"Nurse, fetch me another beer."

More than sixty years ago my dad got hit by a truck. Nearly killed him. He spent the next three months hospitalized with a broken back. I've been told the crew popped over with cold brews from time to time handing them up through an open window. "Something about lifting his spirits up," he said. The money those men spent on a few beers could have been put toward some safety equipment. Unfortunately, the first generation of hi vis clothing wouldn't see the light of day for another 15 years.

Fast forward to today. We're better off. Society has put a higher price tag on safety. Fewer people are struck by lightning. We live longer, generally. Still historically, five construction workers are killed at work every week in the US of A.

Sure, back up alarms and state of the art cameras help prevent accidents. Without them, the numbers have been and would be far worse. One fourth of construction related deaths can be attributed to not being seen.

Poor safety practices can lead to accidents. Accidents almost guarantee increased expenses, OSHA fines and even lawyer fees. Still one thing hasn't changed in sixty plus years, a few dollars invested in safety equipment can and will save company owners some serious headaches and maybe even a cold one or two.

"There is a better investment than an employee's well being," nobody ever said.