ASSOCIATIONS : WPC 59
US government agencies at all levels : federal , state , and local .
As outlined in an excellent article contributed by Ray Valek , of the PMI ’ s communications team , the PMI has an increasingly important role to play in fostering and driving a ‘ safety culture ’ for plumbing products and systems . This is especially true in light of the Flint Michigan water crisis , where , like in virtually all post-industrial societies , access to safe drinking water had been taken for granted .
A member of the PMI communications team for about three years , Valek has come to realise the tremendous potential the plumbing industry has to be a leading voice on the topic of ‘ safety culture ’ — which represents everything the industry does to assure safe plumbing systems .
The idea of ‘ Safe , responsible plumbing — always ’ is nothing new to PMI : this phrase serves as PMI ’ s mission statement . However , this phrase — and PMI ’ s mission — has taken on new meaning in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis and similar situations in which unsafe water was discovered throughout the world . In virtually all post-industrial societies , clean drinkable water had been taken for granted . But now that premise has begun to be questioned .
PMI did a Google survey a little over a year ago , which showed that about two-thirds of Americans are now concerned about drinking water safety . On top of that , we live in a time when distrust in general is running rampant . According to the 2017 Trust Barometer published by the Edelman public relations firm , most people distrust business , government , and media . The report states that most people feel that “ the system is rigged ” against regular people in favour of the rich and powerful .
As stewards of plumbing systems , the plumbing industry must do whatever is necessary to assure a safety culture throughout the entire water supply system , from water source to the end-point devices — toilets , faucets , showerheads and more — that PMI members manufacture . To be successful in this endeavour , the industry must build relationships with organisations representing each part of the system and work together to solve challenges affecting them all .
The safety culture concept was originally developed in the nuclear energy and aviation industries , which have successfully implemented strategies to mitigate risk and avoid accidents . In a safety culture , making systems as safe as possible is job number one for everyone at every level of an organisation . When errors or mistakes happen , fixing the system is emphasised , rather than blaming an individual . Proponents of safety culture understand that flaws exist within every system and all processes can fail simply because humans make mistakes .
Organisational culture author James Reason compared these flaws — latent hazards and weaknesses — to holes in Swiss cheese . To prevent errors causing harm , these vulnerabilities must be identified , and solutions found . These hazards and weaknesses can include poor design , inadequate supervision , and manufacturing or maintenance defects . Safety culture has been adopted by many other industries , including manufacturing and health care . Valek became knowledgeable about the safety culture concept through his work for The Joint Commission , a health care accreditation organisation that has been promoting the benefits of safety culture within the health care industry .
If you begin to explore how safety culture is implemented — or not — within various industries , you will find horrible examples of failure , such as the Flint , Chernobyl , Deepwater Horizon , and Space Shuttle incidents , as well as inspiring examples of success . On the inspiring side , think about the potential perils of launching and landing aircraft on a carrier moving within a turbulent sea during an active military operation . The landing area on the carrier ’ s deck is near bombs , bullets , and fuel . Adherence to safety culture has enabled the military to achieve an exemplary safety record within this high-risk environment .
The principles and traits of safety culture will ring true with many of you as reflective of what is currently happening in your facilities . The questions are , however , number one : do regulators , industry allies and potential allies , and consumers realise and appreciate the emphasis and value we place on safety ? And , two , should safety culture be a more prominent aspect of our story ?
Valek says that maintaining and developing safety culture within the plumbing industry is essential to maintain and develop trust . To push back against that general feeling of distrust , we must clearly prove ourselves as trustworthy ; meaning , that we care for employees , shareholders , customers , and communities . Or better yet , that we care for all stakeholders .
Public health experts have acknowledged that modern sanitation and plumbing have protected more lives and extended life expectancy more than any medical advancement . That is an outstanding track record that is under threat right now . What better way to mitigate that threat than to adhere to safety culture and communicate its benefits ? Because when you think about it , safety is the one thread that runs through just about everything the plumbing industry does . Let us demonstrate that as clearly and as often as we can . PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za April 2018 Volume 24 I Number 2