HSE pill #1: The REAL meaning of Industrial Safety.

Throughout the vast expanse of the internet, one of the most commonly encountered definitions of industrial safety can be succinctly summarized as follows: it encompasses the rules and practices implemented within a company to avert accidents, injuries, and material or human losses.

This definition, though quite straightforward and generic, serves its purpose of shedding light on the overarching goal of industrial safety.

However, reaching this point of well-established laws, standards, and safety practices, along with the organizations ensuring their enforcement, has been a journey fraught with significant developments.

Many centuries ago, scholars like Hippocrates, Aristotle, Pliny, and Galen delved into studies on miners' diseases, albeit limited to early treatises on mineralogy. The true emphasis on work-related illnesses and preventive measures emerged much later in the 15th century when Ulrich Ellenbaf authored the first book on the subject in Germany, now acknowledged almost anecdotally as the pioneering work on industrial safety.

The onset of the Industrial Revolution became a turning point, leading to a surge in occupational diseases and fatalities due to excruciatingly long working hours, abysmal health conditions, and overcrowded factories brimming with intricate machinery, solely focused on augmenting production capacity. The concept of ergonomics had not yet found its name, and it wasn't until the late 1940s, a full two centuries after the advent of the Industrial Revolution, that the study of ergonomics commenced.

Before the implementation of the first safety net, numerous masons tragically fell from bridges and skyscrapers under construction.

Throughout human history, many shipwrecks have occurred, but it was the harrowing disaster of RMS Titanic that prompted a significant transformation in regulations for passenger ships. This catastrophe led to the establishment of crucial measures, such as defining the minimum number of lifeboats required on each cruise ship.

In our history, there have been painful events like the "Haymarket Riot" in Chicago, where around a hundred men and women lost their lives during protests, and eight others were executed or sentenced to death in subsequent trials. The heart of these protests was not about politicizing unions or seeking salary increases; it was a fight for the most fundamental human right: the right to life.

Without adding any political connotations, this article serves as a reflection and a plea to professionals at all levels who might view industrial safety merely as a bureaucratic formality or a box to tick. Industrial safety is an inherent right, not something to be earned. It is a privilege that many sacrificed their lives for, and even in contemporary times, unforeseen events can occur if we fail to remain vigilant and dedicated to adhering to proper industrial safety protocols.

The most significant ecological disasters of our generation could have been prevented if comprehensive risk identification and control processes had been diligently applied. Although these processes are not new or obscure, there was a time when they were considered unnecessary or not financially viable.

Indeed, defining industrial safety goes beyond the simplistic explanation mentioned earlier. It requires delving into its origins and understanding its foundational principles. Common sense dictates that adhering to processes and regulations in industrial safety is crucial to preventing the recurrence of tragic moments from our industrial history. By doing so, we ensure that the painful events of the past do not repeat themselves in the present and future.