McMillan: Promote Safety Off the Job

Sept. 26, 2001
Because employees are safer on the job than off, safety professionals need to do a better job of promoting safety outside the\r\nworkplace, NSC president tells Congress attendees.

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Safety professionals already are being asked to take on new roles, such as security and emergency response, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to Alan C. McMillan, president and chief executive officer of the National Safety Council (NSC). Yet, safety pros need to do even more, McMillan says.

Speaking Monday at the opening session of the NSC Congress & Expo at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, McMillan told several thousand attendees that they cannot be concerned only with workplace injuries and deaths.

While 5,200 died at work in 2000, 97,300 Americans died in preventable accidents. Of that total, 43,000 died on U.S. roadways, and 41,800 employees died away from work.

"Your concern [for safety] no longer stops at the plant gate or at the end of the day," McMillan said. "This is America''s safety challenge: to prevent all injuries and deaths, no matter where, when or how they occur. Few companies today take such a universal approach to managing safety."

Before dismissing the concept as too big of a challenge, McMillan said, remember that workers'' thoughts may turn away from working safely if a family member has been injured or killed. The emotional trauma may cause the worker to miss work or, if at work, to become distracted and less productive.

Engraining safety into the minds of workers, McMillan said, will help them take that message home to their families. "It is time for each of us to use our knowledge and our skills to reach out to our employees, their families and the community at large. Who better to lead this effort that the tens of thousands of safety professionals, trained and equipped by the best organizations in our country."

by Todd Nighswonger

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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