| Risk management is important, even in a small | | | | as a grocery store clerk, he lost use of his right hand. |
| business. Before retirement I ran a franchising | | | | This is because he had to keep pressing the gun off |
| company, and we franchised mobile car wash units. | | | | and on as he was cleaning the cars, and if he held the |
| One of our major market segments were new car | | | | gun on all the time he was still putting pressure on his |
| lots, and large used-car lots like CarMax. We also | | | | wrist because the gun was spring-loaded, that way it |
| washed for many car rental agencies. Obviously, we | | | | would automatically shut off if he dropped, as per |
| would wash while these cars were lined up in rows, | | | | OSHA safety regs. |
| and sometimes you could look down the end of the | | | | After this occurred what he would do is switch hands, |
| row, and get yourself psyched out due to the number | | | | and put a tennis ball in between the trigger and the |
| of cars you had to wash. | | | | plastic housing which encased the trigger to keep the |
| Indeed, we cleaned for companies like Daewoo, | | | | gun on all the time. This prevented carpal tunnel from |
| Hyundai, BMW as the cars were parked at the port | | | | preventing him from working. Other franchisees and |
| after they came off of the ships and we also clean | | | | their employees eventually did the same thing. On one |
| for auto auctions; in some cases there were in excess | | | | hand we had OSHA standards disallowing such |
| of 600 to 5000 cars to clean. And even with a crew | | | | practices, but in the real world and in the field the |
| of five, 10, or even 20 people it was absolutely | | | | employees and the franchisees realized they had to |
| overwhelming. | | | | overcome muscle cramps, pain, and potential future |
| There were definite issues of fatigue, as the workflow | | | | carpal tunnel and they had to come up with a solution, |
| progressed. And OSHA standards dictated that the | | | | and that's what they chose. |
| pressure washing guns had to have a trigger release, | | | | Eventually we found that there were some |
| so that if you dropped the high pressure washing gun, | | | | manufacturers of pressure washing guns, they did not |
| it could not whip around and hit you in the head, or | | | | have to OSHA standards in mind, and these guns had |
| allow the high pressure water to cut your eye apart. | | | | a special lock mechanism or ring which would keep the |
| That makes sense correct, OSHA generally has rules | | | | trigger on all the time. Many of our competitors were |
| and regulations to protect employee safety because | | | | using guns without triggers, everyone in the industry |
| they know there are hazards in the workplace, and | | | | knows this is a problem. When you are considering risk |
| this is one of them. | | | | management, reducing risks, and dealing with hazards, |
| Nevertheless, we had one of our franchisee managers | | | | these are the kinds of things which you will have to |
| in Sacramento California develop carpal tunnel, and | | | | decide in a small business. Please consider all this. |
| although he had a precondition from his work formally | | | | |