What's Your Opinion: Do you have to fight the perception that safety is “uncool”?

Frontline workers think that PPEs are uncomfortable, unflattering, not fashionable, distracting and hindrances; they also think the safe methods and procedures for achieving their results and getting work done are stressful, time consuming and too demanding. All these thoughts give them a perception of safety being "uncool". As safety professionals and champions, we have to fight this perception, i like the word 'fight' because it truly is a fight, a fight for their lives, their hearts and their minds.

Yes, safety is uncool until the person gets hurt then it's our fault that they got hurt and we should have done more to keep them safe.

They may not think it is the coolest thing in town but a few have experienced how it has saved and/or helped them. Safety glasses have saved eyes. a number of times. Cut resistant gloves have dropped hand cuts to zero. Steel toe shoes have saved some toes and I am sure hearing protection has saved ears but only time will tell there. I try to find PPE that they will want to wear - muffs with team colors, etc.

I don't have to fight against safety being the "cool" option. Instead, the fight is against safety being "unproductive" or "less productive" and "cumbersome".

Frontline workers are not the major problem. Frontline supervisors are. They seem to think that shortcuts equal improved production. It is sometimes difficult to make them understand safety will increase production when they plan ahead and plan safe work practices into their job planning.

To Frontline and Supervisors safety is just something they have to do. Anything that we have to do, its not cool. It all starts with leadership. Safety can be more accepted and almost cool if the culture is in place and that is how we operate. Employees are proud of their safety systems and the leadership is recognizing and supporting Safety efforts.. Allowing employees to have safety ownership instead of the top down driven safety goes a long way to creating that positive cool Safety culture.

To some people, they think safety is uncool because it "cramps their style". Then they trip over a box and hurt themselves. I'm pretty sure they changed their mind.

I don't fight the "uncool" perception, I still see the stigma of previous safety people in the position not being qualified. I have replaced a number of safety people who had no business being in the position, but were there anyway for a variety of ridiculous reasons. One day they will be all gone (hopefully) and the Safety Profession will be better for it.

Safety is not "uncool". If you package the value of safety and let people know that you really do care about them you are more that half way there.

The fight more often than not is with the front line supervisor who view safety as a detriment to productivity. Often the message presented by the supervisor is contrary to the message the safety professional is trying to convey. Workers want to please/appease their supervisor more than the safety guru.

When I started in HSE 26 years ago, we were fought on everything we tried to do. Workers, unions, supervisors, and management fought us for all the reasons others have already stated. Safety has progressed, though. Knowledge of both the safety professionals and workers has improved. Management's and supervisors' understanding of the cost of injuries has improved. Safety equipment and techniques have improved. There is still some degree of pushback, but it seems to me to be more along the line of there's so much information it just turns to noise. Workers are much more astute regarding safety than in the past and demand that the tools and equipment they use are safe, that the processes are safe, and that the people working around them are safe. We have a very well promoted Time Out policy that is used frequently, especially when contractors are observed not wearing PPE, using tools in unsafe manners, or not following safety procedures. In my experience, I'd say safety is becoming cool. Being unsafe is becoming uncool.

Safety has always been uncool. Trying to keep PPE and other Safety items 'hip' is a challenge all in itself. I have found making Safety job one is a key to buy in from everyone. And being the example is the best way to lead.

When I was previously a S&H manager, workers seemed happy to work safely. However, at times, they would take shortcuts to save time (like most of us tend to do around the house, such as using a wobbly chair to stand instead of taking the time to get a step ladder). I did have to fight the production manager who pushed for production over safety. That was the hard part.

"Uncool" is one of a dozen common excuses (I agree with Roland on front line Supervisors). It's why I really press clients on their young workers - to teach/train awareness and good habits at the beginning of their work life. At that stage especially, it's really a moral issue. Most come along after some well-reasoned and persistent coaching.

When you build a safety system that states clearly that an unsafe worker is not allowed to work here ( they compromise the safety of the people around them),safety gets cool quickly. "Every safety decision you make today will determine the quality of your life tonight" Just keepin' it real.

I don't think many of the employees care if the safety gear is "cool" or not, they just get used to it as part of the job. The biggest problem is the perception that safety gets in the way of productivity.