Second Memorable Experience: A Surprising Turn of Events – 6/30/25

Safety E-Quick Tip

OWYN Safety Management Platform

Second Memorable Experience: A Surprising Turn of Events

As a safety consultant, I’ve had three memorable experiences that left me nearly speechless—hard to believe for those who know me! The first was with a company I represented during an OSHA inspection following a serious accident. They had a history of reportable incidents but were shocked to learn that their negligence would lead to citations and penalties. After a year of reduced accidents and improved compliance, they shockingly declared they no longer needed a safety program, leaving us speechless and questioning their commitment to safety.

This leads me to my second most memorable safety experience—one that was equally surprising and impactful.

A client reached out to me after one of their employees went home that morning with a serious stomachache. The area where the employee was working had water seeping in, littered with garbage and rat feces, and he may have been exposed to this contaminated water while on the job.

Previously, the client had reported the issue to the authority responsible for the work and were told there were no problems with the water. Garbage and rat feces, but no problem.

However, after the employee’s visit to the doctor, the client became concerned and decided to stop work in the area until they could confirm whether exposure to the water was safe or if it could be removed.

They called in a company to test and address the issue, but when the authority realized the work had stopped, they were furious. They demanded to know who authorized the stoppage and insisted that work continue while the issue was being investigated. The contractor who contacted me refused to comply, and a heated confrontation ensued.

Ultimately, the contaminated water was cleaned up, and work resumed.

What made this experience particularly memorable was the fact that if anyone had an accident on this project, the authority in charge would halt work, require the responsible company to complete Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and other paperwork detailing how the incident could have been prevented, and discuss potential removal from the project, as well as the possibility of being barred from bidding on future jobs.

This was the same authority that initially challenged my client when they first reported the contaminated water and, after possible exposure to one of their employees, stopped work until the safety issue was resolved.

I found myself speechless when I realized that the authority was more concerned about their public image regarding safety on their projects than the actual safety of the workers.

You might be wondering why I refer to them as “the authority.” Well, they were a government agency overseeing the work, not an owner or general contractor.

Although it was never determined if the individual who went to the doctor was exposed to anything on the job, it was gratifying to see my client stand their ground and address the issue before allowing anyone else to work in the area.

Stay tuned for next week’s E-QuickTip, where I’ll share my third and final memorable experience!

Employee QuickTip

Always report any unsafe conditions or health concerns immediately to your supervisor to ensure a safe work environment for everyone.

Employer/Management QuickTip

Prioritize employee safety by addressing reported concerns promptly and fostering a culture of open communication about safety issues.

Have you received your first Safety E-QuickTip and would like to check out some QuickTips from the past? Check out our Safety E-QuickTips Archive Page on our website.

If you know of someone or a company that might benefit from receiving Safety E-QuickTips, please take a moment to share this with them so they can sign-up today.

Stay Safe – You’ve Got This!

Your OWYN Safety Solution Team

OWYNsafety.com – Your All-In-One Safety Solution