Nancye M. Combs: Guest blogger 
Recent Posts
- Handling employee ultimatums
- Weapons in the workplace
- Keeping employees on track—and on the clock
- Maintaining a drug-free workplace
- Downsizing and discrimination
- Workplace safety
- Instant messaging in the workplace
- Three day weekends
- Questions and Answers with Nancye
Recent Comments
- Nancye Combs on Weapons in the workplace
- David Nacey on Weapons in the workplace
- wow power leveling on Keeping employees on track—and on the clock
- Nancye Combs on Keeping employees on track—and on the clock
- aa on Keeping employees on track—and on the clock
Most Commented On
- Keeping employees on track—and on the clock (4)
- Weapons in the workplace (2)
- Questions and Answers with Nancye (1)
Archives
Blog
Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (0)
Workplace safety
Q. My very best maintenance mechanic had an accident with his lawn mower over the weekend. He had surgery on his hand to repair tendons and it is heavily bandaged. He brought a doctor’s statement this morning that says he needs to be off from work for six weeks, but he is asking to go back to work because he needs the money. He is the only person I have who knows how to repair some of our equipment and I need him badly. Can I let him work even though the doctor says he should be off?
A. NO! The statement from the doctor is a directive, not a suggestion. If you allow this employee to return to work, you will subject him to further injury. As an employer, you are required to have a safe and healthy workplace. If you deliberately put the safety of an employee at risk, you may be charged with negligence. You should say to the employee, “We need you desperately and I want you to return to work as quickly as possible, but I cannot put you in a dangerous situation. Our insurance company would stroke out and OSHA would be right over if anything happens to you. We are liable for the safety of all of our employees and we can’t put you in harm’s way. When the doctor releases you, we will be eager to have you back.”
Call a local temporary service and request a temporary worker. If that does not work, call your local vocational-technical school and ask them for referrals to experienced mechanics they have trained. If neither of these resources can help, call a business colleague in your community who has mechanics and ask for a person who wants to work an extra shift or extra hours. Some craftspeople will “moonlight” for a short time.
Workplace safety
September 25, 2007
Q. My very best maintenance mechanic had an accident with his lawn mower over the weekend. He had surgery on his hand to repair tendons and it is heavily bandaged. He brought a doctor’s statement this morning that says he needs to be off from work for six weeks, but he is asking to go back to work because he needs the money. He is the only person I have who knows how to repair some of our equipment and I need him badly. Can I let him work even though the doctor says he should be off? A. NO! The statement from the doctor is a directive, not a suggestion. If you allow this employee to return to work, you will subject him to further injury. As an employer, you are required to have a safe and healthy workplace. If you deliberately put the safety of an employee at risk, you may be charged with negligence. You should say to the employee, “We need you desperately and I want you to return to work as quickly as possible, but I cannot put you in a dangerous situation. Our insurance company would stroke out and OSHA would be right over if anything happens to you. We are liable for the safety of all of our employees and we can’t put you in harm’s way. When the doctor releases you, we will be eager to have you back.”
Call a local temporary service and request a temporary worker. If that does not work, call your local vocational-technical school and ask them for referrals to experienced mechanics they have trained. If neither of these resources can help, call a business colleague in your community who has mechanics and ask for a person who wants to work an extra shift or extra hours. Some craftspeople will “moonlight” for a short time.
Posted by Nancye Combs on September 25, 2007 | Comments (0)
Advertisement
Advertisements
