Keep safety, people you work with in mind

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brett Hays
  • 60th AMW Safety
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Air Force spends a lot of money annually to make sure that we do our jobs safely with an acceptable amount of risk. Some pessimists would argue that it is not that they care so much for the individual as the bottom dollar. It is cheaper to practice safety than to replace and retrain an individual. The benefit is ours. 

We are not expected to and should not take an unacceptable amount of risk to do what we are trained to do. It is, however, so much more than the bottom dollar. 

The ripple effect throughout a wing when one of its own is severely injured or killed, whether in the line of or off duty, has a total cost that can never be calculated. The emotional and moral issues that accompany these tragedies are often the first things overlooked and forgotten about until such events actually take place. 

It is hard to imagine that the Airman working next to you could be the one that doesn’t show up for work tomorrow because they were late for work and speeding, they were cleaning out the gutters and fell off the ladder or will be killed in a work related accident.
Sadly, it takes a violent event for us to realize the impact that each of our co-workers has on our lives. 

An even more tragic scenario is when the person who is left behind is held accountable for the death of a co-worker because of their own negligence, such as the case with many drunk-driving tragedies. A wing then loses two valuable people and the co-workers and those who knew them best lose so much more, all because of one bad decision. Even the most innocent of intentions can have catastrophic results. 

Next time you see something or someone that is being unsafe, step up and say something – be the “bad guy.” It is far better to be that “bad guy” preaching safety than the “good guy” sponsoring the burger burn to help a widow and some children pay the hospital bills. 

If you don’t believe me, then ask that widow which person she would rather have you be, and if you still don’t get it, then have the children explain it to you.