Essential Books for Safety Professionals: From My Library to Yours

Often when teaching or having a meeting over ZOOM, fellow safety professionals will ask about the books I have in my professional library. As an avid reader, I have over 6,000 books (not all of them on the practice of safety) but many are. In the rapidly evolving field of occupational safety and health, it is crucial for safety professionals to maintain a thorough understanding of current practices, legal frameworks, and emerging safety theories. An essential way to ensure continual professional development is by cultivating a robust library of key texts. Second only to my relationships with my mentors, my books have provided me with guidance and wisdom throughout the years. This article discusses foundational texts that I believe every safety professional should consider adding to their library.

Overview of Key Books

1. "Supervisors' Safety Manual" by Linda F. Martin and Daniel Corcoran

This manual provides practical guidance tailored specifically for supervisors in various industries. It covers the essentials of safety management, employee training, and regulatory compliance. The clear writing and actionable advice make it a must-have for supervisors to foster a safer workplace environment.

2. "Save Lives" by Simon Goncharenko

This book emphasizes the critical role of safety leadership in organizations. Goncharenko provides strategies for safety professionals to influence organizational culture positively. Given that cultural change is often more effective than regulatory compliance, this text is invaluable for those leading safety initiatives.

3. "Safety Professionals Handbook," Third Edition by the American Society of Safety Professionals

This comprehensive handbook encompasses a wide range of topics related to workplace safety management. It serves as a robust reference source for safety standards, regulations, and best practices, allowing professionals to stay current with industry developments.

4. "The Failure of Risk Management" by Douglas W. Hubbard

Hubbard critiques traditional risk management practices, arguing that many approaches fail to adequately assess and mitigate risks. This book is essential for safety professionals seeking to adopt more effective risk assessment methodologies based on data-driven decision-making.

5. "Occupational Safety and Health Law Handbook" by Attorneys from Ogletree-Deakins

This handbook is an indispensable resource for legal aspects of occupational safety and health. It covers various regulations, interpretations, and case law that impact safety professionals, helping them navigate the complexities of workplace safety compliance.

6. "Safety Law" by Thomas D. Schneid

Schneid offers insights into the legal landscape surrounding safety regulations. Understanding the law is crucial for safety professionals who need to ensure compliance and defend against potential legal actions stemming from workplace incidents.

7. "Advanced Safety Management - Focusing on Z10 and Serious Injury Prevention" by Fred Manuele

This book introduces advanced concepts of safety management, particularly the ANSI Z10 standard, and stresses the importance of preventing serious injuries at work. Manuele’s insights lend themselves to building a proactive organizational culture on the basis that hazards are best controlled in the design and planning of work.

8. "On the Practice of Safety" by Fred Manuele

In this text, Manuele explores the philosophical and practical aspects of safety management. He argues for a refined understanding of safety beyond incident rates, advocating for a holistic approach to safety practices.

9. "Heinrich Revisited: Truisms or Myths" by Fred Manuele

Manuele critiques Heinrich’s safety pyramid and discusses its implications for safety practice. This text compels safety professionals to reassess traditional models and their applicability in contemporary settings.

10. "Do Safety Differently" by Todd Conklin and Sidney Dekker

This innovative book challenges traditional safety paradigms, advocating for a focus on systems thinking and resilience in safety management. It is crucial for safety professionals aiming for a fundamental transformation in their approach to safety.

11. "The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error" by Sidney Dekker

Dekker covers the psychology of human behavior in safety contexts, emphasizing the need for safety systems that acknowledge human limitations. This guide is vital for professionals focused on human factors in their safety programs.

12. "Pre-Accident Investigations" by Todd Conklin

The focus of this book is on proactive strategies for understanding potential safety failures before they lead to accidents. Conklin’s approach to investigation offers safety professionals a framework for uncovering underlying issues in their operations.

13. "Human Error" by James Reason

Reason’s seminal work on human error provides foundational knowledge on why accidents occur and how to design systems that minimize errors. It remains one of the most cited texts in safety literature and is crucial for understanding human factors in safety.

