The year 2020 is quickly drawing to an end, a fact that many may gladly embrace. It certainly has been a year of many diverse challenges, especially for the safety professional. While in the past, we may have focused primarily on safety with health and environmental issues being of slightly lesser concern, we were thrust without warning into being the primary health advisors for our organizations. Environmental concerns shifted to the environment in which our employees would be tasked to work. We met the challenge head on and will continue to do so until the Covid 19 “All Clear” has been called. Safety Professionals were relied on, looked to and expected to lead the way in combatting the spread of Covid 19, we did our part, we did a lot and we learned a lot. Through great networking opportunities throughout the profession, including ASSP, we were able to quickly adapt to what was effective, and what was not.
The challenge is not over and manifests itself in new dimensions. People and companies have grown wary to lock-downs and loss of business. And while mental health and economic viability always remain a major consideration, we must move cautiously ahead. Some organizations that re-opened early have now found themselves having to retreat to protect people, in fact entire countries have returned to lock-down conditions.
I’m proud of the positive part we as safety professionals have played, and will continue to play. Our enthusiasm to do the next right thing has not diminished. Thank you for all that you do for your employees, organizations, our country and society as a whole.
If you would like to avail of the resources and opportunities afforded by the ASSP, please consider joining our society. You are most welcome.
James F Kane (Jim)
President Chesapeake Chapter
American Society of Safety Professionals