Michael Perron

The paper explores the supply chain for battery storage systems as well as other key materials associated with clean energy including solar, wind and nuclear.

If downsizing is inevitable, do it right — or risk huge liability nightmares

A number of incidents including observations that underline the dangers of “starving” a safety program are discussed. While accurate data on the impact of substantial staff reductions remains scarce, many people in industry fear that excessive cutbacks could create conditions leading to a catastrophic accident. Guidelines are provided to assist management in evaluating manpower needs for successful management systems for Process Safety Management (PSM).

Downsizing, Reengineering, outsourcing, restructuring ....call it what you like, however the bottom line is that there now are less people doing more work. Downsizing has many potentially unwanted side effects including a potentially riskier workplace. When senior management look for ways to reduce costs, the first consideration for cutbacks are typically departments that do not directly generate income. On the balance sheet, safety departments appear as overhead expenses with no direct or… Show more

Downsizing, Reengineering, outsourcing, restructuring ....call it what you like, however the bottom line is that there now are less people doing more work. Downsizing has many potentially unwanted side effects including a potentially riskier workplace. When senior management look for ways to reduce costs, the first consideration for cutbacks are typically departments that do not directly generate income. On the balance sheet, safety departments appear as overhead expenses with no direct or easily measurable "revenue" benefit. Consequently, plant safety and loss control programs are frequently targets for cutbacks. The company decides that a certain number of jobs will be cut by a specified date to reduce payroll. Some jobs "saved" are those considered important for revenue generation, while others might be saved on political grounds. Upper management is typically unaware that cuts to safety programs may not ultimately be cost effective, as losses could result which greatly exceed the cost of a few employees' salaries. In addition, such losses could have other detrimental effects to the company. Such losses may easily jeopardize the future of the company as studies have shown that many companies that suffer a large fire loss never recover lost market share! If the likelihood of such losses increases as companies reduce staff, companies should take this into consideration when choosing where (and how deep) to lay their axe. It is our job, and the job of safety professionals, to educate upper management on the importance and value of safety personnel, and implementation of established safety programs. Show less