So why do you do it?

Over the past number of weeks we have had an influx in a large number of new viewers. They may found our blog from our random LinkedIn postings or they may have heard about our blog from our editors who travel throughout the industry. Regardless, on how these new readers found the APSB we thought it was time to post on why we are doing this. So, here we go:

We were asked to start this blog because of our knowledge of what is actually occurring in our industry. The blogs mantra “It is not this blog's intention to place blame on neither company nor worker(s), but the hope that awareness of these accidents brings education and prevention of recurrence.” So if there is an injury or fatality we omit the company name and location as well as the worker’s

We discuss and argue constantly between ourselves about our policy of omitting the workers’ names. On one side we are concerned that by publishing their names it would reflect poorly toward the company. But, the counterargument is that the omission of the worker’s name is disrespectful to the worker’s family, friends, and coworkers. So we are at an impasse.

On our travels when we are afforded the opportunity to speak to factory floor workers we do mention the injured and deceased workers’ names. We tell our audience how one worker was engaged to be married, how another worker had planned on retiring shortly, how one worker mistake lead to his coworker’s death, etc. Each and every injured or deceased worker has a story. It is these stories that we use to reach the factory floor workers. It is our goal for them to realize that they matter. That is a simple concept but it has profound effect when you realize that you matter. No matter the position you are in. You safety matters. Not only to you, and your family, to your friends, to your coworkers. We normally end our presentation talking about this concept and end it with saying that we never want to post an incident that they are involved in on the Aluminium Plant Safety Blog.

Lastly we cannot stress enough that most of the workers’ stories are heart wrenching. On most posts we weep while we type. Our sadness that we feel pales in comparison to what the worker’s family, friends, and coworkers are going through, and will go through for the rest of their lives. It is our sincere hope that every incident that we post (and the ones we do not) are never repeated. If the tears that we shed can assist in publicizing an incident that otherwise would go unnoticed so be it.

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