Pledge 6

I believe that my safety is my responsibility. I understand that being in "compliance" does not necessarily mean I'm out of danger.

[@wildbillyd1]

I once worked at a place that had a mirror on the entrance door with a sign over it that said “You are looking at the person responsible for your safety” Best safety motivation sign I’ve ever seen.

[@stevenrogge7278]

I have to comment on this. I hired a company to test an article for the company I worked for. This very theme was in the introduction portion of the safety document. I quote “This document does not eliminate common sense. Your safety is your responsibility. Handling explosives is inherently dangerous and this document can not address all situations. “ Our safety is our responsibility. Best document for safety ever

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

I worked on the rail here in Australia, while I like Mike and disagreed with some things in other videos in the series he is spot on with this. Situational awareness and looking out for your mates brings everyone home at the end of the day. Not doing more bullshit powerpoint courses or listening to the engineer who has no idea of the physical process when shit gets rough.

[@pointblank1978]

I just sent this to every safety personnel I know. Awesome message mike.

[@Al-fl1gq]

Some years back I was a chief dispatcher for a major railroad and we had just experienced 3 fatal accidents in 2 weeks. A meeting was called and the safety man was proposing a bunch of new rules and wanted our thoughts. I said we don't need more rules just really empower employees to use their brains the best safety tool . Working around rolling box cars and locomotives is dangerous and injuries are almost always worse than boo boo owies. The safety man said they could use their brains to memorize more rules.

[@crawldaddy7]

Mike i work on towboats running barges everywhere there is enough water to do so an safety 1st is the biggest line of crap i ever heard i love how you put it in another talk i seen of yours safety 3rd i am seriously trying to get into our safety department to enact change all thanks to you so i thank you for the common sense inspiration

[@jasonkraus2831]

Men and women are hurt every day while being perfectly compliant. Personal responsibility is the only way. Keep it coming Mike and team! Love it.

[@Elwould23]

Are you saying that the arbitrary safety regulations have no bearing on accidents? Is it your position that complacency harms more people than anything else? So wouldn't it follow, that the onus is now, and has always been on the individual? That being the case, what difference does it make for the company to enforce compliance? It has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with personal responsibility.

[@jasonkraus2831]

@@Elwould23 Not sure if you're disagreeing with me or agreeing. Company policy has a place in this whole discussion because being compliant with it is a condition of employment. Companies also have to enforce compliance due, in major part, to the potential liabilities they may encounter in the event of an accident. My major point, and I believe Mike's as well, is that what is most important to me is my safety and my ability to continue to earn a living. That safety and my continued role as breadwinner is my responsibility - it belongs to no company, organization, or government oversight body.

[@joeroesch1]

one of those guys uummm....yes....er no ..i mean sure !....?...

[@MikeSmith-mj8tp]

As an electrician, I have learned this all too well. "Safety first " is not for your protection. It is so insurance companies have a reason not to pay for an accident if you were not in compliance. While I have an unhealthy disregard for my own well being most of the time that I feel allows me to try new things. When I'm working with electrical, I will always have a constant state of suspicious awareness and don't need someone else to tell me to be careful.

[@bennichols561]

We had a safety officer tell us that when doing tree work around powerlines you couldn't have any metal on us. The apprentice asked about the buckles on our safety harness and the reply was to remove them. Still waiting for plastic saws.

[@helives2630]

Ironically, this will become part of the endless training process. Lol, love ya and love what you do Mr. Rowe!

[@LadyAspenHaven]

The first example shown with the loose "safety line" coiled up at the feet just screamed hazzard!

[@sonictech1000]

No kidding, at a minimum it needs to be bright orange.

[@all_watched_over]

I've been walking through a crosswalk with someone who is not paying attention to a car bearing down on them, and pulled them back from the crossing. They exclaimed, "They're supposed to stop!" I told them that we could carve "They were supposed to stop!" on their tombstone.

[@beck943]

Pedestrians are also not supposed to walk in front of oncoming traffic!

[@petestephenson662]

I was working at a uranium enrichment plant and one of the guys working there tripped over a piece of loose yellow/black striped warning tape on the floor that was warning of a different nearby tripping hazard (a clearly obvious rail). Fortunately he wasn't hurt, but it amused me that something there intended to keep people safe instead became a hazard.

[@sonictech1000]

You should check out the recent increasing trend in auto deaths despite the fact that cars have more safety features than ever. There are lots of commonly cited reasons such as distracted driving etc but I speculate that the underlying reason is that modern cars seem so darn safe. Giant roof pillers and tiny windows, quiet comfortable rides all lead to a feeling of being in a cocoon or playing a video game. You just don't feel like you're doing anything dangerous while speeding down the road at 80 mph.

[@CommanderXED]

Most people do just fine speeding down the road at 80 mph, and then their phone rings...and it is in their pocket...or their purse...then the bad stuff starts to happen!

