Why safety profession is boring and thankless Job…

Safety is often an unsatisfying job for many professionals. One of the key reasons behind this is the fundamental difference in mindset—some people are result-oriented, while others are process-oriented. For result-driven individuals, working in safety can feel frustrating because there is no clear quantitative or qualitative way to measure their performance, at least not in a way that is easily recognized.

Take, for example, a welder. At the end of his shift, he can physically see the weld he created and feel a sense of accomplishment. He knows his effort resulted in something tangible. But for a safety professional, success is invisible. There is no physical proof of their contribution; instead, their work revolves around preventing accidents and ensuring a safe working environment. This lack of visible results can lead to self-doubt, making them question whether they are actually making an impact.

In a manufacturing industry, no one asks or appreciates how many injuries, fatalities, or property damages a safety professional has prevented. However, the moment something goes wrong, they are the first to be blamed. This creates an unfair dynamic where the true value of safety professionals remains unrecognized until a crisis occurs.

Adding to this challenge, many professionals in the execution or operations departments often perceive safety as a roadblock that slows down projects. Safety measures can be seen as bureaucratic red tape rather than essential precautions, which leads to friction between safety professionals and other teams. Because of this, safety professionals may not receive the respect or cooperation they deserve, further fueling frustration and dissatisfaction in their work.

Experiencing these struggles daily, many safety professionals start having self-doubts. They begin to feel that they are not doing a good job, even though they are. Without recognition or positive feedback, their motivation wanes, and their job starts to feel monotonous and uninspiring. The passion they once had for protecting lives and ensuring workplace safety gradually diminishes.

So, how can we change this? Organizations need to shift their perspective on safety. Instead of only focusing on lagging indicators like accident rates, they should measure success using leading indicators such as near-miss reporting, employee engagement in safety programs, and proactive hazard identification. Safety professionals should also be recognized not just when things go wrong, but for the everyday efforts they put into creating a safe work environment.

At its core, safety is about people. A workplace culture that values and respects its safety team will ultimately benefit everyone. By acknowledging and appreciating the invisible yet vital work of safety professionals, we can create an environment where they feel valued, motivated, and, most importantly, satisfied with their work.