Hello, everyone.

This is Enta.

At one job site, there was talk that the scaffolding planks were wobbly, lol.

 

I’m sure most of you are probably thinking, “Huh?”

Please take a look at the photo above.

The edges of the scaffolding are secured with wire.

 

The scaffolding board is sticking out about 1 cm, isn't it?

It's a story about tripping over this and falling!

 

What do you all think?

If it sticks out even 1 cm, you'll fall—so it's only natural they'd say that!

Is that something you'd normally think? lol

No matter which prefecture you look at, scaffolding planks usually stick out about this much, right?

 

Haven't safety standards been a bit off for the past few years?

What is safety?

 

Definition of Safety "Safety" (including occupational health and safety) is defined internationally as "the absence of unacceptable risks" (ISO/IEC Guide 51:2014). This does not mean a state where there is “no” risk; rather, it means that acceptable risk is included within the state we refer to as “safe.”

Wood tends to warp whether you like it or not, and it’s inevitable that parts of it will end up like this, so

Does that mean you can't tolerate this 1 cm?

 

I think it goes without saying that a worksite with no accidents is a good thing.

However, I don't think it's possible to get it down to exactly zero.

The important thing is to prevent serious accidents from happening!

Isn't it also important to accept that accidents can happen at any time?

Isn't it this "zero-tolerance" mindset that leads to the cover-up of workplace accidents?

 

For example, I cut my hand with a utility knife at home.

Are you really going to make such a big deal out of this?

You wouldn't call an ambulance just because your wife is making a fuss, would you?

Just put on a Band-Aid, Riva Tape, or Kizu Power Pad (the names vary by region, lol), and you're all set.

 

If you cut your hand with a utility knife while working on this, it'll cause quite a commotion, and,

Emergency Safety Council, Measures to Prevent Recurrence, What Should We Do Next? Do this, do that.

"How's the wound looking a week later?"

 

I just wonder if any decent contractor would even want to say anything in a situation like this.

It’s easier to just say, “As long as it’s nothing serious, that’s fine, right?”

You totally get that feeling of not wanting to say it because you care so much, right?

 

So I'm going to be featured in "Non-Work-Related Accidents"—one case, lol.

They weren't wearing cut-resistant gloves!

For that reason

As a precaution, “wear cut-resistant gloves when using a utility knife.”

The worst part is when they say, “Don’t use a utility knife,” lol.

 

Just think about it logically.

You don't usually wear cut-resistant gloves all the time, do you?

However, I can understand how the general contractor feels.

Back in the day, there were yakuza and small-time thugs who would try to extort money from us under the guise of workers' compensation claims and threaten us, and

There was this guy who kept using workers' comp to spout nonsense, lol.

 

I think there are still some out there.

It’s true that there are some unscrupulous operators and front companies (yakuza) like that.

That’s exactly why these measures are in place to protect companies and site representatives, isn’t it?

 

I totally get it, but I feel like these days, an excessive focus on safety is slowing everything down.

I can't help but wonder if that's the main reason costs are going up.

 

It is a difficult point, but,

I think we can all understand that excessive safety measures can hinder profits and make people not want to work for that company, right?

I feel like we could be a little more flexible.

The Labor Standards Inspection Office should also be more lenient, and

I want people to understand that imposing penalties is what makes it hard to speak up.

 

Every time there's an accident, more rules are added.

I think I've said this before, but the same kind of accidents keep happening no matter how much time passes.

And then, doesn't that lead to a push to raise awareness and eliminate accidents?

But it won't go away.

Accidents like this happen everywhere.

The reason is that they don't share any information about the accident at all.That's it!

There is no system in place for general contractors and other companies to share accident information nationwide!

General contractors don't disclose their own accidents. (Major accidents make the news.)

If companies were to make that information public, more people would become aware of these accidents, and

If the types of work are similar, you can inform everyone before construction begins, right?

 

I suppose I just don't want people to think that safety management was lax when an accident happens.

It could easily be seen as a disgrace to the company.

That's why you're hiding it, isn't it?

But I think this is the crux of the matter.

 

If all construction companies nationwide were to make this kind of information public,

I think we could raise more awareness, and,

I think this might help raise contractors' awareness, even if only a little.

And safety rules should also be standardized nationwide, and

I wish they'd stop with this ridiculous "custom rules" nonsense lol

Speaking from my own personal perspective, “I can’t possibly remember that many!”

 

I can't help but wonder if I should just go ahead and make something after all!

Because I want to help reduce accidents, even if only a little.

I'll think about it for a bit.

 

See you later.