In the wake of several injuries involving broken bats -- especially the maple variety -- there have been discussions among members of MLB, the press, and fans regarding the safety of bats as handles continue to get thinner while barrels remain large. On Tuesday evening, plate umpire Brian O’Nora was struck in the head by a shattered piece Miguel Olivo's maple bat during the Rockies/Royals game. The shattered piece created a gash that caused blood to run down his face and forced O'Nora to leave the game.

To that end, there has been safety in the workplace concerns. 

The Safety and Health Advisory Committee, comprised of members from Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, held its first meeting yesterday via conference call in New York. The committee is charged with considering issues of player and fan safety, including those associated with broken bats. Members of the committee expressed their concerns over those issues and concurred that they require prompt consideration and action.

The committee formalized the next steps which include consulting with bat manufacturers and experts in the field, conducting field studies, conducting laboratory tests of bats and gathering information about protective measures in Major League ballparks. Members of the committee will meet again this week to commence the data gathering process. The committee intends to issue recommendations as quickly as is possible after all the relevant information is gathered and analyzed.

(see The Biz of Baseball report on a portable CT-scanner designed specifically to look at flaws within bats) 

Major League Baseball and club representatives on the committee are: Sandy Alderson (San Diego Padres); Paul Dolan (Cleveland Indians); Joe Garagiola, Jr. (MLB); Dan Halem (MLB); Gerry Hunsicker (Tampa Bay Rays); Walt Jocketty (Cincinnati Reds); Howard Smith (MLB); and Dean Taylor (Kansas City Royals) . The Players Association representatives on the committee are: Phil Bradley (MLBPA); John Buck (Kansas City Royals); Aaron Heilman (New York Mets); Bob Lenaghan (MLBPA); Gene Orza (MLBPA); Steve Rogers (MLBPA); Michael Weiner (MLBPA); and Richard White (MLBPA).

Source: MLB and MLBPA press release 

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Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.

Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

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