Students Weigh In on Who They Think Should Be Responsible for Workplace Safety
In our recent Gerber & Holder 2019 Scholarship Essay Contest, we asked high school and college students from all over to write about who they think should be responsible for the safety of a worker.
We were blown away with the responses. Over 70 students from over 40 colleges and universities submitted essays, leaving us with the difficult challenge of having to select just one winner of the $1,000 scholarship prize.
While unfortunately we weren’t able to award more students a scholarship, we’d like to honor the many thoughtful, persuasive and well-written essays we received by sharing them right here on our blog.
Thanks again to everyone who participated!
Essay question: With all of the dangerous jobs performed by individuals in society today—jobs such as loggers, linemen and construction—who do you think should be responsible for these workers’ safety? To whom does the responsibility fall for that worker’s life?
Sheena Stokes, University Phoenix (Scholarship Winner):
“It is true that the responsibility first lies with the company to keep their workers safe. However, it is also up to the employees to keep themselves alert as well. It is up to everyone — the government, the company, and the employees — to assist in keeping the work environment safe no matter the profession.”
Natasha Zarvas, Morgan State University:
“As a grown up, people often know what they are getting themselves into ahead of time. Construction workers understand the risk of their job—dealing with heavy equipment, going on top of buildings, etc.—as well as linemen and loggers. Unless these individuals are doing something for the city they reside in and are being covered by the government, these individuals should be responsible for themselves… It is their job to hold liability for themselves and make sure that they are insured for their safety.”
Kelsie Fernandes, St. Petersburg College:
“I believe it is vital for companies to take responsibility not only for profits and booming business but also for the human beings that make success possible for them. You wouldn’t get on a plane willingly if you knew it did not receive its scheduled maintenance, so why does it seem to be that no questions of safety are presented before gaining employment with large companies/corporations?”
Kate Mitchell, Kennesaw State University:
“Who is responsible for a firefighter’s safety when they walk into a burning building? The fire department, the house’s construction company, or the fireman himself?… Since performing the job is their choice, it does not seem reasonable to place the weight of responsibility on a company for that worker’s life… at the end of the day, the worker’s acknowledgment and calculated actions are their responsibility. If you walk into a fire, you may get burned.”
Johnna Ueltschi, University of Central Florida:
“If the employer hires or promotes someone to be a supervisor and they do not take the safety of the workers seriously, then it is ultimately the fault of the employer if a worker gets injured or killed on the job by something that could have been prevented, had the supervisor been doing their job… it is crucial that the safety of workers is the number one priority above all else. Employers and direct supervisors hold the responsibility of keeping workers safe at all costs, and ultimately are responsible for the workers’ lives.”
Abena Amoako-Ababio, Johns Hopkins University:
“Call me crazy, but if you’ve been educated on how to use equipment properly, it should ultimately be that individual’s responsibility to ensure their own safety… Of course they’ll be receiving workers compensation from their employer: their safety will inevitably always be their employer’s responsibility, but if they don’t follow the guidelines that were made for them, they should be responsible for that.”
Shelby LeSueur, Northern Arizona University:
“My dad’s been pretty lucky not to have run into any serious trouble in his twenty years as a plumber. He’s come home with some pretty bad burns, deep cuts, and even a banged up head once from a falling pipe. But what if something more were to happen? What if he or one of his employees were to get into an accident, fall into one of those deep trenches, or worse? Who would be responsible for it? Truth is, my dad would be. Because he’s the owner the responsibility falls back on him… It’s his responsibility as the employer and the owner to make sure that his guys are safe and insured if anything were to happen to them.”
Jamay Sidberry, Appalachian State University:
From what I have learned, workers are responsible for themselves and if a mistake is made that leads to injury then they were the cause, though there is also the undeniable legal responsibility of employers to provide a safe workspace… This is something that is hard for me to admit because my own father is someone who works a very labor intensive and potentially dangerous job. He has worked as a mover for over 20 years and even today measures are being taken by his employer to make his job safer. Just recently, it was made a requirement for workers to keep a device in their truck that monitors how long they drive and requires them to get sleep so that they are not falling asleep while they are driving… As he gets older, I grow more appreciative of the measures put in place to keep the workers safe and I do think that it is now the responsibility of the movers to keep themselves safe.”
Nicole Greener, Mohave Community College:
“…the responsibility of the workers’ safety and life is a group effort of the worker, the company for whom the worker is employed, and the entity or individual that is requiring the work to be completed… These people deserve to have their safety and lives considered a top priority. The sooner everyone realizes that this will take everyone working as a team, the less those workers will have to worry about how they are going to take care of themselves or their families.”
