Real-Life Math
As a safety supervisor, the use of math skills is routine. You might
need to keep records on an extensive list of chemicals. Or you may need to
measure and adjust space so there is less risk of injury.
For Steve
Brown, a director with a workers' compensation board, keeping an eye
on numbers is vital. On a typical day, Brown manages approximately 200 safety
officers. "The daily routine is to keep track of statistics and if there is
a firm that is having a lot of accidents, we go in and do a review."
You're
a safety supervisor for a community college. Graduation ceremonies are going
to be held next week and preparations are underway.
The administration
plans to have a portable stage set up in the auditorium for the graduates
to stand on during the ceremony.
- There are 56 graduates in the ceremony and the maximum holding capacity
of the temporary stage is 6,000 pounds.
The administration wants to go ahead with the plans, but it's
your job to make sure the stage is safe.
- If you're allowing an average weight per person of 150 pounds, how
much weight are you dealing with?
Will the temporary stage hold all the graduates? If not, how many
will it hold before it has to be reinforced?