'We exist to prevent deaths and injuries'

On May 5, Deborah A.P. Hersman became president and CEO of the National Safety Council. As she begins her new role, Hersman – former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board – speaks about her passion for safety and her intent to challenge the “status quo.”

Safety+Health: How has your past experience prepared you for your new role as president and CEO of the National Safety Council?

Hersman: I began my career on Capitol Hill, working on the House side for seven years and the Senate side for five years. Congress is a great incubator, where you can learn up-close about politics, process and personalities. Crafting legislation means changing the status quo and contending with many different perspectives and agendas; success means accurately assessing the landscape and creating the best outcome for as many different stakeholders as possible. At the National Transportation Safety Board – first as a member and then as chairman – I had the opportunity to serve as the public face of a trusted organization. Through our investigations and recommendations, I saw the landscape of safety change through education and advocacy. It was an incredible mission, and I had the opportunity to work alongside a great team. I look forward to challenging the status quo through the National Safety Council – lives depend on it.

S+H: What attracted you to the job?

Hersman: The mission of saving lives by preventing deaths and injuries resonated with me on a personal level. When you do something you are passionate about, you look forward to coming to work every day. The opportunity to be a part of an organization with a great history and the potential for an even greater future attracted me on a professional level. I am so excited about what the National Safety Council can do to make our world safer.

S+H: Describe your personal journey to understanding the importance of safety.

Hersman: After years of writing safety legislation; participating in the investigations of crashes, derailments and explosions; and seeing the tragic aftermath of many preventable deaths, I came to understand that excellence is about good habits and doing the right thing day after day. Safety is an interconnected web of risk assessment – it is about the big things, but it is also about the small things and how we perform when nobody is watching. One mistake, a simple oversight or a choice that seemed insignificant can often be the difference between life and death.

S+H: How would you describe your leadership style?

Hersman: In one word: engaged. I enjoy working with a diverse team with different strengths. As the leader of the National Safety Council, I must be the embodiment of the mission, yet bring out the best in the different pieces of our organization. I have a lot of energy for working with people and for taking on new challenges, so expect high levels of interaction with our members and stakeholders.

S+H: As you take on this new responsibility, what message would you like to communicate to National Safety Council members and staff – and to the public?

Hersman: We exist to prevent deaths and injuries – it doesn’t get any more relevant than that!