Safety Awakening – “Get Dirty & Get Effective”

May 16, 2014 No Comments

“Get Dirty & Get Effective”

Most of the corporate safety positions I held required: the supervision of departmental employees, development of EHS policies, and lots of documentation/recordkeeping/statistical analysis/paperwork.  While not technically “deskbound“, for many years I did spend the majority of my time in the office.

Then I went to a new company where the Owner directed me to spend at least 50% of my time on the factory floor.  Wow, did I resent that.   I thought, “Who is this guy telling me how to do my job?”  But, he out-ranked me so I had to do what he said.

At first, I was very unhappy, but as time went on, I realized that I could do a lot of good on the factory floor – after all, that is “Where The Rubber Meets The Road”.

In time, I came to appreciate the wisdom in this Owner’s directive.  I now strongly believe that too many safety professionals spend far too much time in the office in front of a computer.  By spending the majority of my time in that factory, I was able to:

• Better enforce company work and safety rules
• Provide on-the-spot re-training when I observed unsafe acts
• Identify hazards that I had previously overlooked
• Solicit employee safety suggestions
• Do much more in-depth accident investigations
• Be right there when extra-hazardous operations were taking place
• Develop a much closer relationship with employees and supervisors
• Better relate to employee safety and health concerns and complaints having been exposed to the same work environment that they are
• Understand tasks better by occasionally performing employee jobs when manpower was short and deadlines had to be met
• Provide safety inspiration to employees because seeing their safety manager is a reminder to think about safety – like it or not, we’re walking safety advertisements

Ask yourself if you would benefit by spending more time on the work floor or construction site.  Believe me, that’s where we can do the most good.  Don’t get caught up in the fun/clean office life – get dirty and get effective!

Awakenings