Editor’s Note: Thanks for your support

One of the many reasons I respect occupational safety and health professionals so much is that you’re always available as a resource and a support – both to workers and each other.

When I look over this month’s issue, I find it’s full of examples.

Barry Bottino’s article features advice from safety pros on having difficult conversations.

Kevin Druley spoke with several women about the challenges they’ve faced as safety pros in the construction industry, and how to overcome biases and support other female safety pros as well as women who work in the trades.

Our friend Richard Hawk, as he does every month, offers his experience and wisdom to help motivate you to be at your best.

And here’s something that’s not quite the same, but I want to share it because it’s meaningful to me.

To mark National Ladder Safety Month, Alan Ferguson has pulled together a quiz to test your know-how. Whenever ladder safety is a topic in the magazine, my mind immediately goes back 12 years when, through a set of embarrassing circumstances, the cover photo for our March issue showed someone climbing a ladder that was facing backward. At the time, I braced myself for “you’re an idiot” emails – but what I received instead was an overwhelming show not only of expertise but also support and encouragement from our readership. As I said then – and it still holds true:

“I’ve always known that safety pros as a whole are a group of caring individuals who truly believe in what they do, but now I’ve felt the full power of it. And I’ll always remember it. Thank you.”

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