A visit was arranged to a big company sometime ago, it's name cannot quite come to mind, but it is recalled it had a large compound with equally mighty equipment and plenty of staff wearing helmets and overalls.
The company offered me a good first impression about safety, and before i left the place that very day, something stayed with me. It was an inscription that read thus "SAFETY IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, AND YOUR SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY". Wow, that sure is a wake up call, but after thoroughly reflecting upon the text, i found that the level of relevance of the sentence largely depends on the environment in which it is preached.
"The safety of the people shall be the highest law"...Marcus Tullius Cicero.
When the word "safety" which in general terms emotionally connotes protection from danger and risk, comes to the fore, we obviously immediately, intuitively and impulsively attribute the scenario to preservation of life, just like a super brand, like we know "nike" is a sports brand.
What does life mean to each and everyone of us? collectively and otherwise. What measures are the representatives of the people in government taking to ensure that the precious lives of the citizenry are not prematurely cut off? What values are being strategically put in place to make the lives of the populace valuable enough to guaranty quality content in the society in ways such that value is being added to the society?
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist, that is all"...Oscar Wilde
Companies that consider environmental protection, occupational health and safety at work as important as providing quality products usually have managers and departments responsible for these issues.
They are called Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), also SHE or HSE.
They basically have two general objectives:
i. Prevention of accidents that may result from abnormal operating conditions.
ii. Reduction of adverse effects that result from normal operating conditions.
Unfortunately, we all know that in Nigeria, the government cannot adequately guaranty the safety of her citizens. The safety signs at work appear to be mere formality, as we constantly get evidences of maltreatment of workers in high risk working environments. Even when the workers suffer harm, it is then discovered that there has been no insurance put in place and adequate compensation is not given.
Terrorism has been added to the negative list of Nigeria's woes, making it more difficult to warm her brand to the hearts of the rest of the world, after consistently being negatively branded with illiteracy, corruption and failed leadership for as long as i can remember.
The latest embarrassment is the recent massacre of dozens of students in a boarding school in Yobe state, Nigeria.
The government apparently has neither a clue to what is really happening, nor has a clear cut goal towards diminishing the trend, thus making safety a far cry to her citizens.
This is a country that is internationally respected as one of the greatest crude oil producers and exporters, boasting of about $50b foreign reserves, countless untapped human and mineral resources, yet having dilapidated infrastructure, while a few people considered the "cabal" hold the country to ransom, amassing the wealth for themselves.
The scenario is made worse when brilliant people don't have opportunity to contribute their quota of intelligence to a needy nation, that will rather pay a fortune to a group of over-priced westerners (no offence), depleting the national treasure, wasting resources and drastically altering the eco-system.
Then the average citizen after realizing that the nation neither knows him or care about his welfare and having no sense of belonging and hope of opportunity, develops an inferiority complex and obeys the principle of "The Hierarchy of needs".
"Government's first duty and highest obligation is public safety"...Arnold Shwarzenegger
He will succumb to pressure, loosing sight of who he is, and have no choice but to live like a worthless animal that has no roots.
Health Safety and Environment? yeah right, to hell with safety, let us up the risks, as Rapper 50 cents passionately said "Get rich or die trying" or is it "try dying"? Maybe it doesn't matter.
Seriously, some people will say what is the point being alive when they are virtually dead while alive.
"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough"...Mae West.
Akin Abimbola (akinzogee@gmail.com)
SOURCE: Brainy Quotes
Wikipedia
Safety Quotes
Goodreads
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