by Art Sanda
contributing editor

 Management 101: Goals must be reasonable and attainable. Anyone want to argue with that? You must if you advocate and promote the industry’s ludicrous cry of “Zero Fatalities”. More appropriate would be “Zero Fallacies”.

Before breaking out the tar and feathers, or worse the rope, look at it applied to other goals set within companies and see how it flies.

For example, errors in general. Today, the company policy is that there will not be a single error made by a single individual in this organization, or else. After all, other than “Acts of God”, aren’t the causes of accidents someone along the line somewhere committing an error in judgment? And not always the person injured as a result of that error in judgment, either. Zero Errors!

Zero Grievances. Today, the company policy is that there no longer will be a grievance procedure as there no longer will be errors made by either management or the workforce, refer to previous new company policy. In fact, there no longer will be a labor agreement as, with zero management errors there will be zero grievances, ergo no need for a labor agreement. Cecil, you’re out of a job.

Zero Financial Losses. Today, the company policy is that there no longer will be a single day without a profit because, as errors in judgment no longer are allowed, every business decision will be flawless, every contract profitable, every investment guaranteed a return. Zero losses!

Zero Incentives. Today, the company policy is that, because everything everyone is doing now is perfect, there is no need for bonuses or other incentives for them to work better, smarter, wiser or harder. Everything and everyone is perfect. Zero Incentives!

But we know better. Life is not perfect, nor will it be, not in our lifetimes, and we should act and speak as though we realize that simple fact. Human error is just that, being human, and mistakes are going to be made. Acts of God, by definition, are those things beyond anyone’s control and can and will happen anytime, anywhere. Regardless of company policy.

Perhaps it’s time to return to basics, to the individual. Companies are mindless things; they are institutions. People who run companies have the minds, people in the field have the minds, and when it comes to the basics, isn’t that what safety is, a mindset? A mindset—for better or worse—established at the top of the house which then is filtered down to the newest hire at the most remote location.

In addition to righting some wrongs, to changing some practices and procedures, that was the great thrust after the 1967 Health and Safety Act, to formalize company safety policies and programs, to promote those programs, to make safety as much a part of everyone’s job as is reporting to work. It should be again.

Instead of promulgating the virtually impossible, how much better it would be for the industry, the company, the management and the workforce if we returned to emphasizing the critical importance of the individual for it is he and she, you and me, who ultimately will determine what happens today.

Instead of expecting the individual to contemplate Zero Fatalities this Year, how about that person be encouraged to concentrate on today:

Just for today. I shall not go under unsupported top. Just for today, I shall not operate an unsafe piece of equipment. Just for today, I shall not open an access panel without locking out the power. Just for today, I shall not step without first looking. Just for today, I shall not stand idly and allow someone else to do any of those things.

Just for today, I shall not disregard the simplest of rules. Just for today, there shall not be any accident that my action or inaction could cause. Just for today, I shall take responsibility for me, and anyone who may be around me, to work safely. Just for today.

That, not unattainable slogans, is what would make safety a reality.