Take a Poll be famous (How to Protect Workers)

[spencerf]

Well I'll give you a brief description of why I'm doing this pole. Besides using linux for entertainment purposes I am finishing up my last semester in law school at Boston College. One of the classes I'm taking is called "Protecting Workers" and it's a seminar that simply asks the question of how we can better protect workers in today's world. Now obviously this is a hard question but there are a few select things I would like to get all of your opinions on and if I get enough of them I will present the results of this poll along with my presentation.

Thanks

[cayalee]

because your an american, im british and i work in the NHS (national health service) as a physiotherapist, i voted for healthcare because i personally think that your health system is appalling. way too many people are left in the dark because they can't afford healthcare but earn too much for medicaid. (but then i am *slightly biased*)

[techieMoe]

I voted for "Tightening Immigration Laws and Closing Borders".

[spencerf]

actuallly cayalee the focus on my paper is a comparitive analysis of Germanies health care system and American with a focus on the state health care iniatives of Massachusetts and Marlyand which are moving towards a more universal approach. So I do agree with you that health care in this country, in it's current state, is "appaling" and I hope that we can do something about it.

techiemoe thanks for your vote and I agree that this should not turn into a "soapbox" post so for others who are voting your opinions are always welcome but let's keep it at that--opinion.

[PenguinHappy]

Sounds like a really interesting paper topic. Surprised to learn about Maryland's initiatives, as I grew up there my curiosity is definitely piqued

[Vergil83]

I picked other, because I don't quite understand on what scale we are talking about(world, nation, workplace) as well as what range (day, lifespan)?

[spencerf]

Well I sort of intentionally left out those parameters for two reasons: (1) it's hard to add all parameters to a poll on a linux forum and (2) I kind of thought that some people would state where there from and or I could guess from there sigs and see if this would actually provide some insight. Because this is probably the most important question for determining what is the best way to protect workers (it's all in how you look at) for example (not to pick on you too much) techiemoe responded to the close the border and his reasoning revolves around being in a border state in the us on the mexico border. But I would choose universal education because I feel having a "third world" actually creates the necessary conditions for an advanced capitalist global economony of have's and have nots which leads to unfortunate situations that there is no need to explicate on here. So I would love to hear your choice and reasons from any perspective, whether it be at your workplace, your country, or the world.

[Vergil83]

I am going to say the "ultimate" way to make workplaces as safe as possible is to give those actually working there more power. Except for certain chemicals, most workplace hazards don't require specialized knowledge. For example, I could think of a few dangers of shoe factories, but I am sure someone that actual works in one knows more about the dangers than I. To often it is the distant managers (both in private buisness and government) that make the rules not only on safety rules, but also things like speed of work, job trading, etc..... This is the cause of most accidents.

I these relationship can be seen in comparing a normal factory in the US to a normal factory in China. In the US, there are laws to be sure, but there are also unions. The unions help to bring more power to the workers. However, if you look at China, individual workers have less control over the workplace and their factories are much more dangerous.

I think most other "solutions" are only addressing the symptoms (health care only works after someone is hurt, etc...).

[genesus]

However, if you look at China, individual workers have less control over the workplace and their factories are much more dangerous.

Well, that depends, many factories in China have much newer and better equipment than many heavy industry factories in the States, why? because the total operating costs are much lower producing much more profitable factories with virtually no legacy costs -> factory upgrades being done in the more profitable factories, while only fixes and jerry-rigging can be afforded for factories making much less profit.

[fingal]

I think it's a good question. I voted for the education bit, but take the point that university degrees and education aren't the answer to everything. Not if some of the people I graduated with are anything to go by.

I've worked for quite a few companies now: some of them more enlightened than others. I think organisational culture is a key factor in employee safety. By that I mean that it should be as liberal, inclusive and creative as possible. In other words: if you're not progressive I don't like working for you. Not that I advocate chaos either - there's a balance to be struck there.

Some employers are so stupid it's unreal and shouldn't be in charge of a sweet shop let alone a company. On the other hand there are excellent ones. If you want a good job those are the ones you want: they understand that 'quality' and 'information' and 'employee development' aren't just buzz words but the life-blood of an organisation. Once the meaning of quality is understood in its broadest sense then you have something to work with.

As for our National Health Service - I used to work for them. The staff are hard working and dedicated but our government think that the way forward is to employ as many managers as possible (8 managers to one nurse has been known) ... They throw money away on useless projects when this should obviously go towards patient care. Having said that forcing everyone to pay for health care would be a complete disaster and would throw us back into the dark ages.