I have seen many things during my 40 years in the construction field. Some were good, while others were bad. Some customers were satisfied, while others were dissatisfied. I've seen tears of joy and the gnashing of teeth. Great projects were completed with great quality and no injuries while others involved finger pointing, lawsuits and contractors removed from projects. Worst of all, there have been deaths at the workplace.
Many folks on my own team often didn't see eye to eye with me. Safety in the 1970s and 1980s was not a happy time. My personal plan was to become an architect and an engineer, or perhaps teaching was my final calling. So, after all of those choices, how did I get into safety? I'm guilty of caring in all of my careers. And it changed my life.
No rights
Today, there is much conversation about human rights. In the business world, leaders must be cognizant of employee rights. Employees have a right to a safe jobsite. Workers have a right to know of any hazards or chemicals used in or manufactured at the site. Workers have a right to contact the government if they feel the jobsite is unsafe. Workers have the right not to be discriminated against, and they have the right to equal opportunities for employment and advancement.
I learned about rights after a serious injury involving a crane, which maimed a young man for life. His injury taught me that in construction, or in any other business, there is no right to harm someone. As I became more cognizant of these facts, it also made sense that employers have every obligation to keep employees safe and out of harm's way. Not to take every precaution to prevent harm is derelict. Not understanding that an injured worker has a family and a social infrastructure away from the job is not caring enough. Not realizing the whole family is harmed is crazy.
Because I know no person wants an injury, I'll do everything in my power and control to prevent any harm anywhere.
Why safety?
In safety seminars, I ask attendees, "Is there anyone here who wants to have an injury?" I've never had even one person say he or she wants to be injured. It's probably because if you allow injury, you can never guess how severe it may be. That's why people are generally defensive and learn to minimize risk.
Another question is, "Why do we have safety?" All kinds of answers are given. Some say it's to please customers. Some say it's because safety is government required. Others say it helps the bottom line. All are wrong. The correct answer is seldom given. Safety is, and always should be, incorporated into each work activity to prevent harm -- period. The leading cause of injury is at-risk behavior; therefore, all tasks must have safety designed into them. Safety exists because lives are precious and lives have value.
After a fireball of hot gases shot out of an open pipe at a plant and several workers were severely burned, the investigations began. The investigators came back with dozens of associated causes, including problems with planning and recommendations for prevention. Suggestions included additional training for workers, changes in job planning and the idea that home office managers should get involved in job safety. We were aghast when management seemed to care little about the injured and blamed workers for the incident. They were wrong! Upon further investigation, process safety compliance was negated, and people other than the workers had fault in the process. To my dismay, not one of the company officers went to the hospital to visit the injured workers.
Passion and compassion
Safety should never be compromised. Companies need a passion for safety and compassion for people. This covers any required safety compliance as well as caring enough for workers to do whatever is needed to prevent injury and celebrate success when doing it right.
I've had regrets. I've harbored disdain for senior managers who seemed not to care. I've admitted to being critical. I've asked others to overlook my mistakes. And for those I thought were wrong, I've written my words of criticism in the sand at the beach -- and not in stone.
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