The aircraft maintenance professional's source for technological advancements, maintenance alerts, news, articles, events, and careers
Issue link: http://amt.epubxp.com/i/216630
SAFETY MATTERS had observed workers in their organizations failing to wear required personal protection equipment (PPE) during the past year. Even though it is mandated by OSHA, the vast majority of workers who have experienced on-the-job injuries were not wearing PPE." Some of the reasons respondents cited for not wearing their PPE were: "uncomfortable, too hot, blamed for decreased productivity or an inability to perform tasks, unavailable near the work task, illfitting, and unattractive looking." For further insight on workplace accidents and prevention, Aircraft Maintenance Technology Magazine reached out to safety expert Randy DeVaul, senior capability development manager, Global Industrial Safety The Data Speaks In 2012 a preliminary total of 4,383 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States. This concerning news was just reported on Aug. 22 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2011, 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers. (Data for 2012 will be published in October and November of 2013). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that in 2010, a total of 4,547 U.S. workers died from occupational injuries, and each year approximately 49,000 deaths are attributed to workrelated illnesses. Comparing statistics, making inferences, and drawing conclusions is always an interesting activity. The Department of Defense reported that in the 10 years between 2001 and 2011, there have been about 6,000 U.S. combat fatalities in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. During that same period there were approximately 64,000 fatalities in our U.S. work force. Could you infer that it is safer to be an American combatant serving in a hostile environment than an American worker? The problem is more complicated than is presented by the gross data because some U.S. industries are more dangerous and some age groups are injured at higher rates than others. Therefore reviewing human factors and behavior may be a better way to comprehend this complicated and serious problem. 10 November/December 2013 for KCP. DeVaul has a doctorate in occupational safety and health, a master's degree in cross-cultural studies, is a commercial pilot ground instructor, and holds Commercial/ Instrument Pilot, Airframe & Powerplant (A&P;) mechanic, and multi-engine ratings. AMT: Randy, thank you for taking time to help us better under- Number fatal work injuries, 1992–2012* Number of of fatal work injuries,1992–2012* Number of fatal work injuries 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,217 6,331 6,632 6,000 6,238 6,275 6,055 6,054 6,202 5,915 5,920 5,000 5,575 5,764 5,734 5,840 5,657 5,214 5,534 4,690 4,693 4,551 4,000 4,383 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 The 2012 preliminary total of 4,383 fatal work injuries represents a decrease of 7 percent from the final count of 4,693 fatal work injuries reported for 2011. *Data for 2012 are preliminary. Data for prior years are revised and final. NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatal work injuries resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2013. Fatal work injury rates, by age group, 2012* Fatal work injury rates, by age group, 2012* Fatal work injury rate (per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) 12.0 9.8 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 All worker fatal work injury rate = 3.2 2.6 2.9 2.3 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 3.9 2.3 20 to 24 3.4 2.0 0.0 18 to 19 55 to 64 65 and older Age group Fatal work injury rates for workers 45 years of age and older were higher than the overall U.S. rate, and the rate for workers 65 years of age and older was more than 3 times the rate for all workers. *Data for 2012 are preliminary. NOTE: Fatal injury rates exclude workers under the age of 16 years, volunteers, and resident military. For additional information on the fatal work injury rate methodology, please see http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshnotice10.htm. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Aircraft Maintenance Technology • www.AviationPros.com • www.AMTSociety.org