Riley Smelkinson, Northern Arizona University:
“It is the responsibility of the company to ensure the worker’s lives are always safe. Without recognizing that safety should be their number one concern, companies will face lawsuits and possibly face having to shut down if people do not feel safe and if accidents occur. Every single dangerous job in our society today must have ways to regulate safety to provide workers with a sense of security.”
Danish Trivedi, DePaul University:
“When a worker signs up to work for the company, it is the company’s responsibility to make the worker understand all the dangerous tasks involved in the job. Since the worker is putting his safety on the line to create a profit for the company, the company should also be willing to bear the costs of protecting the worker as well. Just as it is the company’s responsibility to provide protection equipment and other tools for carrying out their jobs, it should also be incumbent upon them to take responsibility for an injured or dead worker.”
Anneke Craig, Mount Holyoke College:
“Workplace safety cannot be implemented by an individual actor or sector; rather, ensuring the workers’ safety requires the cultivation of a sense of responsibility for workers’ lives and livelihoods which derives from relationships that prioritize safety and integrity. Safety-oriented partnerships amid individuals, employers, and the state are the key to meeting our responsibilities for the lives and safety of our workers… The communal value of safety and integrity applies to psychosocial wellbeing as well as physical. Workplaces can foster patterns of bad social behavior. For example, sexual assault is common in dangerous occupations, including military services, and can make those occupations even more dangerous.”
Moises Ceja, Northern Arizona University:
“The responsibility has to go the companies rather than the workers because these companies can take safety measures to insure minimum to no injury or future injury to the workers. Safety can be as simple as providing your workers with masks to reduce the number of toxic particles they are inhaling, which will decrease the possibility of the individual having a lung problem. Even providing ear plugs can help by not damaging the auditory system of the workers.”
Shelby Kittie, University of Nebraska-Lincoln:
“I think that multiple levels can be identified instead of just one person or entity being responsible. Although a business or employing group should be responsible for accident compensation, they are not the first level of responsibility… The first level of responsibility would be personal responsibility. The worker should be able to distinguish what is healthy and what activities might be harmful to their health. They should be comfortable enough to express concern if their or other’s situations are deemed as unsafe. Workers are also responsible to wear protective equipment that is necessary for the job at hand.”
Kellie Head, Texas A&M University:
“There is a clear flow of involvement throughout the construction process, littered with a trail of contracts. These contracts outline the responsibilities and liabilities of each party, and this is what ends up determining fault in cases of health or safety risks and accidents. It is important to determine what contracted line-item was violated to determine fault so the correct party can be held responsible. Therefore, there is no one singular unit that accepts all responsibility, universally, across multiple professions.”
Melissa Lombardo, San Diego State University:
“Personally, I believe that the company and the workers are both responsible for the workers’ safety concerning the jobs such as loggers, lineman and construction. The company is responsible for providing the safest work environment possible for the workers within their company… However, the workers are also responsible for their own lives and safety while on the job.”
Stanley Jean-Poix, Southern New Hampshire University:
“…I put the burden on the government, specifically the senators and the house representatives for having the responsibility of making laws… There should be a list of laws for any workplace where a human’s life is endangered, and these companies should have to follow the laws. If they break them, they should be prosecuted.”
Danielle Briegel, Southern New Hampshire University:
“I don’t believe this question has a “black and white” answer. The employer is responsible for making sure things are working properly and ensuring the proper protocol is followed. The employee is responsible for following the protocol. If something unfortunate does happen, there are things that need to be investigated. Some of the things that need to be investigated are if the proper training was provided, the proper safety equipment was provided, if the protocols were followed and safety equipment were used and if the employee was under the influence of anything at the time of accident.”
Sarah Burgess, Southern New Hampshire University:
“I believe that the companies have a responsibility to the lives and wellbeing of their workers. While companies have insurance because of incidents that occur on job sites due to workers’ compensation, insurance should also be readily provided to their workers as well.”
Mathias Rekowski, Marquette University:
“Everyone—the workers themselves, the employers, the insurance companies, our representatives, and everyone else—relies on the necessary and dangerous work done by these individuals, so not only is it practical that we should hold ourselves accountable for their safety, it is an ethical obligation. We should each do our best to honor our social responsibility toward these workers’ safety, for by doing so, we honor us all.”
