Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 15, 1994 TAG: 9407160008
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MEGAN SCHNABEL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We're here to help and support this activity," Theron "Skip" Bell told members of the executive committee of the Blue Ridge Safety Network.
The network, a pilot program launched in November by Bell's predecessor, Carol Amato, matches companies that have established safety programs with smaller businesses that may need assistance in developing such policies.
During his first official visit to Roanoke since his appointment by Gov. George Allen, Bell said he wants to work with the network to establish educational and safety training programs for small businesses, many of which lack expertise in dealing with the state's myriad safety regulations.
Helping small businesses develop voluntary compliance plans, which could eliminate the need for many regulations, will be an important part of such assistance, Bell said.
"The more we can do in terms of preventing accidents and improving conditions in the workplace - getting voluntary compliance - the better off we're going to be," he said.
Bell said an incentive system to recognize businesses with exemplary safety programs also could cut down on regulation and enforcement.
The state labor department, which is reponsible for enforcing federal occupational safety and health regulations and other state labor laws, spends about 80 percent of its time and 60 percent of its resources on safety- and health-related issues, Bell said.
"Our thing is to reduce accidents and their associated costs," said W.W. "Skip" Griggs, director of the Blue Ridge Safety Network.
More than 100 businesses and schools offer assistance through the network, which serves the 22 counties of the Blue Ridge Economic Development Commission.
by CNB