How a poor economy can affect people not just in the pocketbook....
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As everyone knows and has felt, the current economy is effecting how people shop, eat, and live their day to day life. Some people think it is only the middle and lower class that are cutting costs, and trying to save every penny, well those people are wrong.
Every week we hear about a new company that is closing up shop or is asking for financial assistance from the government, and the companies that are still open for business are doing everything they can to make sure the doors stay open, and sometimes that the person who gets hurt is the innocent bystander.
A great example of how the failing economy can have an indirect impact on someone was illustrated to me, just last week when I was at a local shopping center that used to have a local security guard that would patrol the parking lot. As of three weeks ago, the security guard is gone, and with it I believe you will see increased break ins, and possibly an increase of assaults or robberies in that same parking lot.
In fact in Europe, advisories are already being put forth, RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) has recently issued a press release specifically addressing the need for companies not to cut back on safety during tough economic times:
http://www.rospa.com/news/releases/2008/pr633_20_10_08_occupational.htm
In the US, the trucking industry has already started a campaign to show that they are complying with all safety regulation, because they know that it is their drivers that are the ones the most affected by the economic crunch are perfect targets to ignore the "Hours of Service", put forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
http://www.truckline.com/Newsroom/PressReleases/Pages/Anti-TruckGroupsIgnoreSafetyRecordofNewHOSRules.aspx
I believe in the coming months and unfortunately years, you will see an increase in work related accidents and motor vehicular accident involving 18-wheelers, due to companies cutting costs, and specifically cutting costs in regards to safety.