Safety is a Value

Many times I will hear organizations say "Safety is our #1 Priority" or see it on a banner/sign somewhere as I walk the facility. I will admit that I inwardly cringe as I see this. It's great that companies are talking about safety so that employees can hear it. It's great that companies are creating visuals about safety so that employees see it.

Is it the exact message they should convey? No. Safety should never be a priority.

I'll give you a minute to digest that statement coming from a safety professional. It's not what you usually hear or even want to hear. I get it.

Let's look at a the definition of priority as taken from the dictionary:

noun, plural pri·or·i·ties

• the state or quality of being earlier in time, occurrence, etc.
• the right to precede others in order, rank, privilege, etc.; precedence.
• the right to take precedence in obtaining certain supplies, services, facilities, etc., especially during a shortage.
• something given special attention.

adjective

• highest or higher in importance, rank, privilege, etc.:
• a priority task.

Using the definition, let's take the word safety and play with it for a minute. By saying safety is a priority, we are saying the following:

• Safety is the state or quality of being earlier in time, occurrence, etc.
• Safety is the right to precede others in order, rank, privilege, etc.; precedence.
• Safety is the right to take precedence in obtaining certain supplies, services, facilities, etc.; especially during a shortage
• Safety is something given special attention.
• Safety is the highest or higher in importance, rank, privilege, etc.
• Safety is a priority task.

Safety used with the definitions does sound good and all but what happens when the priority has to change. It doesn't say anything about priorities never changing, does it?

Now, let's take a look at the definition of a value (as defined in worth since the dictionary has a focus on the monetary side of the definition of value) as taken from the dictionary:

• Value, worth imply intrinsic excellence or desirability. Value is that quality of anything which renders it desirable or useful: the value of sunlight or good books.
• Worth implies especially spiritual qualities of mind and character, or moral excellence: Few knew her true worth.

Like we did with priority, let's put safety in front of these definitions.

• Safety as a value implies intrinsic excellence or desirability.
• Safety as a value implies spiritual qualities of mind and character, or moral excellence.

Do we want everyone in an organization to take safety as seriously as a spiritual quality. Yes.

Do we want everyone in an organization to take safety so seriously that it becomes part of their character? Yes.

Do we want everyone in an organization to take safety as a factor of excellence? Yes.

Safety should never be a priority. Priorities change (I think mine have changed about 3 times today and it's not even 8am as I type this). Values don't change (usually).