May 12 2019
By: Terry L. Mathis
I continue to be amazed at the prevalence of the mindset that safety is some kind of bolt-on addition to production. Safety should not be something else you do! It should be the WAY you do it! Safety should be an integral part of any job procedure. When you ask a worker to describe how to do something or to demonstrate how it should be done, safety should be completely integrated into that description. Workers and safety managers often say that a person knows how to get the job done but is not as safe as they could be. 
STOP saying that! If they don't know how to get the job done safely, they don't know how to get the job done!
A proper mindset must be established and constantly reinforced to turn into common practice. Using language that implies that job skills and safety skills are separate totally undermines the accomplishment of establishing that mindset.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
