What's Your Opinion: Do the rewards of being an occupational safety and health professional outweigh the frustrations?

I have been involved in Safety for 54 years. I enjoy what I am doing and at 76 I am still working because I believe in what I am doing and there is no more satisfying job than getting people home safe at night to their families. Yes there are some frustration but they are far out weight by the success stories. I will continue as long as my health allows

As with most occupations there are good and bad events that occur in the workplace. Staying ahead of employees as the job progresses with regard to safety, happens if planning has been accomplished beforehand. The frustration takes place when employees, regardless of the reason(s), do not follow the plan. The reward(s) is easily recognized by employees when they follow the plan and it works. Therefore, creating a positive safety attitude/behavior (because of their direct contributions to the plan) which in turn promotes a balanced safety culture is a welcome result of the effort to plan (the grand reward). Plan your work and work your plan goes a long way to save lives at every opportunity afforded a safety team.

After years of fighting the local management and others for money to operate the program, being second guessed over every decision you make or being questioned over who you have talked to at corporate meetings and chastised regularly for how you presented your facility at corporate, the constant regulatory changes within the company and the government plus the daily complaining from the employees over everything you try to promote, burnout finally hits and it dawns on you that the stress of fighting the system has finally taken it's toll on your health and mental well being. After a long arduous and tedious stretch managing the safety department under these conditions, reality sets in that systematically over the years you have seen most of your hopes and dreams dashed upon the rocks of deep despair and the blessed day when you can retire can't come soon enough.

Love what I do and like to see people go home to their families at the end of every shift. Also love their stories of how they made something safer or better or used first aid skills outside of work.

The good days far out weigh the not so good days. It's a great feeling each day knowing that everyone went home to their family safely and without a work work related accident.

Similar to being an educator when it comes to the rewards vs. the frustration. Educating is the commitment, and the rewards are the results. My reward is that I like what I do, I like being a part of the educational commitment, I like seeing positive results, and I like seeing others share my messages and values to others, which is the ultimate sign of success. Frustration has many faces, such as individuals taking shortcuts to minimize downtime (trying to do the right thing, just going about it in the wrong manor), viewing concerns and issues as someone else's problem, procrastination, and lack of communication. Frustrations are the drive and gives direction of what needs to be changed. Without frustration, improvements become stagnate (if improvements ever existed) and the status quo becomes the norm. Frustration is just a part of the improvement process, and you can't have one without the other.

I have been an RN in an occupational health setting for more than three decades, across a variety of industries and settings. It has been a great opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of workers, and promote both a safe work environment and safe behaviors. The interdependence of the worker/ workplace with health and safety is always changing and challenging. People spend on average one third of their day in the workplace . As an occupational health care professional, it is rewarding to be able to take health to where it belongs - with the person in their life, and to give them the ability to make better choices about risk, self care and the welfare of those around them.

You poor soul.

As an occupational safety and health professional, when an individual compliments that I have made a difference it is all worth it. One does not know how many injuries or lives you save by walking the talk of safety.

This is tough to answer. The rewards may not necessarily outweigh the frustrations, but it's noble work. There are probably other reasons besides an aging work force that has this career field seeking people to fill positions. It is tough work for most professionals. It is not for the faint of heart or the thin-skinned. We have to be o.k. with being unpopular and the bearer of what might be perceived as bad news even when it isn't. We have to be o.k. with being a middle manager who managers, executives, and workers not so thrilled about hearing from us for different reasons. My position is that we're not heroes. We don't save lives. We do give the knowledge and tools to people so that they can save their own. Safety is a choice and we have to live with the reality that not everyone crossing our path will choose it. That can be tough for some to handle. Most professionals have a guaranteed, or at least predictable, output for their input. Safety professionals do not. Sometimes hard work and sacrifice reap great rewards, but sometimes they don't. It is in my nature to help people and I love doing that, but there are moments when your most earnest efforts and best intentions go unnoticed or get dismissed. I wrote "you poor soul" earlier for the safety pro who was ready for retirement amid the frustrations of being dealt with over a career. I understand. I do. It's likely a big part of a snow white beard at 47. But, honestly, it's all worth it if even one mind or attitude is changed for safety. When all is said and done, I am glad that fate (and the Air Force) brought me into this career. You have to keep your focus on the people and avoid getting caught up in the periphery of documents, red tape, attitudes, negativity, change, and all of that noise. We do what we do for the well being of the most important asset in every company in the world - the people.

