Saftey is Everyone's Business
Safety is Everyone's Business!
I’m not the kind of person who sticks their nose into other people’s business. And I try not to be judgmental about their behavior. However, I was at a concert the other evening and next to me was a mother and her 10-year-old daughter. In order to gain a better view of the stage, the girl was standing on her chair, which was not terribly stable.
Having attended enough safety seminars to know what is safe and what isn’t, I wanted to tell the mother that her daughter’s behavior was risky. This was clearly the mother’s duty, not mine. I spent a fair amount of time debating whether to express my concern or mind my own business. I chose the latter; the girl never fell off the chair, and everyone went home safely.
Later on, in thinking about my decision to say nothing, I decided that the next time such a situation presents itself, I will open my mouth and risk being told to “mind my own business”. When it comes to safety, good manners should take a back seat.
The next time you see an unsafe condition in your plant or at home, I hope you will speak up, even if it means offending someone.