The terms “unsafe” has come up a few times in the last few weeks and I’d like to take the opportunity to speak to this. When someone says they believe a situation is “unsafe and wants to shutdown the job”, I become very nervous. I’m nervous because I’m hearing (right or wrong) “you’re afraid”. I can understand the fear. You may have never seen the job before or you may not agree with the safeguards being taken. Fear is OK. However, the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires that competent people plan and organize the work as well as acquaint you with the hazards and the controls. So, my questions are, did we get the right people planning and organizing the job? Secondly, did they do their job?