I believe that every profession has its shares of frustrations and rewards, ours is not any different. We all feel we could do more to save or keep others from harm, and get frustrated when someone is hurt or fatally injured. We also see the rewards not only when we see our numbers down-even though this shouldn't be the only indicator-but when we see our men and women going home at the end of the day. My main frustration though, is double talk when it comes to keeping people safe, talking the talk but not walking walk.

There can be a lot of frustration in any job. The reward comes when you realize you had an effect on someone. An employee of ours was working on his car over a weekend and he brought in his safety glasses on Monday to show me how they may have saved his eye. At that point you know you have made a difference in somebody's life. That can compensate for a heck of a lot of frustration!

Protecting the lives and health of people is not a job; it's a mission field or life decision. To me it's no different than being a fireman or policeman. You have decided on a carrier to help save peoples lives. Most days it's a thankless job and people on both sides of the fence dislike you for what you do. Even though you're trying to protect them; many workers have a negative attitude and think what you're requesting them to do is stupid, and a waist of their time. But you know better so you keep pressing forward; knowing that you DO make a difference in their lives, and make the work place a safer place for your everyone. If it's just a job or paycheck; you won't last long or make a difference. I know some employees don't like me; but I have been told they respect me and what I'm trying to accomplish. I have been in the Construction Industry for almost 44 years and have been on both "sides of the isle" so to speak. You need to give 110 % to want ever you do; or do something else. Safety is a Heart for People decision; not a job.

There are no positive aspects to this job. 3 steps forward and 10 steps back. Management fights me tooth and nail, The salary is pathetic. I can't even say it benefits my family. The people here don't want it. They resent your attempts to get their cooperation . I had someone hurt bad just last week. The initial conversation was how and on whom to place the blame. Completely avoidable accident and now they say they want to be safer. I've seen that before here no matter who or how often they are reminded, production will come first again shortly. i was told by many people when I agreed to do this job. That there will be no cooperation. That I will be alone in this, and will be resented for everything I do if it is in vrelationship to safety. I thought no way could it be that bad. It's that bad.

Absolutely worth it. I spent more than 15 years in environmental compliance positions before moving over to safety full-time. When you're doing environmental compliance work you feel like it is in service to third parties, even though it is important work to maintain your business' license to operate. Safety helps the people that I work with every day.

I could never live with myself if I didn't at least try to make things safer. It's how ideas raised. You always looked out for others.

Let's see how this sounds. After about 30 years I can say for myself, NO. I have been laid off at least 4 times. I have been fired once for standing up for what was right. I have been told what the company safety program was going to be, no more no less. I have been overruled by a supervisor with a 30 hr OSHA course for training in safety. I have been the target of a director who set out to get rid of me because I was performing too well and saving too much money. I have been ridiculed in open meetings for my stance on safety. I have been attacked because I kept the company from getting citations instead of just taking them and going on. I have worked for a couple of companies that openly disobeyed the laws and were proud of it. I have worked for bullies who used their position to beat up on safety and me personally. This is obviously the tip of the iceberg and I could go on for hours. All this being said, I am still in the safety business. Why? Because, over the years I would like to think that I saved a few lives, taught some good classes to good people, mentored a few good safety professionals, and countless other thankless tasks and along the way, and became very good at what I do. That is for history to decide, however. I question whether I chose the right profession and whether I could recommend it to a new kid just coming out of school. Too much to risk.

Who do you want to be? The guy who gets the great orders, puts them through without a hitch and gets great pay raises, bonus's and accolades, or the guy that has an employee come by one day and say "Because of you pushing to make me do the right thing, I still have my right eye today, Thank you." That's your choice, folks. I have been the guy that another post talks about, that no one likes and gets continuous push back from Management. This is what I've learned: At the Management side, you must learn to not take it personal and to stay the course, But most important, you have to find a way to reach people. Especially the guys on the floor. You have to stop being a cop and start being a friend. Enforce, but be fair and empathetic. Find ways to entertain. Stop buying cookie cutter safety training and make your own video or find a company like MTS to make them for you. You can not measure the accidents that did not happen! Live with it.

The rewards of my job include the ability to make a distinct difference in the lives of people. When people understand that they actually matter, and that the company is genuinely concerned about their well-being, it tends to foster an attitude of better cooperation. That, and the trust that is engendered along with it, is worth any amount of frustration..

