Using proper procedures

If the recently retired Cape Girardeau County parks director was still on the job and one of his employees had an on-the-job chain-saw accident with injury, he might have taken the following actions: First, he would have ensured the proper procedures were used to report the accident. Next, he would have ensured that the chain saw was being used properly. Was the injured employee properly trained and certified? Was the proper personal protective equipment -- hard hat, eye protection, gloves, safety shoes and chaps -- being used? If medical treatment was required, did the injured receive proper and timely care? Was a review conducted to prevent a recurrence? Was retraining required? For you see, such an accident did occur recently. The injured was the new parks director/commissioner, and to my knowledge none of these procedures happened.

The parks director/commissioner was apparently unaware that there is such a thing as chaps to prevent leg injuries. If we in the private sector have to comply with OSHA rules, why not the county? My commissioner is in charge of roads and bridges. I have yet to see him on a motor grader leveling gravel.

JAMES C. ROCHE, Jackson