How do employees know whether or not safety really is a value or just a priority for the company they work for? They know by the actions of their leaders. The employee looks to the line management to see if they keep up with the safety programs and meetings in spite of other cutbacks. The line management looks to their leadership to see if they are supported in their efforts to maintain a safe workplace and encourage safe work behaviors. The top leaders in a company need to watch themselves to make sure they are sending the appropriate messages to their teams. If they continue to support safety committees and safety professionals by continuing to support programs, meetings, safety celebrations and whatever has worked for them in the past they then send the right message. If they choose in the midst of tough times to increase the budget for the safety team they send an even stronger message.

Sadly, at conventions I have heard from some safety professionals that their leadership has cancelled meetings, chosen not to go forward with a new behavioral program they were preparing to begin or have cut back on safety in some other way. The tragedy is that this action speaks louder to employees than any speech, sign or safety slogan ever will. This is the kind of behavior that will linger in people’s minds for years and years to come.

Is safety a value for your company or has it been reduced to only a priority? For the past couple of years many companies have regarded safety as one of their core values. It appears in their annual reports and on plaques on their walls. Unfortunately, just calling something a value doesn't make it so. Values actually never change. Values, however, areoften times promoted but become compromised when they are tested by tough times.

What are your values? Which values for you are absolutely uncompromisable? I have the privilege of working with some of our country's top corporations. One thing I have observed is that their actions tell you more about their corporate values than any mission statement or plaque in their front lobby. One company value that I know isn't taken for granted is quality. After all, how many customers would be gone in an instant never to return again if they knew the quality of a food product was compromised in order to cut the budget? What if a food company said, "Look, the economy is tight. Let’s not worry about quality for awhile. We can save a few dollars by eliminating some ingredients or by not spending as much on sanitation. How many people will really get sick? And, even if they do, they probably won’t think it was because of us with all the junk food people eat these days.”

Obviously, that is ludicrous! Likewise, I am confident that no one in an airplane plant is going to say, "Look, just get it done! Who cares if a few welds or rivets aren't perfect?"

The previous examples would show, however, by actions, that quality was not a value.

In my conversations with safety professionals at conventions and association meetings, several, thankfully none of my clients, have shared since September 11, 2001, “We have cut back on our safety meetings because of budget.”…“Our safety team is being cut back.”…”We don't have the money to do the safety programs we have been doing over the past several years.”

I am relieved to share that this has only involved a few. My clients are willing to stick with their safety programs even when the economy has taken a nosedive. They are proving by their actions that safety is, indeed, one of their core values that will be upheld through thick and thin! Why is this so important? Simple... values take years to establish and only moments to destroy.

Honesty is one such value. If someone trusts you that is a very special thing. If you do something to break that trust how can you earn it back? In some cases you can't. Once you have lied to them, how do they know when you might lie again?

Corporate executives who hold safety as a value are tested by their actions not their words. For the past several years, many companies have told theiremployees and the public that safety is a value, which means it is and never will be compromised. What is tragic is that many people have taken them at their word and their actions up to now have earned them this reputation. What I am afraid is happening now is that a few corporate leaders and middle managers have forgotten how hard it is to establish a value and now they are risking safety as one of their values by their actions.

By doing anything less than they have in the past when it comes to safety they send the message that safety is merely a priority that can be sacrificed when things are a bit difficult.

The greatest tragedy is that it will take years and usually a change in management to restore safety as a value. After all, why should employees

believe the corporate leadership if safety was cut back on while quality and other corporate values weren't.

I am proud to say that many of my clients have proven their commitment to safety as a value. I just spoke last week to a company who moved their safety meeting from one week after the September 11th events to this January because they know that you don’t compromise on safety. They knew that their second annual safety leaders conference would give their managers, and safety committee members the tools they need to carry out their mission. They are dealing with the same tough economic times that we are all facing but for them safety is a value and is never compromised.

Ironically, those corporate leaders who are committed to helping people work safely are rewarded beyond the satisfaction of knowing they are sticking to their principles. The fact is that over the next few months they will see their injury rates decrease or at least they will prevent some injuries that may have happened and their companies will have greater profits because every dollar not spent on an injury is the same as a dollar earned as profit. To me this is perfect as I believe those who live by their principles are ultimately rewarded.

I hope you have taken the opportunity to use this moment in history to teach those around you what your principles really are. If you haven’t considered this angle up to now there is still time. Before the economy surges forwardas it is bound to do in a country as great as ours, make it a point to revitalize your safety program. Hold a special safety celebration, reschedule a canceled kickoff and do whatever it takes to show you do hold safety as a value. Who knows how many lives you will impact as a result?

Thank you for taking the time to read these thoughts. I hope they have been helpful to you. Whether you are experiencing some of the cutbacks I mentioned or have stayed the course, please share this message with your corporate leadership. Thank them for sending the message that will strengthen the safety culture of your company. CEO's, Presidents, vice-presidents, managers, supervisors, foremen…all must be dedicated to making sure the message of safety remains strong during all times.

Imagine the incredible safety message sent by clients who continue their dedication to safety as a value during these times. What an incredible message they send!

Keep safe and I look forward to sharing further thoughts next week.

Have a motivating week. Until next time, warm regards, John Drebinger

PS. If you have any stories of how your company is staying the course for
safety let me know by emailing me at john@drebinger.com


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