An executive coach says when he asks senior leaders what safety means to them, many pause and say, “Well, safety means everybody gets to go home.” What, are we fighting a war? This idea of workers getting to “Return home each and every day” is popping up in corporate annual reports, CEO speeches, and corporate “values statements” on websites. It joins other safety clichés as such “Safety First” “Safety Above All” “Safety is Forever,” “No Safety No Business,” “With Safety, We Win.”
What’s new in this recent addition to the pantheon of safety adages is referencing “home,” and by extension “family.” You know, “Your family is waiting on you.” Or “Accidents hurt families as well as workers.” Safety slogans traditionally have centered on the workplace. “Safety is first around here.” “Safety is equal to productivity and quality.” “The safe way is the only way to work.”