Don't let people tell you that this state is lax about worker safety - that's the newest smack talk online. (Post: insurance, homes)

[KathrynAragon]

There's a lot of smack talk online (and worldwide I might add) stating that the reason for the West explosion is because of Texas' attitudes toward workplace safety and regulation - like it's a Rick Perry free for all here and we're putting the safety of the "little people" at a lower priority than big business.

I'd like to share with my fellow Texans this little interesting tidbit, if you run across this viewpoint. Texas workplace accidents, illnesses, and injuries are dropping every year and have been consistently BELOW the national average for at least the last ten years.


Nonfatal Occupational Injury and Illness Data, and Information


Next time you hear someone bashing Texas workplace laws and safety record, you can pull this information out and give them a shot of reality.

[gymrat]

I can speak for our industry that we are so heavily inspected and regulated it is not even funny.
We are licensed and inspected regularly by:
FDA
Texas Health Dept
Railroad Commission (husband just recently had to take his class to renew his license)
Homeland Security
Insurance inspections
OSHA
Local Fire Department

It is NOT lax at all. Trust me, they will throw the book at you if they so much as find where you did not dot one "i" on the paper showing your daily inspections or paperwork.

[Spade]

The fact that you have to make this thread and remind people of this informationn at this point in time speaks volume. Human lives were lost, people lost their homes, and other people are extremely injured, and all people can do is bring out a political agenda. Discuss that later. Right now, there needs to be a focus on the actual citizens of the people in this community. This isn't to you Kathryn because I know you meant well. But the Huffington Post commenters are extremely childish and thoughtless.

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by Spade

The fact that you have to make this thread and remind people of this informationn at this point in time speaks volume. Human lives were lost, people lost their homes, and other people are extremely injured, and all people can do is bring out a political agenda. Discuss that later. Right now, there needs to be a focus on the actual citizens of the people in this community. This isn't to you Kathryn because I know you meant well. But the Huffington Post commenters are extremely childish and thoughtless.

You are right. It was the HuffPost and BBC comments online that made me look up this information and why I decided to post it.

Absolutely disgusting commentary all over the place.

[Spade]

BBC too? Ridiculous

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Reading comments on the internet helps me realize how bad people really are.

I will say that I am somewhat disgusted by the fact that our politicians held up aid for Hurricane Sandy victims and now we need help. As Americans, we should all help each other when disaster hits. Im hoping that we all learn a lesson from the events of the last week and year.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Has Obama commented on this disaster yet? I've not seen anything.

[gymrat]

Yes, I did hear he says he can send federal aid.

[War Beagle]

Originally Posted by gymrat

I can speak for our industry that we are so heavily inspected and regulated it is not even funny.
We are licensed and inspected regularly by:
FDA
Texas Health Dept
Railroad Commission (husband just recently had to take his class to renew his license)
Homeland Security
Insurance inspections
OSHA
Local Fire Department

It is NOT lax at all. Trust me, they will throw the book at you if they so much as find where you did not dot one "i" on the paper showing your daily inspections or paperwork.

Good post. The fact is that Texas is not as conservative or laissez-faire as the liberal stereotypes of it would suggest. Not to mention the fact that there are federal workplace safety standards that the states have no control over (many of which you listed).

[JaqueCosto]

outside Huff Post weirdo commentators (which is to be expected) don't know anyone important or relevant making this into a political issue, not yet anyways.