Dear health and safety… be my Valentine xx
To singer Frank Sinatra, Chicago and New York weren’t just places to live. Chicago was “my kind of town”; New York was the “city that never sleeps”, a place he wanted to be a part of. Both songs he sang about these famous places were love letters to locations that had captured his heart.
Actually, the same can be said of health and safety – to those that dedicate their professional lives to it, it becomes a labour of love, not just a job. So, to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, IOSH ran a snap poll on its website that asked visitors the question: “Complete the sentence – I ❤ health and safety because…”
And the responses that came in didn’t disappoint, clearly showing the love that health and safety people feel for the life-enhancing work they do. Like all Valentine’s messages, their love notes will remain anonymous, but here’s a selection of what came back…
I ❤ health and safety because…
- “It gives me purpose and meaning in life”
- “It gets my colleagues and myself home safely every day”
- “I love protecting workers from workplace injury and ill-health and reducing absence from work”
- “It brings out the best in people. Employers show they care and workers learn to look after each other”
- “It’s a beautiful, misunderstood and underappreciated art”
- “It lets me go home to my loved ones”
- “I can make a difference”.
It’s not every profession that generates and enjoys this level of love and respect.
Wherever you are in the world, whatever your role in ensuring our safety and health, have a Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤
