Safety Speaker With An Open Letter To President Obama

As a safety speaker you notice many opportunities to share safety with people. One day watching the news I saw our president boarding Air Force One on television. He bounded up the stairs and not once did he touch the handrail. I understand that image is everything in politics, however for leaders being an example is vital. As a safety speaker I can’t tell you how many thousands of people in offices I have encouraged to always use the handrail. It is clearly the best fall protection for most office workers.

Safety Speaker John’s Letter To The President

This letter was originally sent to the White House by email (CLICK HERE TO READ LETTER)  as that is their preferred way to write to the President. Readers of my newsletter have asked if I have received a response as they are likewise concerned for the safety of our President. As of January 15th 2013 I have not and am going to use other methods to hopefully get this concern to the President. Any help you can be in this effort is appreciated. As a safety speaker I am committed to getting results. – Yours in Safety John Drebinger

December 3, 2012

President Barack Hussein Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

My name is John Drebinger and I have been a safety motivational speaker for the past twenty-two years. In my most recent book and presentations, I teach employees the importance of and how to watch out for the safety of others, which brings me to the purpose of this letter. Mr. President, would you like me to watch out for your safety? I am assuming the answer to be yes.

I have noticed on more than one occasion when you are going up or down the stairs of Air Force One you do not use the handrail. There are two problems with this. One, you yourself could be injured if you slipped and secondly, others could be hurt by following your example. Of all the ways people are injured on the job, falls are typically the most common and often have tragic consequences.

As you know, leadership by example is one of the most powerful ways to help people follow in the direction you want them to move. I know you are committed to the safety of every person in this nation’s workforce. We safety professionals spend a significant amount of time encouraging people to use the handrail and to make it a part of everyone’s safety culture. It would provide an outstanding lesson to people if they saw the leader of our great nation taking care of his own safety and setting the example for everyone else.

I know the image of youthfully bounding up and down the stairs is important and yet I am sure you could convey that same image while doing the safe thing and holding the handrail as you descend or ascend the stairs.

I look forward to being able to point out to my audiences that our President cares enough about safety to protect himself and others by providing such a significant example. I would love the opportunity to share my safety message to the staff of the White House as I have done for the employees of many of our nation’s largest corporations.

Thank you for giving this issue your consideration and let me know of any way I can be of service to you.

Yours in Safety,

John Drebinger Jr.

As of October 27th 2015 I never received a reply to my comment on the White House website or to this article. Sometimes safety speakers know that doing the right thing is just what you need to do. I wonder how many safety motivational speakers wish they had an opportunity to share their safety message in the White House. I know I would love to have the opportunity.