Be a Safety Advocate

Are you a safety professional? How about a safety advocate? Safety professional might be hard to define, but I know many people who are passionate about safety and some who are not. Some talk about a good safety game, but they are all words and little action. Many others turn words into action—they are safety advocates.

An effective safety attitude relies on individual involvement. Setting the example, visiting work centers, discussing safety with your peers, and being positive in how you go about your business are traits that safety-minded people should remember when on duty—and off. One must not necessarily be a safety professional to be mindful of these traits; anyone can be a safety advocate.

Safety is a leadership responsibility. Some leaders only address safety after an accident, such as an injury or damage to equipment. Safety may take a back seat to the mission if accidents are not occurring. Are you influencing your leadership in a positive way, or are you in a leadership position and advocating safety on a continual basis?

How would you describe yourself? Do you simply go through the motions, possibly lacking the courage to challenge the status quo or simply not caring? Have you run into folks who think safety gets in the way of the mission or safety is a roadblock to doing a job in an expeditious manner?

Safety winners are advocates: courageous, selfless, passionate individuals who do the right thing to maintain or grow a positive safety environment. They go above and beyond a standard 8-hour work day. They genuinely care about people and the mission and seek to learn from events to prevent their reoccurrence. Remember, perceptions are reality. We set the example by doing the right thing for the safety of our people to successfully complete the mission. Are you setting the example?