Does putting safety first send the wrong message to our organization?

Safety first! Is this an empty, time-worn slogan or a forceful admonition by management that they move forward relentlessly to label their organization, “Best in Safety” or “Best in Class”?

We know the answer. Do you think it is unrealistic that management will day in, day out place safety above all else? I am not saying that management is numb to the contribution and importance of safety but, the fact is management must take an ownership role for safety in your organization and the way to do it is not by belting out a slogan.

Safety must be an integral part of management’s responsibility. In fact, safety should rank right up there on par with other primary objectives of the enterprise such as productivity, quality and cost. 

Think about this.  What would the implications be if management simply managed safety the same way it manages other sustaining priorities such as production, cost or quality? The implications are powerful.