Deirdre Peterson, Southern New Hampshire University:
“Responsibility is with the owner(s) of a company… Worker safety does fall to the management and those in charge of the company. If poor management is at fault, it behooves the owner to pay up. There is no excuse for poor management with training availability.”
Kim Forrest, University of California-Berkeley:
“The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created a federal agency enforcing a universal standard of safety. With this legislation, people come into work expecting basic standards of safety to be met. This is obviously reasonable because employers are bound by law to keep up with these standards. If the standard is violated and an employee is injured, employers are legally responsible. In addition to the legal obligation, employers also have a moral obligation in ensuring worker safety. People’s health directly correlate with their quality of life. By violating safety standards and fostering an environment which endangers workers, employers infringe on their employees’ livelihoods. It is the employer who should carry the burden of preserving worker’s health, not the workers themselves.”
Nikki Newball, University of Central Florida:
“…the question of who is responsible in a court of law must be decided on a case by case basis. Each party must uphold their end of the contract as to whom is responsible for what. Clearly a person who accepts a position with risk involved must do so with full knowledge that events can take a turn for the worse. Preparation is key, however, even being prepared is sometimes not enough. The hiring organization must do everything in their power to prepare their employees for the tasks assigned, and maintenance of equipment and workplace environments.”
Mariah Johnson, Southern New Hampshire University:
“When it comes to the education, the safety, and more importantly the lives of not only the employees, but also the residents, these companies with dangerous jobs are fully responsible for properly giving this information and skills to their workers. The workers are then responsible to follow proper safety procedures.”
Sarah Schultz, Southern New Hampshire University:
“I feel it is the responsibility of the boss of the workers to make sure that his workers are in safe work environment and take safety precautions while working. The worker’s life is in the hands of the boss as well as their own… So, if anything was to happen and accident did occur while on the job, it is the boss’s responsibility for his worker’s safety—although, the worker should be taught the safety rules of his job and make sure he carries them out while on the job.”
Kevin Amaro, DePaul University:
“Due to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH act) each business has the obligation to create and enforce a safe environment for its workers… Our government should also be responsible for these workers’ safety… With all the dangerous jobs that are performed by individuals, the organizations they work for have the responsibility for their safety, and the government that they serve.”
Marcos Batista, University of Phoenix:
“I believe that lawyers are the real people who can make sure they are taken care of. Lawyers can protect the workers’ rights their insurance money and any other necessities they might need after suffering injuring or fatality. This is crucial not only to the workers but to the workers families, too.”
David Allen, Southern New Hampshire University:
“OSHA provides training classes for employers to offer their employees as well as random inspections of job sites. But unfortunately, these standards are not always followed by small contractors and business. I experienced this first hand with my father. He was a self contracted electrician. One summer he was contracted to do floodlights on a three story retirement home. The foreman decided the best and fastest way to complete the job was to use a front end lift along with a pallet to hoist my father up three stories to install the lights. The loader flipped and he fell, crushing the lower part of his leg. This left him unable to work ever again. He was forced to retire. Was the employer at fault? Absolutely, but being small contractor, a small settlement was given and he was done… With all I have witnessed, I am a strong believer that employers and companies should be held at the same high standard in training and protecting their employees while on the job site.”
Zoe Simms, Sierra Nevada College:
“…it’s my (potentially unpopular) opinion that the workers themselves are to be responsible for upholding their own safety. Being raised in a blue-collar town, I know that all of these men and women are aware that their positions pose a certain risk of bodily harm… Nobody knows the risk better than the one fighting the fires, cutting the pines, or working the lines. It is part of the job description to be prepared for the risks involved in certain blue-collar, hands-on positions.”
Joseph Strzalka-Steil, DePaul University:
“Regardless of the risk involved in any profession, responsibility for workers’ safety rests indisputably and indivisibly upon the employer. The employer provides the workplace conditions and rents out the labor of an employee, who fulfills the agreement in the aforementioned workplace. Setting aside matters of negligence – which cannot be signed away and should not be used to determine broader issues of liability – there is no world in which an employee properly fulfilling a contract ought to be held responsible for injury sustained on the job.”
Maria Hughart, West Virginia Wesleyan College:
“My best friend is a lineman. He is only 18 years old and has been employed in this occupation for about 6 months… He has a duty to take responsibility for his own safety, but I believe his employer has a greater responsibility to develop creative and effective ways to help my friend internalize safe work practices and be able to make the right choices… Linemen have a great responsibility to work safely to protect themselves and their co-workers, but I feel that the ultimate responsibility falls on the employer.”
