We all like to take risks now and then. Some of our greatest experiences come from leaving our comfort-zone. Construction is one industry in which an unnecessary risk can quickly translate into disaster or even worse, result in someone not going home to his or her family.
More than six (6) million workers are on construction sites every day, creating a lot of opportunity for injuries or even death to occur. Did you know roughly one-third of construction fatalities are caused by falls from buildings, scaffolding and ladders and an additional 29 percent are caused by vehicle contact and collisions? Thankfully, OSHA-enforced training, emerging technologies and a greater emphasis on safety managers as a whole have helped minimize and prevent injuries.
A longtime friend of Jackson & Associates and prominent National Safety Director introduced us to a poem: “I Chose to Look the Other Way” by Don Merrill, which truly hits home on the topic of safety.
“I Chose to Look the Other Way”
I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.
It wasn’t that I didn’t care;
I had the time, and I was there.
But I didn’t want to seem a fool,
Or argue over a safety rule.
I knew he’d done the job before;
If I spoke up, he might get sore.
The chances didn’t seem that bad;
I’d done the same, he knew I had.
So I shook my head and walked by;
He knew the risks as well as I.
He took the chance, I closed an eye;
And with that act, I let him die.
I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.
Now every time I see his wife,
I know I should have saved his life.
That guilt is something I must bear;
But isn’t’ something you need to share.
If you see a risk that others take
That puts their health or life at stake,
The question asked or thing you say;
Could help them live another day.
If you see a risk and walk away,
Then hope you never have to say,
“I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.”
Are you looking for your next safety professional who’s going to be a champion for an injury-free workplace? Perhaps you’re a candidate looking to join an organization that champions and rewards safety excellence.
For the past 20 years, Jackson & Associates has been matching qualified, reliable personnel with construction companies across the nation. While we’ve built our brand filling some of the most elite positions in the industry, we’ve also managed to keep one foot in the field, maintaining close ties with workers of all levels. Let us help you find the best of the best who can take your company to the next level as an injury-free workplace.
Jackson & Associates has been assisting companies in the engineering, construction and other related industries with implementation of executive search and recruiting strategies since 2000. Our clientele includes startups, mid-size companies and Fortune 500 companies across the U.S. and abroad.