Case $13-$B: Safety First at the Samson Company

The Samson Company is in the middle of contest to boost production. Joe Miller's and Al Scott's depart$-$ ments have been running neck and neck, with Joe's team currently in the lead. However, last week Joe had some machine downtime, and it looked as though his depart$-$ ment might finish behind schedule and be pushed out of first place. There was some good$-$natured heckling about it between departments, and the machine operators in Joe's department decided they were not going to give up with$-$ out a struggle. That fact is obvious when Joe arrives at the plant on Monday morning. He is about fifteen minutes early, but most of his people are already at their machines

The nurse did what he could and sent Tim to the hospital," Joe answers.

"Tim really meant it when he said we'd lose over his dead body," one of the workers says admiringly. Several others make similar comments, and Joe realizes that Tim is regarded as a hero by his coworkers.

What Tim did was stupid, Joe thinks, as well as a violation of a basic safety rule. What troubles Joe most, however, is the admiration shown by other members of the group for Tim's actions.

Joe is at a loss as to what he can do to handle the situation. Tim is a top$-$flight worker, but he did violate a safety procedure when he reached into the jammed machine with the power still on$.$ Also, he is not autho rized to make repairs. The normal punishment for such a safety violation is a three$-$day suspension, but this will Then, Thursday afternoon, one of the machines jams. put Joe's department further behind and definitely out The operator, Tim Hanley, one of Joe's best workers, tries of the running in the contest. Joe also knows that Tim to save time by fixing it himself. He reaches in to free the was only thinking of his department when he tried to repair the machine. Suspending him will be considered by the others as a penalty for loyalty to the company and to his fellow workers. Joe decides to wait for Tim's return before making a decision. He leaves work that day

waiting for the starting bell. That's the way it goes all week. Joe's people work at peak performance, and by Thursday it looks as if they have a good chance of being on top again.

jammed part and one of his fingers is severely gashed. Another worker gets the first$-$aid kit and fixes a tempo$-$ rary bandage. Then, Joe rushes Tim to the infirmary. "How is he$?"$ the others ask when Joe returns.