I always say that you shouldn’t be in the safety profession unless you yourself are sold on safety. When I say sold on safety, I’m talking about people like my friend Charlie Simpson. Before retiring, Charlie was safety manager with a company called Inco Alloys International, Inc., in West Virginia.

When you’d call Charlie at work you didn’t expect him to answer the phone. You’d expect him to be out of the office making the rounds at his massive plant. I once accompanied Charlie on his rounds and discovered that he is one of the most beloved persons I’ve ever met. He called everybody by their first name and even asked about their spouses and kids by first name. Charlie lives safety. It oozes from his every pore. And I honestly believe that if you looked into it, you’d discover that over the years Charlie has saved numerous lives and prevented literally hundreds of accidents because of his dedication.

Although he’s a special guy, Charlie is by no means one of a kind. On the contrary, Charlie’s commitment and passion represent what should be the baseline for any person who wants to be a safety professional—or at least a successful one.

Who’s Your Safety Hero?

Tell us about somebody you consider a true safety hero. Just a couple of paragraphs about the person and why you admire him or her. Add it to the thread below or send it to catherinej@bongarde.com . Let’s make sure your unsung hero gets sung.

Catherine Jones
SafetyXChange.org

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