If you're a member of SafetyXChange, you're probably as passionate about workplace safety as I am. Like me, if you feel that your concerns are not addressed properly, you become frustrated and may even question the system. But, as safety leaders, it is important that we learn to keep our frustration and temporary disillusionment to ourselves. Let me explain why.

Unequal Treatment Infects the Workplace

Consider the example of workers Tom, Dick and Harry who have received very stern punishments for the same safety violation. For the sake of argument, let's say they exposed themselves to a fall greater that 6' without fall protection. Their penalty: dismissal.

Now here come supervisors Bob, Rick and Larry. They each commit what looks and feels like a similar violation: climbing a ladder that's red-tagged. However, the powers-that-be do not interpret the transgression to be as serious. Accordingly, their punishment is less severe: a three-day suspension.

Pretty soon, word gets around. Your crew starts whispering amongst themselves about how Bob, Rick and Larry got special consideration because of their status. The rules, it seems, don't apply to everyone. Morale drops dramatically. You may even notice an attitude change among some of your co-workers who are responsible for safety. The chances of being accident-free decrease.

What You Must Not Do

Has this ever happened to you? This situation can be very tough to deal with. The absolute worst thing you can do under these circumstances is to take sides against the company and vent outrage and what you perceive as the hypocrisy of the system. This is true even if you feel that an injustice was done.

It is in moments like these that you must demonstrate your passion for safety, confidence in your efforts and faith in the system. It's not simply your own sanity at stake. Leadership demands that you send the appropriate message to your workers. Never forget for a second that workers are looking to you for answers and an example to follow.

What You Must Do

That's not to say that you can't feel disappointment or even outrage with the system. But there's a time and a place to express these feelings. Hopefully your company is structured in a way that enables you to handle the issue without repercussion.

My advice would be to meet with your workers and tell them simply that bad things sometimes happen to good people. Life is not always fair or as fair as you would like it to be. Most importantly, emphasize that the number one concern is, has been and always will be the safety of the worker. It is not about punishment; it is about making sure everyone goes home alive and well every single day.

Conclusion

There are easier and less stressful jobs than being a leader in safety. But this is the field each of you has chosen. You therefore have a duty - to yourself and to those you protect - to find a way to make it work. And to do that, you must be prepared to handle controversy and perceived unfairness. That involves learning how to control your emotions in the interest of the greater good even in the face of circumstances that cause you to question the system you're serving.

MEMBERS' REPLIES

Is Safety Really a Thankless Job

Last week, Corey Jones wrote about his experience when confronted with the question about whether he was wasting his time in a thankless career. We asked you if you'd ever had cause to doubt your choice of going into safety. Thank you to everyone who submitted their experiences.

It's not the Career, It's the Employer

I have been involved in the safety profession as it pertains to trucking for several years. I have felt what I have done was very worthwhile and love working with employees to help make their jobs safer. My difficulties arose with the last employer who fought me on nearly everything I attempted to do for the employees. I was told by a fellow safety professional that this career choice was viewed by most bosses as being a non-producing asset. I was starting to believe it myself as I battled for changes in the place of business.  Recently, though, I was able to change companies. I now work for bosses who truly respect my position and are WANTING to do the right thing. That has been the difference for me. Implementations of safety policies and procedures are being viewed as a welcome change, and I no longer have to fight for it. I DID make the right choice to stay with safety. Networking with other safety professionals is your salvation- take it from one who knows.

Name withheld by request

Our Failures Are Easier to Measure Than Our Successes

It's easy to get frustrated in the safety profession. All managers have the similar responsibility of getting their team to perform in a certain way, but the safety professional's product is much more difficult to measure. For a 500 person facility peak performance may be seen as 4 recordable injuries per year instead of 8. Safety professionals have the proverbial 10 question final exam each year that determines 100% of their grade. In contrast, the production manager gets to measure their output and quality on a daily basis, allowing them to make adjustments and to see the effects of their adjustments in real-time.

This conundrum leads to the safety professional chasing after hazards that don't make it on the "radar" of the managers that actually have the responsibility of eliminating the hazards. We chase the one-in-ten thousand risk items while the production managers are trying to eliminate 5% daily defects. It's easy to see how safety pros are not universally embraced by anyone except the person who writes the checks for medical bills.

It's no better when working with line employees. They want to get through the day and get home, while we're telling them to stop twisting while lifting because it may lead to serious injuries later in life. We might just as well be preaching salvation, for the reward is too far away or even unbelievable for some, and the immediate, daily price to pay for it may cause challenges.

Even with all that, there are moments that re-enforce the value of our life's work.  Case in point, a fellow burns down his house in a classic hot-work situation. His co-workers response was remarkable. Don't you listen to the safety guy? In the face of a home safety failure we see that many have indeed learned the value of safe work practices. As safety professionals we can see the single failure - this is all too easy to measure. Occasionally we get to see the hundreds of preventions, too.

Name withheld

Passion is its Own Reward

Well, there have been a number of occasions in which I have doubted my involvement. Many of the circumstances derived from the choices and/or decisions of the management team. Sometimes, the management has a discussion without involving safety as to what they think is the best practice regarding Health and Safety. After finding out about it, it discouraged me and I throw my hands in the air saying, "Well, if they want to do it, let them." Now, my duties are not just as Health and Safety Manager, but also as Warehouse Manager for my firm. So my feelings sometimes arise to "just drop the whole safety thing."

Then, a light comes on. I stop and think of the changes I have done in the past. The improvements I have done and the positive injury reduction. Then I smile on my accomplishments, and give myself a pat on the back. Also, if I don't do it the way that my heart is in it, nobody else would. And that in itself would be a shame.

I know you said brief, but I just couldn't stop myself! No problem to use my info.

Thanks!

Robert Brunet
Distribution Manager/Safety Manager
Gerant dist/ Coordinateur CSST(Laval)
ROL MFG(CANADA) LTD

An Ode to You

Regarding the Thankless Job article, I wrote a poem paying tribute to Safety People addressing that theme. The title is Applause and it is attached for your information. You may use it in the newsletter or whatever, if you like. Keep up the great work. [Editor's Note: Thanks, Art. We like to get kudos, too.]

Positively,  Art Fettig

MEMBER REPLY

Joe Wasn't the Only One at Fault

Re the True Tail of a worker who neglected to remove his finger before snipping off the end of a glove.

Mary Crabtree's response was on target. The practice was for the employee to cut the tip of the glove finger with a pair of scissors, there was no written procedure; no one anticipated anyone would do something so stupid. Obviously they did and a written procedure of the proper manner in which to cut the glove was included.

A reader, Lyn Johnson provided an excellent suggestion, one that eliminated the need to cut the glove. Leave the glove as is and slip a knee high nylon stocking over the gloved hand. If there is a burr, the stocking will be snagged. She said they tried it and it worked. She is right. Thanks.

Phil Wells

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