Safety Awareness: The bigger picture

Every week, I read about numerous fatalities in vehicle-related accidents. Most are cars, but with the advent of warmer weather I will soon find more from motorcycles. Every once in awhile, I hear about an airport evacuation because of an unidentified bag / suitcase or other breach of security.

So what does this have to do those of us who in the safety profession? The short answer is everything and nothing.

Everything because we are in the best position to identify hazards and risk – anywhere and anytime. Nothing because our own self-imposed constraints have us only looking at work-related issues.

Public places like airports have their own safety and security, but they are in the minority if we think about all public places. Who is thinking about hazards and risk in the millions of homes and private buildings in the U.S.?

Recently, I was in for my annual physical with my doctor, who has a small private practice with two other physicians. He has a good sense of humor so I pointed out the deficiency in his emergency plan. It is a dismal piece of paper taped to the exam room door that does not even identify ‘you are here’ but shows exits for evacuation.

In light of the fact that we had a tornado rip thru within ½ mile of his office a year ago, I asked where I should go in the event of that emergency. No clue – and no idea how I would be notified. He did seem to pucker when I suggested that a plaintiff’s attorney would love to have him on the stand after the fact of a real emergency.

I use this as an example of how little the outside world recognizes hazard and risk. Now some will suggest that my doctor is negligent for not having a safety professional review his operation. However, when I think of the tens of thousands of lives lost every year, I think we need a new approach – one much bigger than lifetime employment for all safety professionals.

Safety as a value

Safety must be viewed as a value and more fully integrated into all aspects of our society. Business, medical, engineering and general education schools need to integrate safety into core curricula so that future leaders, engineers, doctors, teachers, etc. understand the broad spectrum of safety that they will ultimately face in their chosen profession.

But how will that happen if safety pros – the people who are capable of leading the charge – remain focused on the occupational environment? The short answer again is, “it won’t.” What will it take for us to take a broader view on safety awareness? Whoever suggested that we should only address occupational injuries and illnesses?

Let us start to challenge existing paradigms and help the rest of society identify and control hazards. Let us use our expertise for the benefit of those beyond our company confines.