At a safety industry event a few months ago, a long-time veteran with friendships in the field going back 25 to 30 years stepped to the stage to accept his retirement booty. Squinting into the stage lights, he talked about the changes he had seen — consolidations, globalization and the like — and then added: “Unfortunately, I think we’re in for more changes, and not all of them good.â€
His wistful look at the good old days mixed with a dubious sense of things to come is a tone that has been sounded by other safety and health vets.