Summary of the article
The article written by Robert Battles (2011) is aimed at showing how employers can approach safety problems or accidents and mitigate their impact on the functioning of the organization. In particular, the author lays stress on the development of accident prevention plan. Employees should focus on several important activities. In particular, one can speak about hazard analysis which includes identification and assessment of those factors that can increase the risk of accidents (Battles, 2011, p. 5).
For instance, one can mention the use of chemicals or operation of complex machinery (Battles, 2011, p. 5). Additionally, Robert Battles argues that employers should concentrate on training since it is crucial for the effective implementation of accident prevention plans (2011, p. 6). This scholar also notes that companies should regularly review and update these plans.
They may mention specific safety accidents, identify their causes, and show how they can be prevented in the future. Moreover, the author places emphasis on the ability of employers to mitigate the impact of safety accidents. In particular, he speaks about the need to provide effective medical assistance to an injured worker.
Additionally, they should immediately identify and eliminate the cause of a specific accident. Finally, Robert Battles discusses the way in which safety accidents can be investigated. Business administrators should remember that OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) will pay close attention to the documentation and interviews with employees (Battles, 2011). These are some of the details that should be considered.
Responses to the questions
Overall, the author’s main point is that by focusing on safety issues, entrepreneurs can reduce their operational costs. For example, a well-developed safety program can help a company reduce health care costs and avoid such pitfalls as fines or lost productivity (Battles, 2011, p. 3). In this context, one can speak mostly about the hidden costs of negligence. In many cases, they can undermine the financial performance of a business.
This is one of the issues that should be taken into account. It should be mentioned that the article is primarily intended for business owners and managers who must ensure effective functioning of businesses and eliminate potential threats to the life or health of employees. Moreover, these people should know how to interact with governmental agencies that can inspect their organizations. This is why they can be viewed as the main reading audience.
While analyzing potential hazards, managers can concentrate on several issues that are related to the cost of incidents. For instance, they should identify those factors that can increase the risk of injuries. Such injuries can eventually result in significant expenses for a company.
Furthermore, accident prevention is closely related to disruptions. Very often, a single fire can stop the work of a manufacturing company for several days. This delay can lead to considerable losses. Moreover, business administrators should remember about the possibility of damaging expensive equipment. Provided that they can eliminate potential threats, their costs can be significantly reduced. This is why this aspect of risk management should not be overlooked.
While preparing for investigations, entrepreneurs should make sure that their documentation is properly arranged. As it has been said before, an accident prevention plan must contain relevant information about safety measures taken by the company. Moreover, the management may be asked to demonstrate the equipment which is used to minimize the risk of injuries.
Additionally, employers should actively cooperate with the representatives of governmental organizations such as OSHA. Provided that managers do not comply with the demands of inspectors, these officials may come to the conclusion that something is concealed from them. This is one of the pitfalls that should be avoided.
It should be mentioned that safety investigation can lead to different outcomes. For example, fines can be imposed on employers. Moreover, they may be asked to appear in the court. In some cases, such investigations can even lead to imprisonment (Battles, 2011, p. 8).
Thus, companies may often need the assistance of legal professionals who can effectively protect their interests. In many cases, entrepreneurs may need to dispute the decision of governmental inspectors. These are some of the major outcomes that business owners should be ready for.
This article can be improved by including specific case examples which can illustrate safety prevention strategies used by various businesses representing various industries. These examples can be of great benefit to readers who want to know how the ideas expressed by the author can be related to their company.
This is one of the recommendations that can be made. Furthermore, Robert Battles might have mentioned some of the regulations that are applicable to safety accidents. Additionally, scholars pay close attention to the way in which training programs can be implemented (Goetsch, 2011, p. 217). The author discusses the importance of training, but he does not give any examples which can show that companies should approach this task. Yet, despite these limitations, this article can be used a starting point by business administrators.
Reference List
Battles, R. (2011). Safety, Accidents, and Investigations: Be Prepared for the Unexpected. Employee Relations Law Journal, 37(3), 3-10.
Goetsch, D. (2011). Occupational Safety and Health: For Technologists, Engineers, and Managers. New York, NY: Prentice Hall.