After over 30+ years in HSE, SHE, OSH, S&H, or however you call it, I would have chosen a different profession had I known the rewards offered to similarly educated peers were not as equitably distributed and more favorable elsewhere. Is the grass greener?

Most managers work for one department. Their scope, capacity, and influence is limited. Safety works for the entire organization. Everyone is our customer! We see it all, hear it all, and get involed up to our necks in everyones challenges. We can go as far as we want to go. On top of that, we are supported by state and federal law! Not many jobs offer such variety, serve so many, and give such satisfaction on a daily basis. I've been in Safety for 30 years; I work full time and I'm 72. /best testimonial I can give you!

Safety professionals should not take their job personal. Just do the best you can and if management goes with them great and if not, it is out of your control. As long as you do your best to convince them, so be it. you done your job. If employees do what they want to do and management does nothing about it, it is all out of your control.

I agree with the comments that every job will present frustrations as much as rewards. My daily reward is trying to make a difference in safety. Stage IV breast cancer during my engineering degree changed my priorities. Surprising all predictions, I'm still here 35-years later. I too started on the environmental side - and did not find satisfaction in hazardous waste management. People and their uniqueness are important- especially helping them work safe. My cancer was not preventable unlike the occupational injuries and illnesses that can occur in the workplace. When one more person can hug their family member at the end of the day, I've done my job.

Yes, and change is very hard to come by. In coming into this position at this company its been a struggle turning things around and gaining overwhelming trust. After long hours, lots of kissing babies and shaking hands, trainings, walking the production floors, audits, disciplining inappropriate yet rewarding appropriate behaviors, we've been incident free for over 18 months (a feat when there used to be nearly one incident and/or injury/month). When you can see a measurable difference the feeling you get when you've pioneered it is priceless. I don't want to know how many fingers I've saved or eyes or even lives if any. I find solace in knowing our employees made it home safely! We've even gotten top management safety by-in. When our CEO starts a meeting it starts with a safety moment. So, does rewards of being an EH&S professional outweigh the frustrations? I say a resounding YES!

Safety was a thing to avoid when I was a young up and coming plumber/welder. Get it done any way you can. These days things are different. Safety is more than a buzzword, or a thing to do at work, but a way of life. The stats show that we lose many workers here in America to occupational illness and injury. This is not new. We have been losing fathers and mothers, sons and daughters to injuries that could have and should have been prevented. New techniques in fall prevention allow us to do the same hazardous types of work, much more safely than before. The only ones that don't benefit are those that don't buy in. The workers that believe that safety is only for when the safety manager is on site, get lucky for awhile, but bad things still happen. Airborne Silica is now the issue to control on the worksite. Big money is being spent, and will be spent in the years to come. These are exciting times, since the hazards are better recognized now, and work in these dangerous conditions will be made better for all workers. Frustrations, sure, but what wonderful times to be on the right side of an argument!

As I'm getting towards the end of my long career, I often think back or I'm reminded by others of this time or that time when my actions, teachings, communication efforts, or caring have made a difference to someone. I may have made someone think twice about taking an unsafe action or an unsafe behavior. I may have saved a life or prevented an injury--I'll really never know. But, I'd like to think I have made a difference in some way.

I did not choose a job in safety, it was forced upon me when the former safety director quit. I had no background in safety, but I have learned, and I try to do my job to the best of my ability. But I hate this aspect of my job because the safety department is viewed as a "necessary evil", just to comply with the minimum of federal regulations. Injuries and fines are a "cost of doing business". Managers openly disregard the rules and are not disciplined. Employees who try to do the right thing are chastised for wasting time and/or money. I stay because I enjoy the non-safety aspect of my job, the things I was originally hired to do. I just pray no one dies before this small company is bought out by a larger corporation.

I always say, "They couldn't pay me to do this job." So it's a good thing my motivation isn't a paycheck. I believe my work is important and benefits every employee here.

It's mostly about the money. A company that invests in their people will include support for the Safety professional. If they don't, it is a losing proposition and totally frustrated effort.

