I am very amused when a company says that safety is their "#1 PRIORITY". I have yet to see a "for profit" company that cares less about making money than they do about ensuring the health and wellness of the world. If this were the case, all corners in every office would be rounded off so you don't hit your funny bone. All walls would be padded, and any task that was even slightly dangerous, like using an ink pen, would not be allowed. The coffee would not be scalding hot, but only lukewarm. In fact, driving to work is very dangerous and all employees would just be told to stay home while the company finishes filing for bankruptcy.
This is not the case. It sounds good to say, but in reality, safety is nowhere near the top priority. MONEY is the top priority. The reason that safety is even an issue is the fact that injury, death, and lawsuits are very unprofitable. If an employee losing a limb was actually profitable, there would be an axe swinging in the employee entrance of every Starbucks. Lets review the real list of priorities for every profitable company:
1. Profit
2. Loss avoidance
192. Safety
If I start a company, there will be a sign in the break room that says:
"Safety is our 192nd Priority!
It comes just after our 191st priority, keeping the cracks in the asphalt of the parking lot free of weeds.
This is not the case. It sounds good to say, but in reality, safety is nowhere near the top priority. MONEY is the top priority. The reason that safety is even an issue is the fact that injury, death, and lawsuits are very unprofitable. If an employee losing a limb was actually profitable, there would be an axe swinging in the employee entrance of every Starbucks. Lets review the real list of priorities for every profitable company:
1. Profit
2. Loss avoidance
192. Safety
If I start a company, there will be a sign in the break room that says:
"Safety is our 192nd Priority!
It comes just after our 191st priority, keeping the cracks in the asphalt of the parking lot free of weeds.
