NON-UNION JOB FATALITIES 9X HIGHER THAN UNION IN NEW ENGLAND

According to statistics released by OSHA, while the number of workers killed by injuries/illnesses declined slightly in 2001, the number of non-union workers suffering fatal injury/illness was nine times greater than union workers for the year. In Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, a total of 40 workers (7 union workers and 33 non-union workers) had fatal occupational injuries/illnesses in 2000. In 2001, the number of union workers killed dropped to 4 while the non-union fatalities increased to 35 for the calendar of January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001. For the five states, workers killed in “caught between or crushed” accidents accounted for 12 deaths while “fall” and “electrical shock/burns” accounted for 9 worksite fatalities each.

From The New England Primer Vol. 9, Issue 3, June 2002

~ Our goal is to sustain zero fatalities and no lost-time injuries on all of our job sites. ~

PRP KNOWS THAT ...

• A safe workplace is a profitable workplace.
• Accidents cost. Safety saves.
• And the savings are passed on from contractor to customer.

DID YOU KNOW THAT ...

• Workers compensation claims covering medical costs and indemnity payments are only the direct cost of workplace accidents.
• There are many profit-busting, indirect, added costs including: property damage; training replacement workers; project delays; production loss; accident investigation and documentation; OSHA fines; and insurance coverage maintenance.
• Accidents translate into high insurance premiums and poor insurance ratings.
• A contractor with a higher than average experience modification rate (determined by averaging worker compensation claims over 3 of the last 4 years) pays more.
• The lower the number of claims, the lower the EMR, the lower contractor's premiums and the lower the contractor's bid on your project.

Safety and health programs are an integral part of all of our apprentice and journeyman training and upgrading programs. Call, fax, or e-mail the UA Local Union nearest you to arrange a tour of one of our New England training facilities.

Call Pete Chaney at 301-869-5800 for a copy of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America's video The Profitability of Safety, made possible through a grant from the Business Roundtable and Mechanical Contracting Foundation.