"I Hate Safety"

Recently I was out with friends, when a new person joined us, we got to talking about what we do for a living.  As everyone shared what they do, I know what’s coming, as the group turns to me expecting to hear what I do for work say “I’m in Safety” and the group thinks and inevitably, every time, someone will offer their opinion and they always say…”I Hate Safety” then they start to explain what they know about safety “I was on a committee once” and “I understand it cause we do safety at my work”  I then start to defend my career choice.  “No no I understand", and "I get it no one likes safety” and I laugh it off. 

Over the next few days those words made me really think.

I hate safety. It's a strong statement. 

So, I’ve been thinking about my career choice, and I reflect. 

Safety is a necessary “evil”.  What people who don’t “do safety” don’t understand is that passionate safety people truly do care that you do not get hurt or worse die at work.  Throughout our career we have heard countless stories of loss from co-workers, at conferences and sadly we have faced stories of loss in our career.  Real people, they die, at work!.  It stays with you.  We really do care.  We have seen some impacts of injuries at work, employees trying to work through recovery.  We have met people who had to change careers due to injury.  We know this, because its our world. 

We may not always have the popular resolution and we may ask for the paperwork; we may repeat the same messages year after year.  But know this.  We do it for the greater good, we choose to be in the thick of the role “everyone hates” and I think, despite our day-to-day stressors, I think we actually may even say we love what we do. There is purpose. 

So next time I’m faced with this situation, and I have to say my career choice, and someone says (as they always do) “I Hate Safety” I will change the narrative and throw them off by simply saying “Ya well, Safety loves you”. ;)

Jennifer