This is NOT a political post, nor is it a post about the pandemic. It is a simple reminder for the experienced safety pro or a mentoring moment for the younger safety pro…
We will all walk in Dr. Fauci’s shows one day!
What do I mean by this statement?
I have had far too many discussions with safety friends who just rail on Dr. Fauci and the topic of “science” is always worked into the discussion. When people who have 1/1,000,000 the knowledge of communicable diseases as to that of Dr. Fauci, pick and choose the facts they wish to put forth in their debate about how this pandemic has been managed; just remember this little tidbit when a manager who can not even state the “hierarchy of controls” wants to argue with you about a well known and established workplace hazard. You know the science-based argument of “we have been doing that job for XX years and no one has even gotten a splinter”. So be prepared, as We will all walk in Dr. Fauci’s shoes one day.
Or how about this one… employees were provided the cheapest form of hearing protection in January, based on the noise levels in the work area in January. The business has since added XXX which caused the noise levels to increase by 25%. Still, management will not utilize engineering controls to reduce the exposure – they like the cheap hearing protection. But now the noise levels are such that those cheap HPs with a measly NRR of 17 are no longer acceptable, even using OSHA’s PEL, and thus we have to change to a HP with a higher NPP, which will costs more. Just wait for it… “You mean we have to change HP’s, just months ago you said these will work and now your claiming they don’t work… there is never any pleasing you safety people”. Just imagine that, when the exposure changes our protection methods change!
So just be remember, We will all walk in Dr. Fauci’s shows one day!