14. "A Field Guide to Safety Professional Practice" by Dr. David Provan

This field guide outlines the competencies required of safety professionals, offering practical insights into successful safety management. It is a helpful tool for both new and seasoned professionals looking to enhance their practice.

15. "Managing Psychosocial Hazards and Work-Related Stress in Today's Work Environment" by Ellen Pinkos Cobb

Cobb’s text is important for understanding and addressing the psychosocial aspects of workplace safety. It offers strategies for managing stressors that contribute to workplace accidents, making it essential for holistic safety management.

16. "Risk Assessment - A Practical Guide to Assessing Operational Risks" by Georgi Popov, Bruce K. Lyon, and Bruce Hollcroft

This guide presents practical methods for conducting effective risk assessments, a core responsibility for safety professionals. Its structured approach to risk evaluation simplifies complex processes.

17. "Safety Professional's Reference and Study Guide" by W. David Yates

This reference guide is optimized for quick access to key safety management information. It serves as a practical tool for safety professionals to ensure compliance and enhance their knowledge base.

18. "Disastrous Decisions - The Human and Organizational Causes of the Gulf of Mexico Blowout" by Andrew Hopkins

Hopkins explores the organizational failures that contributed to the Gulf oil spill. The analysis provides critical lessons on decision-making processes in safety-critical environments.

19. "Managing Major Hazards - The Lessons of the Moura Mine Disaster" by Andrew Hopkins

This book delves into the review of major incidents and emphasizes the importance of effective hazard management strategies. The lessons learned are applicable across various industries.

20. "What Went Wrong" by Trevor Kletz

Kletz’s exploration of industrial accidents aims to identify root causes and prevent future occurrences. His practical approach is essential for safety professionals keen on understanding historical failures.

21. "Applied Process Hazard Analysis - The Operational Questions" by Glenn Young

Young provides guidance on conducting hazard analysis in operational contexts. This book is vital for safety professionals involved in process safety management.

Case Study: Utilizing Texts to Investigate a Workplace Fatality

As a safety professional I was faced with a workplace fatality investigation where classic approaches yielded unclear insights. By consulting "Pre-Accident Investigations" by Todd Conklin and "Do Safety Differently," I was able to shift their focus from blame to understanding the systemic issues that contributed to the fatal accident. Lessons on human error from James Reason's "Human Error" provided a deeper understanding of the workers' interactions with the safety systems in place. By synthesizing knowledge from these texts, the professional developed a comprehensive report that not only addressed the immediate concerns but also proposed systemic changes leading to enhanced safety protocols. Thus, the utilization of an extensive reference library proved invaluable in advancing workplace safety and instilling a commitment to ongoing professional development.

By investing in their education and resources, safety professionals can better protect lives and cultivate safer workplaces. The journey of a lifelong learner, armed with scholarly texts, ultimately leads to the continuous enhancement of safety practices for all.

Conclusion

The importance of building a well-rounded library filled with essential safety texts cannot be overstated. In a field where knowledge and continuous learning are paramount, these books equip safety professionals with the tools, strategies, and insights necessary to effectively address workplace hazards and foster an organizational culture of safety.

James A. Junkin, MS, CSP, MSP, SMS, ASP, CSHO is the chief executive officer of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, LLC and the chair of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board and the past chair of Professional Safety journal’s editorial review board. James is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP). He is Columbia Southern University’s 2022 Safety Professional of the Year (Runner Up), a 2023 recipient of the National Association of Environmental Management's (NAEM) 30 over 30 Award for excellence in the practice of occupational safety and health and sustainability, and the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) 2024 Safety Professional of the Year for Training and Communications, and the recipient of the ASSP 2023-2024 Charles V. Culberson award. He is a much sought after master trainer, keynote speaker, podcaster of The Risk Matrix, and author of numerous articles concerning occupational safety and health.