THE PRICE OF SAFETY DEMANDS MORE THAN SAFETY EXPERTISE

In summary: the cost of accidents is growing faster than inflation; the more sophisticated the safety technique, the steeper the rate of cost increase; the cost of safety is going up faster than the rate of inflation, perhaps faster than the cost of accidents and injuries; mandated safety is the most expensive kind and may become too expensive to implement; the cost of safety is such that there are distinct advantages to taking risks (being unsafe); and we might gain the upper hand on this vicious cost cycle through; (1) more efficient safety techniques; (2) an appreciation of the social, political, and governmental factors bearing on our profession; and (3) knowing more about all types of safety so that a coordinated application of the best techniques is carried out. In answer to the question, Can we afford to be safe? the answer is, depends. It depends largely on us. We must realize that there is good and bad safety, right and wrong safety. Tomorrow calls for us to increase the scope and effectiveness of safety disciplines if we want to survive in the battle against the increasing costs of safety. (Author)