There I was, at the Saxcies Award Reception, sucking down the hors d'oeuvres. I walked over to say hello to Glenn Demby, and let him know how much I like SafetyXChange. The first words out of Glenn's mouth: "How come you haven't written an article for SafetyXChange?"

I told Glenn that I don't have a problem with writing. My problem is coming up with an idea to write about. "I have writers' block."

Glenn's response: "Then write about writer's block."

Now there's a thought. I decided to give it a try.

The Dream of Writing

Like I said, I've never had any problems writing. I like to write. And I'm not the worst writer I've ever seen. Sometimes, when taken in small groups, my words actually do make sense.

For me, the problem has always been the seed, the idea. I do have ideas. I have recollections of having ideas - brilliant ideas - and then writing those ideas and thoughts down. Then, once I captured everything on paper, I'd spend hours working and editing until each word was the perfect choice and the story was so good that no one could put it down.

And then I'd wake up. The whole writing experience had been just a dream. Still, I would remember the thrill of having written a masterpiece and receiving the accolades for it that I so richly deserved. It was so exciting that I was tempted to actually do in my conscious state what I had merely dreamed about. Unfortunately, by then the subject of my masterpiece - if indeed there had ever been one - was gone. But, I'd console myself with the hope that one day that subject would return to me.

The Reality of Writing

This dream and its effect on me strongly suggest that I want to be a writer. But something happens to me when I actually do sit down to write. "Environmental factors" interfere. I'm using "environmental" in the broadest possible sense. Doubts start to creep in. Is this topic interesting to all readers? What makes me think I'm the one who should be writing about it? Don't others have much more experience, much more knowledge than I do? And so much of what I do know and write on paper seems so straightforward and common sense that I find it hard to believe that everyone doesn't already know it already. After all, isn't occupational safety a common human right - and the furnishing of a safe workplace a common human responsibility?

And then there's the concern over time. I run a small consultancy. As (probably) everybody knows, one of the difficulties of small shops is that the workload is erratic - feast or famine. I get stressed. That report I just finished - did I cross all the t's and dot all the i's, did I adequately link observations with conclusions, was I thorough? If all of my projects are completed, on time and spell checked, I stress over what new project will come my way. So, really, there's no time that's stress-free. And that means that when I do experience those rare moments of creativity, I feel like I don't have the time or liberty to turn them into actual writings.

Working Toward a Solution

To overcome my writer's block, I need to find a way to overcome these environmental factors. The good news is that I know I have the power to solve some of these environmental factors internally. For example, I know I can learn to control my stress.

I also think that wrestling with environmental factors requires an awareness of certain things. First and foremost - in terms of overcoming writer's block - is the recognition that knowledge is not simply a matter of common sense or something that's universally shared. It's dictated by individual experience and training. Over time, all of us develop a unique knowledge and skill set. So my fear that what I write will already be known by everyone isn't true. I need to recognize that I really do have something valuable to say. And so do all of you. The only way any of us will grow as safety professionals - and as people - is if we're willing to share in writing what we know.

The next set of environmental factors I need to surmount are the ones that make it hard to engage in the actual act of writing. Not everyone who can write actually will write. For some people, the act of writing is as scary as public speaking. Adding to the problem is the fear that our words will be met with scorn, derision and editing by our peers.

Again, I know that I have to wrestle with these demons. And so do my fellow safety professionals. Let's also remember that people approach writing differently than, say, speaking. We organize thoughts differently and can fine tune the message. Writing allows us to find gaps in knowledge, information and logic. The actual act of writing helps to clarify thought. And, that's a good thing.

Conclusion

I'm glad I told Glenn that I have writer's block. And I'm glad Glenn challenged me to write about why I have writer's block. In composing these thoughts, I think I've learned a little more about how I operate. Just as importantly, I think I understand why all of us safety professionals need to rid ourselves of writer's block so that we can do a better job of making the workplace healthy and safe.

QUIZ
How Safe Are Our Bridges?

By Glenn Demby

A bridge inspector at work

The I-35 bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed last week was rated as "structurally deficient" by engineers. Here's a little quiz on the state of bridges in the U.S.

1. According to 2006 Federal Highway Administration data, what percentage of the 594,709 bridges in the U.S. are rated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete?

a. 7
b. 12
c. 26
d. 31

2. Which state has the highest percentage of structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges?

a. California
b. Massachusetts
c. New York
d. Pennsylvania
e. Rhode Island

3. Which state has the lowest percentage of structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges?

a. Arizona
b. Nevada
c. Minnesota
d. Utah

4. What's the average age of a highway bridge in the U.S.?

a. 20
b. 30
c. 40
d. 50

5. How often are most bridges in the U.S. rated and inspected?

a. Every 6 months
b. Every year
c. Every 18 months
d. Every 2 years

6. True or False? The fact that a bridge has been rated functionally obsolete or structurally unsound means it's unsafe.

ANSWERS

1. c; 2. e (56% of RI's bridges are rated functionally obsolete or structurally deficient); 3. a (only 10% of AZ's bridges are functionally obsolete or structurally unsound); 4. c; 5. d; 6 False. Neither designation necessarily means a bridge is unsafe. For example, a bridge may be rated structurally deficient if its shoulders are too narrow or was built with outmoded construction techniques.

PERCENTAGE OF U.S. BRIDGES CLASSIFIED AS
FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE OR STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND

Source: American Road & Transportation Builders Association. Based on 2006 data.

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