Critical Thinking Project A

Critical Thinking Project
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Introduction
Workplace injuries are common, especially with companies involved in construction. Construction requires the use of human resources to achieve the desired project objectives. However, a company needs to provide a safe and healthy working environment as required by the Occupational Safety and Health(OSH) Act. The accident that occurred in the Truss Construction Shop seems to have angered the company’s employees resulting in one of them leaking the details of what happened to the media. He was fired as a result of this behavior. The employees had sought clarification from the company regarding as to whether the manufacturing processes could be flawed and whether there was a likelihood of trusses failing under a load. The occupational safety and health administration have been informed about this accident. The accident can be damaging to this company’s reputation. An analysis of the accident needs to be done to determine the cause of the accident and solutions to the problem to prevent the occurrence of such issues in the future.
Explanation of the Issue
A hoist operator was severely injured on his head when a truss broke and hit him when he was testing the truss. The employee is in a coma and still in hospital two weeks after the accident. The company’s employees are concerned about their safety as well as the effectiveness of the hoist machinery. These engineering employees have raised questions regarding the trusses as to whether they are of quality or whether they could fail under load (Liebsch, & Liebsch, 2009, p.

59). However, the management is more concerned about increasing production and sales and is, therefore, encouraging employees to proceed with the schedule and meet all the orders for the trusses. An employee who leaked the story to the press has been fired by the company which seems to be an act of retaliation.
Analysis of the Information
The company seems to have a challenge in protecting its employees from harm. Even after one of its employees have been severely injured, the company has not done anything to address the issue. Other employees are still exposed to the same danger, and there is a high probability that another accident will occur. The company lacks a safety and health program and is less concerned about the welfare of its staff. The chief priority of this company is to increase sales and production overseas. Due to the recent accident, the company’s employees are afraid of the machinery they are using since it does not guarantee them safety. According to Lingard & Rowlinson (2005), Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act is likely to investigate the accident, and lack of compliance with the law is expected to be the outcome (p.45). This situation could affect the company’s sales and productivity due to the damaged reputation. It is crucial for the company to pay attention to the employees’ welfare to avoid legal and ethical issues which could impact the company’s performance.
Consideration of Alternative Viewpoints and Conclusions
Various alternative viewpoints are available, and they should be analyzed. There is need to consider the various perspectives of everyone who was at the scene when the accident occurred. The shop manager is supposed to tell his story of what happened during that time. The major concerns are whether there were safety measures that were in place to ensure that the OSHA safety measures were followed as required by the law (Liebsch & Liebsch, 2009, p.123). The shopkeeper will also respond to the question whether he was concerned enough to review the safety of the people at the workplace and the bystanders. It is the responsibility of the shop owner to ensure that these safety measures are in place to be used in such situations. The shop owner should not solely depend on the foreman to report on the status of the safety equipment. The shop owner is expected to inspect that equipment before the work starts.
The foreman is also expected to air his viewpoint regarding the whole situation. The foreman is supposed to keep an eye on everyone who is on the ground. The safety concerns should be reported to the foremen. The areas that the foremen supervise should have safety materials in place to be used when accidents occur (Mohamed, 2002, p.67). The company does not appear to be accountable for all the safety measures that are required at a place like that where people are prone to getting involved in such accidents. The company and the management seem to be concerned with the production alone. The perspective of the employees around the area where the accident occurred need be considered. Their insights and their viewpoint on what happened are essential in this situation (Liebsch & Liebsch, 2009, p.145).
Conclusions and Recommendations
Many viewpoints exist when dealing with the accidents that have occurred in the place of work. All individuals operating in the region where the accidents occurred have a story to tell. I would recommend that the administrative wing of the firm ensures that there are adequate materials and training that will guarantee the safety of the employees. Further, there should be safety measures and drills that will ensure that everyone is safe at the place of work. Health and safety guidelines should also be in place to protect the employees at the workplace.
References
Liebsch, B., & Liebsch, J. (2009). It’s a disaster! … and what are you gonna do about it?: A disaster preparedness, prevention&basic first aid manual. Tucson, AZ: Fedhealth.
Lingard, H., & Rowlinson, S. M. (2005). Occupational health and safety in construction project management. Taylor & Francis.
Mohamed, S. (2002). Safety climate in construction site environments. Journal of construction engineering and management, 128(5), 375-384.