Editor’s Note: Two ‘staples’ of safety

I’ve been to the National Safety Council’s annual Safety Congress & Expo so many times that I can’t remember at which one I first met Richard Fairfax. A former director of enforcement programs at OSHA as well as deputy assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, Rich was a welcome presence during many presentations of OSHA’s Top 10 most cited standards, sharing data as well as his insights.

As part of our expanded coverage of OSHA’s Top 10 this month, Associate Editor Kevin Druley chatted with Rich to get his recollections of the history of the Top 10.

After Rich retired from OSHA, the Safety+Health team was delighted when he eventually ended up working as a consultant for NSC Networks. It gave us even greater access to his expertise and time – and he’s been generous with both. For someone as well known and well respected as he is in the occupational safety and health community, he’s stayed accessible, down-to-earth and friendly. “I’m always in favor of anything where you get safety and health information out to people,” he told Kevin.

He referred to the Top 10 presentation as a “staple.” And that’s what he’s been to our team. We’ve always felt comfortable reaching out to tap his vast knowledge on issues large and small.

Rich recently announced his well-deserved retirement from consulting work. “I have been in the profession for 52 years now – time to go,” he said in his response to my thank-you note. I hope he’s aware of just how big a difference he’s made. He’ll be missed. We wish him safety, health and happiness.

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