Editor's Note: A chance to say ‘thanks’

This month in Safety+Health, you’ll find the “2018 State of Safety” infographic. It’s a quick look at some of the most recent data available on occupational safety and health and the EHS profession.

This morning, when I was still pondering what to write in my Editor’s Note, Managing Editor Jennifer Yario came into my office to say she had put my byline on the infographic. Seeing that I was torn between pride at having a byline (I don’t have many these days) and guilt at knowing that the highlight of the piece is the design work, Jen said, “Why don’t you write your Editor’s Note about Sharkey?”

I should have thought of that. Senior Graphic Designer Mike Sharkey (known mainly as just “Sharkey”) recently celebrated his two-year anniversary here at the National Safety Council. Sharkey is responsible for all the art and graphic elements you see in the print magazine, on the S+H website and in the many newsletters we produce.

This puts him in the sometimes-unenviable position of being a designer in a group dominated by writers and editors. It means his work is constantly being evaluated by people who have no design training and who may ask him to alter something without being able to give an articulate reason why.

Partly because he’s highly experienced and partly because he’s simply a good guy, Sharkey is always open to discussion and changes, and is able to keep his sense of humor throughout. The result is a product that, from both a design and an editorial standpoint, I’m proud of. So, because the listing of his name on this magazine’s masthead doesn’t do justice to the contributions he makes, I’m glad to have this opportunity to say a public “thank you” to him for being on the S+H team.

The opinions expressed in “Editor’s Note” do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.