WHETHER you’re driving a truck for the local gas company or stocking munitions at the neighborhood military supply depot, these days it feels good to have a job. Nothing against those who are stuck on food stamps and government welfare, but people who work for a living have a source of pride that no EBT card can buy. Challenged by nature and the tyranny of distance, Guam was built by hard-working people who put their bodies into their work, sometimes sacrificing life and limb to get the job done.

As a physician, I take care of injured workers on a daily basis. At the American Medical Center, we have the capability to handle bone fractures, skin lacerations and chemical exposure injuries. Over the years, Guam workers have come to us to have bones X-rayed and cast, skin ruptures repaired, or eye injuries irrigated and treated.

For many years, workplace health and safety were not serious considerations for those who held the gold. The American system of mass production emphasized the use of machinery and workers were expendable. For most employers, it was cheaper to replace a dead or injured worker than it was to provide safety measures. In the two years preceding enactment of worker safety laws, 14,000 workers died each year from workplace hazards, and another 2 million were disabled or harmed.

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Act is the primary federal law governing occupational health and safety in the United States. Its main goal is to ensure that employers provide employees with an environment free from recognized hazards, such as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary conditions.

OSHA’s main purpose is to ensure that employers maintain conditions or adopt practices reasonably appropriate to protect workers on the job. Employers are required to be familiar with and comply with safety standards applicable to their establishments. Employers are responsible to ensure that employees have and use personal protective equipment when required for safety and health.

OSHA’s requirements add to the cost of doing business. Our national commitment to worker safety means that American workers have a greater chance to share in the fruit of their own labor. But the price for worker’s safety may be a less competitive product on the international market where investments into the safety of workers are not required.

As Guam and our nation proceed through this tumultuous economic time, the health and safety of our working men and women cannot be taken for granted. In order for real economic success to be achieved, every citizen must have the opportunity to earn a living wage. In addition, every family should have the benefit of a healthy wage-earner coming home safely after a hard day’s work.

Companies like LeoPalace Resort in Yona have done a tremendous job of providing health security for their workers despite great financial hardship in the tourism market. Although LeoPalace was forced to downsize during last year’s economic downturn, the company still held on to many of its core employees and provided for their medical coverage. LeoPalace Resort is one of the largest employers of Guam’s southern residents and provides jobs for many young families.

DZSP 21 LLC is another company that I greatly admire for their commitment to their employee’s health. With a widely diverse workforce involved in a multitude of military support services, DZSP 21 is one of the largest employers on island. This company’s concern for the environmental safety of its workers has been demonstrated by their active vigilance for problems and quick remediation of identified threats to health and safety.

I am proud of Guam’s best employers who maintain their commitment to a safe workforce by continuing to invest dearly in health insurance for their employees. Not always appreciated by workers is the correspondingly mighty investment made by many employers into keeping job sites sanitary and safe.