The importance of safety in the workplace

The concept of safety was not discovered with the advent of the industrial age. It was inscribed in man's character from the very beginning of humanity. Homo sapiens had the reflex to stay away from fire, because experience had taught him that it was dangerous for him. So he had a safety reflex. But what is safety?

According to the "Petit Larousse", safety is a situation in which there is no danger to fear. This general definition, based on the principle of zero risk, is not adapted to human activities (food, transport, daily life, leisure, etc.) where we speak of acceptable risk. With reference to industry and, more specifically, to the operation of processes, safety can be defined as the ability of a system to function by controlling, to an acceptable level, the risks to people, property and the environment.

This introduction deals in particular with a number of points that will be developed in specialized articles. They are rich in recommendations and tried-and-tested tools. Let's not forget the key factor for success in safety: all these methods, tools and recommendations will only be effective if everyone, at every level of the company, is personally involved in these actions.

We hope that reading these articles will convince readers of the importance of safety, and enable them to make an effective contribution to improving their company's overall performance.