Erin McCoy, Northern Arizona University:
“…responsibility for employees’ lives lies both with the employer and employee. The employer is liable to train the employee fully or hire already-trained workers in order to prevent accidents and they are responsible for the prevention of worker injuries. However, the employees must be aware of their surroundings, look out for each other, and be responsible in saving themselves. The employer is not responsible for the irresponsible and poor decisions made by the employee unless the employer did not train the employee properly.”
Britney Moore, California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo:
“When an accident occurs, there is not a black and white blanket statement that can be made across the board to be applicable in every situation… The responsibility for a worker’s wellbeing can fall on either the employer or on the individual depending on the situation at hand. For example, did the employer fail to provide its workers with proper safety harnesses, or did the employees choose not to use the provided safety harness properly?”
Eric Breden, Harper College:
“Both employer and employee hold responsibility for workplace safety. Employees are responsible for their own personal wellbeing, while employers are responsible for providing the safest work environment possible in order to avoid compensation costs.”
Jenna Driskill, University of Virginia:
“My great grandfather operated a small asbestos company in Michigan in the mid-1900’s. At that time, there were no laws protecting the workers and the dangers of dealing with asbestos were not known. Over 30 members of his union contracted some form of cancer—none of them made it into their 60’s… In some ways, safety is everyone’s responsibility. The general public and the employees themselves have a duty to act sensibly. For example, a worker has the duty to come to work clear-headed, to wear proper attire and safety equipment, to follow the rules, and to refrain from taking unnecessary risks. Nevertheless, the ultimate accountability for the safety of workers falls primarily on the owners of the company or organization that hires them. Workers agree to perform a service in exchange for wages and benefits, and it is reasonable to expect that they operate in a work environment that enables its employees to be successful. People should not have to worry about losing their limbs or their lives for the sake of a paycheck. The value of life far exceeds the value of a company’s stock. It is about time that corporate America puts people over profit.”
Christin Vogel, West Coast University:
“Ultimately, the person responsible for the worker’s safety is the employee. They know what they are signing up for and what is expected from them in the job they are applying for. They know their limits and should not do anything they are uncomfortable with… Companies are held responsible to a certain extent, but without a breach of contact, there is no way to prove they are at fault, or that the company should be the one taking responsibility. Companies have so many employees, they cannot watch every single person to make sure they are being safe.”
Megan Smiley, University of Central Florida:
“I believe that the organization/company that these workers work for should be responsible for the safety of these workers. The company should be fully insured, and companies that employ tradesmen to work under these conditions should be equipped with the proper insurance to protect the workers/employees… The government should enforce proper state laws that organizations/companies should follow to insure the safety of their workers.”
Mike Carty, Southern New Hampshire University:
“…you can have all of the rules in place you want. However, it is an individual responsibility of the employee to use and implement the safety procedures that are established within his or her line of work. When an employee is not following proper safety protocol it should be a shared responsibility between the co-workers and superiors to enforce the rules and regulations. All in all, it would be easy to say that the responsibility of an individual’s safety rests solely with one single entity, when actually, it is a team effort.”
Ryan Butterfield, University of Georgia:
“…in general, the employee should manage a good percentage of the risk involved in dangerous jobs through safe and considerate action, but in cases of unavoidable accidents, there are certainly some ways to share risks that benefit society and families more so than others, and they need to be considered.”
Rebecca Lee, University of Massachusetts at Amherst:
“Ultimately, while workers should try to protect themselves from harm, they cannot stay safe if
they aren’t provided with the proper gear that will secure their well-being while working. Although each individual worker should also take responsibility for themselves and act in a manner where accidents should not occur, there is still always a chance they can happen, even with the right supplies… This, the safety of workers falls upon everyone involved, but the employer should always be responsible for their workers’ safety.”
Kaylee Kuykendoll, University of Tennessee at Martin:
“Everyone has a role when it comes to creating a safe work environment. Employees, supervisors, and management should all be actively involved to create a safe work environment through planning, organizing, directing and controlling.”
Carley Astraus, Northern Arizona University:
“If a worker goes to work responsibly, ethically and compliant, but the company has not adhered to all policies, procedures, laws and rules, then that worker’s life is in the hands of the company. The company is responsible for the worker’s life because they are providing a service for the company.”
Grace Akhbari, Northern Arizona University:
“When considering whose responsibility it is to keep those with dangerous jobs safe, it must be recognized that the safety of a person is truly a joint effort between the person assigning the job and the worker themself. Loggers, linemen, and construction workers alike have a personal duty to watch out for their own safety, especially when working in such dangerous situations. However, ultimately the safety of these workers is in the hands of the employer.”
