I preferred to give you my input privately.

When in private industry, my supervisor, the HR manager, kept telling me that if I found safety hazards I could not put it in writing, that way "if management does nothing and someone is injured or killed there will be no liability."

The first time I was severely reprimanded by the plant manager because I advised of a possible fire or explosion hazard in the heat treat department, new equipment that worked with natural gas. The manual warned that an exhaust was needed in case of a gas leak to avoid fire or explosion. The plant manager did not want to spend the money.

The HR manager, same as all the HR managers I worked there in the next six years, did not have the courage to support me or workers’ safety. All HR managers I worked for were terrified to spend money for safety.