Safety Update

Safety Update: What is the Lack of a Cell Phone Policy Costing You?

Talking on cell phones and texting at work is distracting and often minimizes productivity-especially when the communication isn't work-related. It can also increase the risk of accidents. And it's not just a traffic safety issue. While most of society has caught on to the dangers of cell phones and texting while driving, these practices may be even more dangerous to workers on assembly lines, operating heavy machinery or performing other safety sensitive jobs that don't involve holding a steering wheel in their hands. And while injuries at work are never a good thing, in this economy, the costs of a workplace accident can spell ruin.

Workplace accidents related to carelessness on-the-job, cell phone use and texting are growing fast - and the results can be devastating:

• A N.B worker steps in front of a truck while talking on his cell phone and dies;
• A major Metrolink rail crash that kills 18 people is directly related to an engineer text messaging on the job;
• A truck driver slams into a completely stopped car while using his cell phone and kills a woman.

To help protect your company, your employees, and others from cell-phone related accidents SafetyComplianceInsider has released a report that discusses:

• What the hazards of cell phone usage in the workplace can be to your employees and to your company;
• Why your company needs a cell phone policy that goes beyond current OH&S laws;
• Which provinces cover cell phone usage in the workplace and what they say;
• Why your company could be held liable for negligence under "common law" in the event of a cell phone-related accident;
• How a good cell phone policy helps protect you; and
• What every cell phone policy should cover and what you CAN'T say in your cell phone policy.

In addition, the report includes a complete model workplace cell phone policy and guide on how to create your own policy that is fair to employees, helps protect your company, and complies with provincial laws.

To download the report click here.

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER
eCompliance provides information about topical OH&S issues to assist existing and potential customers to cope with their own OH&S needs. It is not intended to be legal information or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.