Based on experience, in many cases, there may be a perception that the Safety Professional is responsible for all safety efforts in an organization. Sometimes the Safety Professional will tend to go day-by-day trying to change the culture of the organization without attempting to gain any respect or support from the Leadership team.

Unfortunately, in many organizations, the image of this safety position is a person who goes through the workplace looking for things that are wrong, can only quote regulations, and usually offers only two primary solutions, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) or training or re-training. PPE and training are linked to promoting safety awareness, as the thinking is that PPE and training or re-training will solve all of the problems. Many times, PPE and training become the default solution. While PPE and training has its place, it is not the solution to all safety-related issues, as some may think. PPE and training are only one aspect of a sound safety management system.

In many cases, hazards that need to be addressed and resolved are sometimes overlooked, as it is clouded by the PPE and Training Issue as discussed.

This may be based on the formal job description or direct mandates from the leadership team as “Do it” with an implied stay out of our way!

Lesson Learned

A colleague has asked supervisors and managers over a number of years to define safety in supervisor training classes and presentations.

The definitions he received include:

• Preventing accidents or injuries;

• Freedom from harm or injury;

• Being safe;

• Being aware of your surroundings;

• Not getting hurt;

• It's number one;

• Following procedures and rules;

• It is a state of being;

• Looking out for each other;

• Complying with OSHA;

• Going home the same way you came to work.

The issue of defining safety is still a major area of confusion.