Megan Lloyd, West Virginia Wesleyan College:
“As a sister of an electromechanic, I am very concerned with my brother’s safety in his workplace. I believe that many factors go into keeping the workers safe… The truth behind who is responsible starts with the U.S. Department of Labor, which is in charge of checking safety conditions and equipment. The responsibility then falls on the boss or CEO of the company these jobs are provided by… The responsibility from there falls on the actual employee. Their job is to keep themselves safe and look out for their coworkers. Each worker is responsible for knowing how to use equipment.”
Deb Lozier, Southern New Hampshire University:
“In some cases, it can be unclear who is at fault when an employee has an accident or there is an accidental death on a work site. Since the company and the independent contractor are both responsible in some way to make sure that the work site is safe. We can agree that both parties have some liability to some extent.”
Taylor Kile, University of Detroit:
“Responsibility for the safety and protection for workers with dangerous occupations falls among different groups, but starts with the individual himself. Supervisors and industry standards can help ensure safety and protection, and avoid injury. Taking legal action if necessary for negligence may be a necessary step.”
Lauren Prader, University of North Texas:
“I believe the responsibility for the safety of a worker in a position such as a logger, lineman or construction as well as in any position, does not solely lie with just one person or entity. Several people and factors play a role in an employee’s safety… While the primary responsibility for the safety of its workers lie with the employer, an employee is accountable for their safety in many respects.”
Kyle Rock:
“It is the employer’s duty to provide the safety for their employees because they know the intricacies of their workplace and are managing the employees. Employees’ safety ultimately is the obligation of the employer because the employer runs the business and should know all aspects of their business… Because the company is benefitting from the work the employee is doing for them, the employer is required to keep the workers safe.”
Kiemon Jones, University of South Florida:
“In my opinion, I strongly believe that responsibility should fall at the feet of the workers who operate in the field everyday… Moral obligations are not fit for a business whose main objective is to make profits. Ultimately, everyone needs to exercise their due diligence.”
Selin Longmire, University of California – Berkeley:
“In the United States, the issue has long been settled: workers have the right to a safe workplace, and employers are required to provide employees with a safe workplace. Therefore, the cost of paying for workers’ safety lies with the employer.”
Jared Scrivo, Northern Arizona University:
“Many argue that employees are solely responsible for their own well-being, as they voluntarily signed up for the job and therefore should understand its possible negative implications. The problem with this statement is that workers in these environments are not provided with the resources to contend with an injury. A logger’s meager salary is not going to be able to cover the cost of steep medical bills and extended periods of time off work. The corporation, on the other hand, does have the resources readily available to cover damages and should be held responsible for the people running it… corporations should not be allowed to jeopardize people’s lives simply for extra compensation. Businesses are just as responsible for those who work for them as they are for their practice.”
Brittney Cooper, University of Central Florida:
“The employer holds a vast responsibility for ensuring the safety of the workspace and the worker… There must be a sense of transparency and cooperation between employer and co-workers to help all attain satisfactory conditions. When the conditions become substandard, a worker should speak up.”
Rajesh Mutyala, University of North Texas:
“I believe the safety of the workers who are involved in any of the many dangerous occupations in modern society is the shared responsibility of the workers themselves and the employing institution… I believe the safety of workers performing dangerous jobs is the dual responsibility of the employer providing competent and adequate training and equipment in addition to the worker being proactive about their own safety and making sure they follow any and all set guidelines.”
Kevin Garcia, George Fox University:
“One of the reason that I feel that the company shouldn’t be responsible for the worker’s life is because most companies won’t really care for them in my honest opinion. The companies will only care about the amount of productivity and money that their workers will bring to them. Safety won’t mean anything to them until it happens to a family member or if they get sued. They won’t enforce any laws, because they will see that as a waste of money. That is why I feel that the government should be in charge of the safety of a worker.”
Julianna Gesiotto, University of California, Los Angeles:
“In order to keep people as safe as possible while also protecting the employer from overburden, it makes the most sense that employers should take responsibility to provide employers with the safest possible environment including tools, protection, working hours, supervision, and education. The worker must also bear responsibility for their own actions.”
Barbara Ransom, West Chester University:
“When the employer and employee work together, hazards are minimized. When either side fails to do their part, lives are at risk. While it is the responsibility of the employer to give their employees the education, training, and protective equipment to maintain workplace safety, it is the employee’s responsibility to follow these precautions. Working as a team is critical to workplace safety.”
