Standing on the threshold of the 37th safety week and all geared up to start off the celebration, time is ripe to ask some pertinent questions. Safety is a word that is so commonplace yet important and sometimes elusive. To me, being safe means living in a predictable and familiar environment, devoid of any threatening element. It is an assurance of an existence that is trouble free and agreeable but is it really so? I feel safety is a paradox for it underscores inherent uncertainty. Ever increasing population, rapid industrial expansion and ambitious human endeavors have complicated and intertwined the concepts of assured, predictable living and posed greater uncertainties and associated hazards. Some one rightly said “Early and Provident fear is the mother of safety.” and no wonder it is only the after the most catastophic tragedies of Bhopal Gas Disaster in 1984 that safety issues were taken seriously .Changes were made in safety legislation and their scope expanded .However mere legislations will not help, commitment to implememtation and holistic approach towards safety is mandated
At a more micro level the concern for safety boils over to individual awareness and attitude for safety be it one’s home, work place, kitchen or road. Safety for most of us is a minor concern and often compromised for convenience. A demonstration of kitchen safety at my office yesterday became a joke.Someone called it " A how to cut vegetables without actually chopping of your fingers session " Another gentleman who on the verge of his retiremnt was asked to give a talk on safety and gosh!! he spoke on his favorite topic religious teachings for good 35 mins .Little did he care for the gravity and importance of the occasion.
It is only our this attitude that we give a damn to this word and relegate it to HSE department of our organization and honestly it is only yesterday I realised that I was also among one of those negligent many . small little things like wearing a seat belt and keeping in limits can make a lot of difference. But to actually make the difference we must have that attitiude . This is what I felt yesterday , I need some honest inputs from you all as well
what works for you to feel safe ???
