Dear Editor:
After reading the RCR Wireless News article entitled, “OSHA appeals to tower owners to require safety measures in contracts,” (Dec. 4, page 20) and various articles regarding who carries liability in working situations where hazards exist, I find myself feeling a bit sick. The threat of litigation is a reality and continues to be more of one every day in every walk of life. It is a motivator. In theory, it motivates us all to avoid lying, cheating and stealing.
How sad, that our government has to motivate some companies to protect their workers by threatening them with fines and penalties or cease and desist orders and that the employees must use the threat of litigation to get their companies to make workplaces safe. What ever happened to “The Right Thing To Do?” Idealistic? Sure. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. We’re humans. We make mistakes. But we are responsible for our intent. There comes a point when ignorance is not a valid excuse.
It’s a matter of disclosure; once you know about something, you know. If you are a company involved in tower construction or lease space on a tower and you know about safety hazards, you know. If you’re making money and neglect to inform people working in the situation of workplace hazards, regardless of whom they are technically employed by, how in good conscience, do you avoid telling those people about the hazards? The good part is that once you’ve done the right thing as a company and fully informed workers of hazards, they must assume personal responsibility, and you can sleep at night knowing you did the right thing.
Aren’t we all responsible?
Tracy Crutchfield
RSI