Danielle Kassalty, University of California, Davis:
“When comparing the cost benefit analysis of both the employer and the employee partaking in dangerous activity, it is clear that there is a disequilibrium favoring the employer at the cost of the employee. To remedy this disequilibrium, and tip the scale in favor of fairness, a solution could be holding the employer liable for these risky activities in order to mitigate the burden of high costs to the employee.”
Nida Hasan, University of Arizona:
“…these situations are rarely black and white, which is why we turn to our legal system to determine who the responsible party is… In the workplace, I believe it is fair to say that both employees and employers have a role in maintaining a safe working environment. Employers are responsible for maintaining a safe work environment and employees should be meticulous in following procedures. That being said, given the power dynamic between employees and employers, the latter group holds a greater share of responsibility for workers’ lives.”
Ben Christensen:
“When injuries happen they need to get investigated… If everything is matched up and the person did not have proper training or a system or tool malfunctioned, then the business should be held fully accountable if the worker was doing exactly as they were instructed to do. People can be held accountable for their actions to a certain point. If they were not trained properly, or told the right things to do, the worker should not be held accountable for being injured.”
Haley Heeg, Trinity Christian College:
“When asked who should be responsible for these workers, who may be putting their life on the line to serve a greater good, I have no other answer than you and I… You and I should be responsible for these workers’ safety. That worker’s life is dependent on people like you and I to be seeking justice and equality in all things; to speak up for what is fair.”
Tyra Nguyen, University of California, Los Angeles:
“Frequent maintenance checks of the equipment is crucial to workers’ health and safety. Should any of these precautions not be met, the worker—when wearing proper protection and following correct safety precautions—is not to blame; rather, the employer is responsible for the workers’ safety.”
Nkiru Chukwuelue, University of Central Florida:
“The question of employee safety is always under the responsibility of the employer. The employer holds the responsibility of ensuring that the working environment checks off the required needs to help the employee and business thrive. Although the employer is responsible for ensuring that the environment is safe, the employee is also responsible for completing any required training and keeping their physical examinations up to date.”
Molly Wolf, University of South Carolina:
“The primary individual responsible for a person’s safety is equally two separate entities: the employee and the company itself… The employer is responsible for the baseline of safety, including but not limited to: proper working conditions, up to date tools and machinery, proper disposal and labeling on hazardous materials, and adequate safety training given to people when they begin a new job. These basic standards are put in place to ensure the maximum levels of safety for the employees participating in the dangerous tasks at hand. But this responsibility does not simply fall on the company. The worker is also required to take proper precautions such as wearing protective gear, knowing when their body physically needs a break, not attempting movements that are against regulation, and remaining up to date on the latest safety measures put into place.”
Angela Sanchez-Menjivar, University of Central Florida:
“…it is the employer’s responsibility to do their best to take care of their workers. A company is as good as its employees; without employees, the company cannot function properly. Everyone who has a job is responsible for a certain task. An employee’s task is either to maximize profits for the company or to make sure that the company thrives. An employer’s task is to make sure their employees are doing their job correctly and that they are doing in a safe manner.”
Hayden Bidinger, DePaul University:
“The people who are directly responsible for workers’ safety are the people who put them there in the first place, their employers. It is a company or organisation’s duty to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of the people who are doing the hard physical labor so the company can profit… To prevent or decrease the danger that accompanies certain occupations, companies should take the time and money to hire experts to examine the job and figure out what the dangerous parts are and what can be done about them as well as put forth the resources in implementing all the measures they possibly can to ensure that no one is harmed.”
Palak Sharma, Montgomery College:
“We can’t blame the family of the workers for letting them work a dangerous job. We can’t blame a client for demanding logs or construction or a power system. We can’t sue engineers or technicians who designed the equipment. We can’t blame those incharge or construction managers for the accidents. We can’t blame the government or insurance providers. If the mishap is an accident, it would be unfair to put blame on anyone. “
Hayley Showalter, University of Nebraska-Lincoln:
“…it is clear that safety is not the responsibility of any one person, but a network of people who have to work together in order to keep work sites safe.”
Miracle Macias, Northern Arizona University:
“With such a high-risk job, the workers that agree to commit to the job should hold some accountability… However, the employed are not to be blamed for something that ultimately lies upon the employer’s shoulders. Therefore it is up to the employer, contractor and the company to ensure the safety and security of their employees… The people that employ the loggers, linemen and construction workers hold the ultimate responsibility of these people’s’ lives.”
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