A safety professional needs to know more than the minimum safety regulations found in OSHA. The safety professional needs to understand how to research safety & health standards/regulations which are applicable to the work place. A true safety professional should have continuing education throughout his/her career, not just webinars, on line courses or obtaining an OSHA 10 or 30 hour card. Being a safety professional requires integrity and the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of individuals. Being a safety professional requires the ability to stand up for his/her safety beliefs when others are not in agreement. Unfortunately, it has been my experience that there are "safety" people in the work place who are just filling a position and drawing a pay check. There is a line from Dante's Inferno that states "The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who in the midst of a crisis remain neutral". If this is true, there are more than a few safety people that have their seats reserved because work place safety conditions are not improving. The construction industry is an example. Falls, electrocution, crushed by and caught in between have been the top four reasons workers die on the job site. This statistic has been the same for over 15 years. Evidently the construction industry is not learning from its history. Without workers, the jobs do not get done. Without management, jobs are not obtained so there is no need for workers. Keep them all safe so we, as a society, can work safely and be able to enjoy life.

I really think there needs to be more research about safety professionals burning out. It seems like most of the people who leave our profession just reach their breaking point, and there are probably coping techniques and psychological skill sets that could help them stay in our industry longer. I know several safety professionals who were institutionalized because of job stress, who were never able to return to occupational safety again. I know many more safety professionals who have occupationally-related PTSD and anxiety after severe traumatic incidents at their facilities. It seems like the stress of an occupational safety professional is something we all accept as "part of the job," but we don't take steps to help ourselves. Ironically, if it was one of our employees facing the amount of job stress we encounter, we would be reaching out to help them.

Being on the other end of the "safety culture" in most companies today as a employee. I can say without a doubt, that the leaders in these roles have taken it to a whole new level of abuse. People will say there proud of there results without ever thinking about how it affects the people on the receiving end of it. Yes I want to get home to my family safely every day. But when the programs make you feel as though your not worth anything than the failure lies with the people who believe in the messages there telling people.

Get a blood pressure monitor and keep it in your office. Your body will tell you when the fight is over.

There are just so many opportunities but you have to maneuver yourself into a place where there is some level of interest in making safety sustainsble. Don't stick around where the mgt team is just not interested.

I have been the EHS Manager for Little Giant Ladder Systems for 5 years. But I have been involved with safety and first response for a good chunk of my life. The frustrating thing to me is people just don't listen until something happens to them or someone close to them, then they want to say well why didn't you tell us? Or the lack of support for environmental health & safety because it is an overhead cost and isn't viewed as a profitable measure. What they fail to see that for every incident report or workman's comp claim you don't file, it save them money. But even with that I believe with all my heart in the concept of environmental health & safety. If I didn't I wouldn't be doing it. I take it personal when injuries occur. I not only see injured employees, but I see injured families. Our mantra is "Preventing Injuries, Saving Lives". That is our why. My personal why is getting people home safely at night to their families or what ever it is they go home to. I have a great company to work for. Support from the executive branch is awesome. The middle management is where I have my biggest problems. Justifying my every move is sometimes tough. Even though the middle management does support safety it is always about lowering cost and claims. Sometimes I go home at night and I am quite discouraged. Sometimes I go home happy and feeling like I am successful in my endeavors for all of our employees. I will bend over backwards to help because that is what I do. It seems like there is always some safety or environmental issue and just when you think you have a handle on it or understand it you find out you don't know half of what you should know. My safety committee frustrates me. I get employees that volunteer to be on the committee but they don't want to do what it takes to be on the committee. I arrange the meetings and have some sort of insightful training to focus on then we address safety issues and concerns. Problem is everyone is so focused on their jobs that they don't take time for the safety committee. But even with this I am always hopeful. I know there is a slew full of improvements needed to be made. I know I won't get everyone done all at once so I prioritize those issues and focus on that one at a time. Even when there are bad days for the most part the good does out weigh the bad. I am always looking for ways to improve and learn more. After all the safety of the employees depends on it. I tell people I create a safe working environment but they have to want to work safe and create a safe work habit. My job is to help them want to create that.

I do what I do because I love my job. Yes, it gets frustrating. Yes, it can be an uphill battle at times. But, at the end of the day, if you go home feeling like you reached one more person, or inspired one more person or you prevented one injury it's worth it. The rewards are, or should be, the times when you know you made a difference.; A culture was improved, even a little because of you, employees were a little more engaged because of you, someone stopped or reported something which could have led to an injury. The rewards, in my opinion cannot be measured by the numbers alone.

After 38 years in the safety and health profession the reward is knowing that you made a positive impact on peoples life's. I would want no other profession. While others sell their services I give it away to those who require it the most and who can least afford it. I never let the frustration get to me. I f you love your job you never have to work.

I started working in fields irrigating potatoes when I was 12 and now I'm going to be 70 this year. I've never had a job that that provided as much satisfaction as the one as a S & H specialist. Finding hazards that can hurt others and making sure they don't, provides a feeling that others wouldn't understand. I've been blessed.

