Imagine working in an organization where all levels of employees contribute to reducing risk by driving away workplace hazards, leading to injury-free, safety bliss. Would you not think you’d struck gold? Finding this type of “gold” is often difficult but, in the end, immensely valuable to any organization. This treasure amounts to great fortune in the form of shrunken workers compensation premiums, strong employee contentment and overall superior operational efficiency. As organizational leaders and safety professionals, we need to diligently mine for gold! Consider these clever words of wisdom about “gold” taken from song and verse that advise us well in our gold-mining efforts.
Portia’s father in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice penned in a note to his daughter’s suitor: “All that glisters is not gold.” Sadly, this suitor unwisely settled on something that immediately appeared valuable on the outside but within held little worth. He lost his opportunity to marry Portia, ending up alone. All too often, organizations find themselves in a similar predicament: one person performs all the safety functions for an organization “glister[ing]” with little value. In actuality, the more who are committed to the risk-reducing causes, the more an organization “glisters” with gold! Don’t be fooled, like Portia’s suitor, into thinking you have struck gold (employee involvement in safety) by hiring an EHS specialist or by creating a few safety committees. That’s a better “glistering” effort but, until all in the organization are engaged in the safety programs of the organization, the “glistering” you see might only be an indication of larger deposits of gold hidden in the mountain. Continue mining.
“Glistering” signals the mother lode is close. Pay careful attention to the wizard Gandalf’s council to Frodo Baggins in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring: “All that is gold does not glitter.” Mr. Gandalf, of course, was referring to a weather-beaten, scruffy ranger, that turns out to be the lost king of the land that, in the end of the story, leads the men of Middle Earth to victory over Sauron’s evil army. (Sorry for the spoiler, but the book’s been around for over 60 years!) Contractors, including staffing employees, often fulfill non-core functions for businesses that utilize their services. These less-glittery contract employees can have a profound contribution to increasing safety achievement. At first site they appear not-so-glittery but, if deputized with safety responsibility, those contractors are a helpful source for greater safety success. Get your contractors involved in your safety programs and then continue mining.
All experienced miners know that there’s always more gold hiding in the mountain. Robert Plant and Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin lyrically offer this befuddling, what-I-think-is “advice” in Stairway to Heaven: “There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold.” (Actually, I’m not sure what this song is about and, judging the written banter I read on the Internet, nobody else knows either. Rock Stars, huh?) The words make me think about the dangers of being too “sure” about anything, including achieving safety excellence through involvement. Never be “sure” that you’ve found all the gold, meaning there are always more people to involve in safety. Don’t make the mistake in thinking that all are involved that are going to be involved. Never give up your gold mining! Involve more and more people around you in the safety cause!
I’m sure few, if any, actual gold miners have sought advice from Shakespeare, Tolkien or even Led Zeppelin. However, safety practitioners all too often find advice and inspiration in out-of-the ordinary sources. Remember in your mining not to be fooled by “glistering” safety involvement; do better than that! In your mining, seek for gold that may not glitter but that is gold nonetheless among your contractors. Finally, never be “sure” you’ve found all the gold there is. There’s always more gold to be found with greater employee involvement. As you strike gold, your organization will be wealthier, happier and more efficient with outstanding safety achievement.
Happy mining and Live Safety!
To read more about MAU’s core value to “Live Safety,” click here.
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