Read the case below and answer the questions at the end.
Several severe accidents have recently occurred in the 12
employee boiler room of City Foundry. James Worth, the boiler room
supervisor, is quite upset about the situation. Just yesterday, the
Foundry Plant Manager called:
Plant Manager: James, what in the world is going on down there? Are
you trying to put us out of business?
James: If I've lectured these people about safety once, I've done
it 50 times. They just don't seem to listen.
Plant Manager: Accidents cost us money for repairs, lost time, and
medical expenses, not to mention the human suffering involved. Your
department's record is awful, and something must be done about it.
Maybe you should try something new.
James: I'm not sure what it will be, but I'll come up with
something.
Plant Manager: Good. Please report back to me when you come up with
something.
James decided to discuss his problem with several other supervisors
in the foundry to see what ideas they might have. One suggestion
was that James schedule a weekly 10 minute safety talk by one of
his employees. These talks could be on such topics as "Good
Housekeeping", Using Proper Safety Guards on Equipment," "Following
Procedures," and "Health Hazards." Another suggestion was that
James review his department periodically and that any unsafe act
discovered during his review be punished by an immediate two-day
suspension for the offender. The person making this suggestion
obviously believed that what James needed was to get touch. A third
suggestion was that James talk personally to each employee about
the department's safety problems; let the employees know that he
was personally interested in each of them. A final suggestion was
that James give the employee with the best safety record for the
past four months a day off with pay.
QUESTIONS
1. Why do you think James has been having safety problems?
2. Which of the suggestions given to James would you attempt to
implement?
3. What additional ideas might you try if you were James?
Amswer:
1.James department record is good but he is not concentrating on safety problems on employees.He thinks that work has to be finished perfectly rather than concentrating about the safety of employees and measures to improve the safety
2.I would implement weekly talks on safety by employees on some topics regarding to safety.Next i would personally have a talk with every employee about the safety measures on how it should be followed and the actions that would be taken seriously for the lack of safety measures
3.If i were James i would empower the employees to suggest some ideas on safety measures and implement it with their full acceptance.I would involve all the employees in discussion and would reward the employees if they have followed the safety measures
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