Editor's Note: Recognizing CEOs who ‘get it’

Every few years, simply to see if things have changed, the Safety+Health team uses our “What’s Your Opinion” online poll to ask S+H readers, “Would you recommend a career in occupational safety and health?”

The nearly 80 percent of respondents who answered “yes” to our most recent poll confirm what the years I’ve spent working on this magazine have taught me: Many EHS pros love – and take great pride in – what they do.

The comments submitted in response to the poll, however, always reflect the challenges and frustrations safety pros face. “It’s not for everybody” is a common theme, as many respondents write about the thick skin required to keep moving forward in the face of pushback from employees at all levels – including leadership.

We know that many people in the C-suite still haven’t bought in to the value of safety. That’s why, in 2019, S+H once again will feature the CEOs Who “Get It” – the National Safety Council’s annual recognition of leaders who demonstrate a personal commitment to worker safety and health.

As we’ve said before, it doesn’t matter if your organization has 50 employees or 50,000: If you believe your CEO should be recognized, submit a form by July 31 to tell us why.

You’ll find the form on the S+H website. The selection process will conclude in late fall, and a Q&A with each of the selected CEOs will be published in the February 2019 issue of S+H.

As always, NSC welcomes the opportunity to include more diversity among the CEOs who are recognized, and encourages safety pros whose leaders are women and minorities to submit their names for consideration.

We look forward to hearing from you.

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