Safety Speaker John Drebinger Says “Safety People Are Awesome”

How often do you thank the members of your safety team? Whether they are safety professionals or volunteers on your safety team or even people who have been appointed based upon their position in your organization, they are a special group of people. As a safety speaker, I always end any presentation to safety teams or leaders with a thank you on behalf of all the people they protect.

First, as a safety speaker, I thank them for the time from their own life they have given in order to make sure their fellow workers make it home to their families every day. I tell them I know they are paid to do that task, whether as a volunteer or part of their job description and they live and work in a country where they choose for whom they work. If they weren’t willing to do that task they could seek employment somewhere else. I do find it exciting that even those safety team members who had someone else volunteer them for the position quickly catch the vision of safety and enjoy the assignment. Perhaps they realize what we do really makes a difference. Safety speakers as myself get to see a lot of this. Between presentations, I have had many safety team members tell me they were appointed but now they love it. Secondly, as a safety speaker I point out many safety team members spend more time on safety than what is on the clock. They often stay after team meetings having discussions with their fellow team members. They create ideas off the job then bring those to the next meeting. Their focus on safety 24/7 allows them to think of ways your company can make the job safer. Finally, I remind everyone that none of us knows how many days we have left in this precious gift of life. I thank them for the hours, or days they have given of themselves on behalf of others. When they spend three days at a safety conference to improve their skills or learn more those are three days they can’t get back.

A friend of mine specializes in working with organizations and charities helping them get volunteers. One of the most important factors he points out is people want to make a difference. They are willing to dedicate their time when they believe that time will help others and have an impact. Be sure to talk to your team members about the ways they make a difference. Share with them success stories of how safety performance has improved. Have people who were protected by their work thank them.

Thank everyone who helps with safety from the newest worker to the CEO of your company. In general, we fail to thank people enough and doing so will go a long way in keeping those who help you as active contributing members of your team.