Having spent many years in manufacturing and the industrial world, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of safety standards. As we are a few days away from celebrating Thanksgiving, a recent incident has been weighing on my mind. I saw someone get seriously hurt on a jobsite because they weren’t “following the rules,” and it served as a reminder of just how imperative workplace safety rules are. It’s moments like those that make me thankful for OSHA standards and the protections they provide.
A Safety Manager once shared a story with me of a worker in a food processing plant who tried to jump over an open vat but tragically fell to his gruesome death. Then there is my neighbor’s father, who spent his entire career in the sheet metal stamping. He never wore hearing protection and is now 90% deaf. At family gatherings, he struggles to hear his grandchildren laugh and play—a heartbreaking reminder of the lifelong consequences of not understanding the importance of wearing hearing protection while at work. Or the young 20-year-old worker who fell from a local jobsite rooftop and is now paralyzed — his entire life altered because proper fall protection wasn’t in place.
These stories echo others I’ve heard repeatedly over the years: tragedies that did not have to happen. A fall leading to a severe skull fracture, a teenager losing a finger in a printing press, a grain silo accident that claimed a young worker’s life—all preventable with the right safety protocols and equipment. Hearing these stories is a reminder of the real consequences when safety takes a back seat. Stories like these show how lapses in safety measures can have irreversible consequences, devastating individuals, families, and communities.
The sad truth is that many of these injuries could have been prevented with simple, proactive steps. “My injury could have been prevented if… the broken machine part was replaced,” or if “a supervisor was present.” These words echo a truth I have seen repeatedly: safety doesn’t just happen. It requires commitment, planning, and action. OSHA safety standards exist to protect employees and to create safer workplaces for everyone. Employers are responsible for ensuring that workers have the necessary training, personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency plans in place. These are not just checkboxes; they are lifelines.
As we approach the season of gratitude, I find myself particularly thankful for the people and organizations that work to uphold these safety standards. It is not just about compliance; it is about the lives that are saved, the injuries that are avoided, and the families who don’t have to endure the pain of losing a loved one.
What are you thankful for this season? For me, it’s the peace of mind that comes from knowing that safety is now a priority in far more workplaces than it was in the past. If you want to create a workplace where safety is a top priority in 2025 – let’s talk. Contact us at info@ifogroup.com or at 832-403-2135.
