Safety Third?

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:53 pm

I think Mike Rowe has the right perspective on safety:

http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2009/08/safety-third-huh/

dforeman · Post by **dforeman** » Tue May 01, 2012 10:12 am

This is a great commentary and perspective. Even though Mike is a TV host and a guest to most of these jobs he visits on these shows, he definitely shows a lot of common sense and wisdom.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:50 pm

Yep. YOU and your own common sense are responsible for your own safety. Not your boss. Not OSHA. Not Saw Stop. Not the People's Republic of California. YOU, and you alone are.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Tue May 01, 2012 3:54 pm

I had a commander that took safety very seriously. His motto.

"If it's not safe, don't do it!" No questions asked, No problems, ever. As an lowly E1 I stopped a job due to a safety issue, and never got in trouble nor was I questioned. I saw a safety issue, stopped the job, and that was that.

I told a colonel I would not lift his man to the roof to hang a banner with my front end loader, when he challenged me, I stopped the work I was doing and contacted my supervisor, who contacted our commander, who advised the Colonel it would be best for everyone if this event was all forgotten.

I got an atta boy from our commander for standing my ground.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Tue May 01, 2012 5:24 pm

But should it be "if it's not safe, don't do it?" If that is the case, we'd never do anything. You wouldn't have been driving a front end loader. You wouldn't have even been in the military. We wouldn't own power tools with spinning sharp metal blades. We wouldn't have hand tools with sharp edges. We wouldn't ride motorcycles. We wouldn't drive our cars over 20MPH. We would never climb a ladder. We wouldn't have sports. Safety is never first. Life and experiencing it is first. Performing a task for fun or profit is second. Or vise versa. Safety... third at best.

jm51 · Post by **jm51** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:58 pm

With some people, improving safety means that they take more liberties until their personal safety threshold is reached. eg. that road/rail junction in Oz that averaged 2 fatalities a year, both before and after the safety guru sorted the main problems with it.

Where I think we shouldn't have a choice is employee safety. Gambling with other peoples fingers is just plain wrong imo. If you were the boss of a busy shop, where would you start the new hire, a Festool tracksaw, a Sawstop or a Shopsmith?

dlbristol · Post by **dlbristol** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:12 pm

heathicus wrote:I think Mike Rowe has the right perspective on safety:

http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2009/08/safety-third-huh/

The "woodworking for mere mortals" site had a piece based on Rowe's comments. Steve pretty much agreed in his own " unique" way.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Wed May 02, 2012 11:04 am

Make sure brain is in gear before setting tools in motion. (Confucious Facetious):D
Sorry, couldn't help myself!:rolleyes:
Bill V

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Tue May 08, 2012 1:17 pm

heathicus wrote:But should it be "if it's not safe, don't do it?" If that is the case, we'd never do anything. You wouldn't have been driving a front end loader. You wouldn't have even been in the military. We wouldn't own power tools with spinning sharp metal blades. We wouldn't have hand tools with sharp edges. We wouldn't ride motorcycles. We wouldn't drive our cars over 20MPH. We would never climb a ladder. We wouldn't have sports. Safety is never first. Life and experiencing it is first. Performing a task for fun or profit is second. Or vise versa. Safety... third at best.

I couldn't agree more!
WWMM... I'm hooked. Love Steve's quirky nature.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue May 08, 2012 1:22 pm

pinkiewerewolf wrote:I couldn't agree more!
WWMM... I'm hooked. Love Steve's quirky nature.

He does have a unique method of emphasis and knows when to use it!:D