What's Your Opinion: Safety pros, do you take it personally when an injury occurs at your workplace?

As we study statistics and rules and regulations concerning OSHA and NIOSH to strengthen our education, it seems that not only do we fail to hit the mark at times, and drive the message home when discussing with crew members about safety concerns, but that they really only want to get the job accomplished, and not worry about the safety aspect until you get the phone call or email about one of their guys, or the foreman themselves getting an injury. But even then there are excuses and always a reason why they could not, or did not follow the procedures laid out for that task. I do feel a sense of failure when injuries do occur. Our EMR has historically been in the .5 - .7 range. We had a bad year some time back, with heavy and recurring injuries, which is how I started in the Safety Profession, to help bring it back under control. Using leading indicators and some new programs we have leveled back to the old EMR's, but every injury that does happen strikes me in the heart. I have been with my company for 38 years (four in safety), and I feel as though I am the only one who cares about the crewmen, and their families. Safety is not an easy job as we all know. It must be a way of life that follows us home, to the ball game, to the ski slopes, and beyond. Safety. Gotta live it!

Safety has always been a personal commitment. People I work for/with 8 hours a day, 5 days a week are my work family. Their well-being and safety matters and when incidents happen...it's a gage to how well I've looked at the person and not just at the work environment/culture/procedures/protocols.

When anyone in our facility gets hurt it is just like one of my family members has had an injury related incident. We believe that everyone on our site is part of our team and essentially our work family. With that thought in mind all of our team members practice being their "Brothers Keeper" and this is instilled in our workforce from the day that they start with us.

It is personal because I conduct the training which helps educate our employees to prevent the injury. Each time an injury and investigation happens I always question if my training was understood and what approach may work better. I begin to check Near miss reports and walk through inspection reports. I question did I miss something or was there a corrective action that should have been done differently. If it is not personal at some level then you may want to consider a new profession. Safety can not be a 9-5 job that you hang on the door knob when you leave each day and put it back on the next day when you show up.

Though I know it is not logical to think I have control over every situation and act that occurs at my site 24/7, I consider it my job to find and mitigate all unsafe behaviors and conditions. Though we have a very good incident rate, when something does happen, I find that I beat myself up over what I could have missed that allowed the incident to occur. Though this personal scrutiny may lead to some improvements, it also has lead to discouragement and at times, feelings of hopelessness. I try to just make sure I find solid corrective actions and fill any gaps that may have contributed to the incident.

Taking it personally is a good way to get burnt out. I don't set the budget for the safety department. I don't make the final decision on what equipment to buy. I don't have the authority to make company policy or discipline employees. All I can do is present information, make recommendations and hope for the best.

I don't take it personally when an employee is injured because its usually not because of lack of training. Most, if not all of our injuries occur due to the employee's unsafe act. It doesn't mean I don't feel empathy or that they are a bad employee or person. If I take every injury personal I couldn't imagine the amount of guilt and insecurities that must build in someone.

I have been in the safety profession for awhile, both as a consultant and as a company employee. I started in union construction on the ground. I never forget my beginnings, and yes I usually quietly get annoyed when someone gets hurt. I agree if you let it linger too long you will suffer burnout but always remember you can train, mentor, coach, and advise employees, unfortunately we do not always get them to understand (WIFM) What's In It For Me. Another issue sometimes is that corporations only see a task and not the ideal goal of the job and person fitting together. Also remember external stressors such as deadlines, production bonuses, and peer pressure. We are not always present at every monument of the day or shift. Sometimes the training issue is more about corporate safety climate that needs to change. There are many actors to look at. As a consultant I have seen too many times a lack of true dedication to safety and is only a word on a sign not a lifestyle choice. I love my profession and have seen people burn out you can only influence not enforce. Hope this thought helps.

I take it personally because my desire is to see each employee including myself after a full days work return home to families and loved ones the way that we left. I spend more time awake with my work family than my biological family and I care sincerely for both. I have a commitment to help take care that everyone is safe and secure.

I don't take it personally because I provide them with all the up to date information on safety and the department provides them with all the PPE that they need to do their jobs safely and productively. You can't fix stupid.

I am responsible for my own safety and the safety of anyone who enters my area of responsibility. So yes, I take injuries personally. When we have one, each member of management should examine themselves and ask, "What could I have done to prevent this?"

I do not take it personally when an employee gets injured because in my experience the workers, including myself, have been injured because of an inappropriate response to a certain situation, and because of carelessness.

Our company is close knit, so human compassion can bring an emotional side to accidents. However, Only when an employee is injured, whereby, I was clued into the potential hazard earlier, and delayed implementing ALL solutions to prevent it... do I become extra critical of myself. This is why paying attention to "non-reportable" incidents, and employees sharing "potential-Hazards" in the workplace environment. ..our( Safety "pH" level) is critical for the Safety leader to focus in on. This will guide the leader away from any self blame, guilt or company culpability. We do not call them "near-misses" . ..oxymoron.