Shop Floor Safety — A Cause for Concern

In early 2002, two of Fort Dearborn’s plants received OSHA letters advising them that the respective facilities far exceeded lost workday injury and illness (LWDII) rates. Several other Fort Dearborn plants, while not written up, also exceeded the average. That soon became reflected in the company’s worker’s compensation insurance rates: In 1997-98, it paid a premium of about $220,000, a figure that had grown to $1.2 million by the 2001-02 policy. This represents a robust 491 percent increase. FDC’s carrier strongly advised the printer to hire a professional safety director.