame, Stay Off the Map: Create a Culture of Safety
Even companies that (literally) wrote the book on safety aren’t immune from unsafe operations that injure or kill workers. If you want to lower the risk of citations, injuries, deaths, fines, and public shame, you need to create a culture of safety for your organization.
Creating a culture of safety takes time, but will ultimately promote a return that includes not only safety but also productivity and profitability.
Optimum Safety Management can help you to recognize your return on safety. See how we help, sign up for our E-Newsletter featuring invaluable information on safety and equipment, and contact us for more information.
