The changing role of the safety professional By Carmen Daecher

I don't know about you, but since September my role as a safety professional has changed. To those whom I serve, my expertise is no longer seen as a luxury. Somehow "safety" and "security" go hand in hand, just like "bed" and "breakfast" are words that are always joined together.

I think it is because people really didn't think about safety quite the same way as they did before September. They no longer simply expect to be safe, yet they want to be safe.

Have my knowledge and abilities changed significantly since September? No. I have become more knowledgeable and capable of defining emergency evacuation and system shutdown protocols for commercial vehicle operators and similar types of operations, but other than that, I have nothing new to offer. Yet, somehow, what I do have to offer is embraced differently. Now when I talk about using personal protective equipment, customers begin to use that equipment the next day. When I talk about the preventability of accidents and the need for continual improvements, there are no objections. And when I talk about the need to be firm and consistent in managing risk, everyone seems to agree.

I have detected substantial differences in the attitudes of employees and companies since September. The message that somehow I could not effectively deliver, others did: that safety is not to be taken for granted. It takes planning, persistence, and teamwork. All the lives lost in September and all the lessons learned point to breakdowns or neglect of plans and systems to ensure people's safety.

At first, the significant change in the attitudes of those whom I serve seemed to be a blessing. "Now they are listening," I thought. But it also places upon me a higher level of responsibility and greater accountability for improved safety and security performance. Before, what I did was discretionary; now it is much more important. No longer can I go home and say, "Oh, well." Now I must say, "What's next?" My responsibilities to my customers aren't simply "assignments" anymore. They are commitments.

Personally, I accept this challenge. I have always wanted to make a difference. And while I am not sure if I will, I now know that if I don't, it is because I have not been able to do so. Now my skills will be tested as a safety professional. My ability to motivate and lead will be watched by many and questioned by even more. I need all the help I can get.

What about you? Do you feel the added pressure? Have you accepted the challenge? Are you ready to lead? Can you make a difference?

While there are professionals dedicated to safety, we all contribute to the safety and security in our industry. We are all safety professionals. We all have something to offer - and to gain - by addressing issues of safety and security. After all, success is in numbers. While some may lead, only many united for a common good can succeed.

One thing is for sure. Collectively, we have the ability to help each other. We can exchange information; we can explore and discuss new methods for infusing safety and security through organizations, we can measure and critique performance and behavior in positive and constructive ways to improve what we are doing. As an industry, we have the power to become better - to help each other improve as individuals and, equally important, to improve our operations.

I am really excited about our future. You should be, too. And thanks to the education, information, and support we can exchange, we can meet the challenges and the opportunities that face us.

Let's not hesitate to contact one another with questions, concerns, or information so that we can continue to improve and to serve those that depend on us to provide safe and secure environments within which to live and work. From where I am sitting, we can improve our operations to produce a safe and more secure environment for our employees and customers; our failure would be not trying.

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