As a motivational safety speaker, there’s always one wise-guy in the audience who says: “I always hear you guys talking about safety first. So, what’s second, beer?” It’s always good for a laugh.
The dismissive answer is: “Why, are you buying?”
The subject is anything but lighthearted.
In fact, when I as a safety speaker give my safety keynote speeches, I’m aware that in a year, workers might walk past a thousand safety posters and banners and get dozens of training sessions on safety, along with training on safety equipment, safety podcasts and safety manuals. But does all that “safety first” training work? It’s hard to say.
2020, the year of the pandemic when everyone was supposed to be totally dedicated to safety, we saw as many workplace accidents as in 2019. Sadly, workplace deaths were unchanged. None of this had a thing to do with COVID.
What’s the answer?
As a workplace safety speaker here’s my answer:
If safety is first, what comes second? You do!
As a safety speaker, whenever I make that statement in a safety motivational speech, it winds up with a lot of head scratching.
“How come I’m in second place, Mike?”
Every time we go to work, it’s a contract. Call it a negotiation if you want. The contract doesn’t change whether you work in an office or on scaffolding at a construction site. It doesn’t change whether you work in a commercial dairy, a paint factory or an emergency room of a major hospital.
The contract is one we share with our families and friends, our co-workers and their families and friends and anyone else who counts in our lives. We promise to keep safety top of mind so that we return to those who love us and care about us. We promise to keep safety top of mind for the well-being of our co-workers and their friends and families.
If we see something, we do something about it. We correct fall hazards, we help our co-workers lift and carry, we yell at our co-workers if they don’t wear safety harnesses, or forget eye and ear protection or if they neglect respirators or to clean up an oil spill or are careless with power tools.
A healthy and aware workplace is one where you expect someone to say something to you when they see you doing something dangerous or stupid. Why is it healthy? Because they want you to return to your family and friends at the end of the shift.
If safety is first, what comes second? You do!
A healthy and aware workplace is a workplace where we always have each other’s backs and where we make each other aware of why there are safety posters, training, manuals and the like.
Safety is real. It is a living contract between all of us. The more I learn, the more I can care for you. I hope you do the same for me. At the end of the day, we’re all in this together.
To book Mike Hourigan, Safety Motivational Keynote and Breakout session speaker, for a virtual or in-person presentation to your organization, contact Mike today at (704) 875-3030 or fill out the form below.