Yes. Through the empowering of knowledge and information through training and education, as well as taking the time to get to know people , we as Safety Professionals help individuals make decisions concerning their personal safety. The "tool", Safety, WORKS, but you as a Safety Professional have to "work it". This means wearing many hats, and understanding numerous ideologies from different stakeholders within your work environment. Oh, and frustration, embrace it , analyze it and keep it moving, in our profession it is "par for course". Stick to the mission.

Absolutely! When you see employees in the field, helping one another be safer and when you see an employee save a co-worker's life, the rewards speak much louder than the frustrations. We believe we don't see how many times a day that the safety taught results in no injuries.

I think working in Safety is an awesome opportunity that is balanced by awesome responsibility. The opportunity when considered will lead any "Career" minded person, that in the coming years, Safety Executives will be paid more than Finance and Sales and more to the point will be decision makers in every operational choice because they understand Risk, understand Insurance, Understand Liability and live and die with Exposure and Frequency Rates daily. The best, most rewarding moments are always when your people are grateful that you are there. When you're walking by and get a high five for making them aware of a hazard or a process failure. Next best is when as a group, your people start telling you about process failures, hazardous potential and on a great day - Give you the answers to resolving the problems. I think when you can honestly look at the total composite picture of your employees and you know that they ARE the safety program - that they are capable of working safely - each one -every one and they are telling you what they need to keep it going ...Then you have "Safety" in the workplace and you have made a hell of a difference. It's worth it.

No. Learn Frustration is a "gifted-honor" . It means you care. The depth of frustration is an indicator to the depth of your internal commitment to Safety concern. What is important, is what we do with our frustration. Never let safety be about you, your agenda, or your job. Let it be about life. Give purpose to your communication and actions. If others do not see your concern, remember you once had those blinders on too. Be patient, consistant, and give credit to the whole company , employees and management, for successes. Even little ones. Usually, we will be the first ones to bring forth a policy or procedure needing modification or an investment by the company. We will be alone and not have the power to involk change. ...So, we may think. do your due dilligence, compile the data and implement inccremental changes with "persons of influence" to your workplace culture. ( Not necessarily management or owners) Be the most positive person you know, your heartbeat may be the one which saves another! The Safety offficer in most organizations, are usually the lonliest . Potential and engaged Hazards are the boss of you...they dictate our day and priorities. It is a boss always out to get us, and it is frustrating to serve such a tyrant! This is the boss we must listen to, when all others are listening to the company agenda. Your "Hazard boss" is above the company boss, and company bosses' don't like that. So, be prepared for frustration, you are not alone, there are thousands of special safety leaders like yourself , more resources than ever, blogs like this and pockets of support in your workplace who understand. So, embrace your frustration ! It means you are in the right place!

Safety veteran in the electric power generation industry, in a 24-7 atmosphere where the slightest mistake can mean death to multiple people. I transferred from skilled labor to safety and was initially worried how the skilled labor employees would treat me. I quickly realized that my struggle wasn't with them at all, that my struggle would be with management. I figured if my heart was in the right place and always put employee safety first I couldn't loose. This lead me to more arguments (the equivalent of fist fights) with management than I care to explain. The kind of arguments that leave a guy in fear of being fired soon after. I was always being told what I was doing wrong and never what I was doing right. It was easily 30 to 1 in favor of arguments and complaints over any tiny bit of praise. It took me to the point of severe anxiety and depression, worried that one of these times when management would rather argue than listen that people would be killed. It takes a special type of person to receive this sort of abuse and keep coming back. I truly believe that safety can only be measured in negative aspects. Some may think there are positive things to measure when it comes to safety but none can truly measure how many people I kept from being hurt or killed throughout my career. It would be nice to know...

I’m on the fence. The biggest challenge I’ve seen and many other people I’ve talked to in the industry have seen is that it’s not a respected profession...yet. Many people I know in the industry feel the same. Regardless of how good you are at your job, people may like YOU but they don’t really respect the job we do. We have many years to go before it’s veiwed as a respected profession. The challenge also is that many regulatory bodies that govern our jobs are out of touch with what the real work environment is like. As such, often the expectations that safety professionals have to up hold in terms of our safety management systems are not realistic and because of this, it’s often challenging to get people to buy in, no matter how you tailor your approach. This ends of being very exhausting and frustrating and becomes easy to loose motivation for what we do.