[@sonictech1000]

@@CommanderXED Perhaps but what I'm saying is that is a symptom rather than a root cause. Imagine the extreme opposite case where the driver's airbag was replaced by a giant spike. I think a lot of people would decide that the phone can wait.

[@JoshuaBurgess]

Exactly. I learned to drive in cars that had no Anti-lock brake systems, airbags, automatic transmissions, traction control, or power steering. Now kids never get to feel what its like when they lose a little control of the vehicle, until they really lose it, and they react incorrectly.

[@proehm]

I do get lockout/tagout. Particularly on a multi-discipline jobsite. But the "safety" disconnect "should" be at the machine ideally.

[@spiritnsage]

Dont even trust a disconect, a guy I worked with got zapped after shuting off the disconect, come to find out it was a 110 disconect on a 220 line and one leg was still hot.

[@mancaveandgaragedesignsrec1492]

Always test.

[@dwmfty3111]

The only thing that changes with safety briefings is the emergency exit and the phone number all the rest is the same. Just remember if it doesn't feel safe stop and re-assess

[@elcam84]

Well put. I have always said if you want to make the roads safer get rid of speed limits. Then that will put the fear back in that people need in order to pay attention to what's going on. When you remove the fear you remove the need for self preservation.

[@Donorcyclist]

My safety is my top priority, and no one else's. Thanks, mike!

[@Firehydrant1051]

All of our gear used to come with a label that stated: "Firefighting is an ultrahazardous unavoidably dangerous activity that can not be made safe." In other words, it was up to us to watch out for ourselves and each other.

[@seanfowler1190]

Complacency is a serious issue in the workplace

[@MrTeko75]

Just caught your youtube ad. I'm so glad. Long time fan. Keep up the good work.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Spot on! Responsibility...that is a DIRTY WORD today!

[@adamtrombino106]

Sounds like when I worked for the DOE.. 2 hrs of safety meetings for about an hr of work.. And the second something 'went wrong' of course, 'we needed to add more safety protocols'. As a result, as you might have guessed, not much got done..

[@dunny2628]

I work on power plants and the worst thing you could ever do is get complacent. Accidents happen when you least expect then

[@SwedishCook1]

The difference is trained to think versus trained to act. Love your focus!

[@renatapirro3277]

I notice how school children run right out into the road without looking just because the school bus has its red, flashing lights on & little stop sign extended or there’s a crossing guard. That’s all well & good, but it assumes the drivers are paying attention &/or complying. We need to teach children to always look both ways before stepping out into the road. I also see children just step into the road even when there isn’t a school bus or crossing guard. They’ve incorrectly learned that everyone always has to stop for them.

[@samrobinson1851]

Yes you’re so right mike!!!! The tighter the “safety program “ the more accidents there is. Thank you for all your doing 👍🏻

[@adampindell]

I've said it 1000 before and I'll say it again and again till the day that I die: Competence is the best safety practice. ... complacency will kill you.

[@Very_Angry_Citizen]

No one cares more about safety than the individual in danger.

[@stephenalexander6721]

Or less. I've seen it both ways.

[@MrTingabug]

When I am out cycling on the road, that mantra runs constantly through my brain.

[@jamsandwich868]

It’s like when the first elderly person accidentally put their car in the drive and drove into a Diner and they told it on TV. The next thing you know there was a whole landslide of elderly people driving into places.

[@Texas_Bricklady]

Love this! One of the things I stress to my guys is that safety is important to me and should be to them Compliance is important but in the long run they are responsible for themselves.

[@sayharay]

So true. Go to ANY College or department store parking lot. The phrase “Look both ways before crossing” doesn’t’ apply any more. I understand clearly marked pedestrian walk ways. But people walk down the middle of the street even when they see a car coming, they don’t get over. “Pedestrians have the right-away” is the attitude on public streets. Of course, a person with their head in a cellphone doesn’t help.

[@KRich408]

I worked as a AAA provider for 20 plus years on the east coast then moved to Oregon and was told I was doing it all wrong??? I had to do my job the way some school said? I never got hurt before? But did when I did it their way! Also being told by someone that was younger than my son how to operate a tow truck the right way and not the way I learned over 20 years on the job was a little hard to swallow! So I started repoing didn't have anyone tell me I was wrong.

[@88997799]

ASSumptions are the mother of all fuck ups! A sign flashing doesn’t stop me from looking both ways. The driver can’t see the sign I’m looking at. I don’t rely on them for my safety.

[@Wonderish403]

OMG that blahblahblahblahblahblah tickertape in the OHS induction scene is spot on 🤦🏼‍♀️ This video is excellent. Very true. And explains why I had an instant reaction to any safety stooges my whole life.

[@michaeldougfir9807]

Common sense. Used to be taught and encouraged in California schools, and by sensible parents. In California, part of learning to drive once included these two things to do when the weather turns bad: •SLOW DOWN •TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS How many people remember that? How many people DO that? The rest is up to you.

[@Rmillerb1]

Holy shit I wanna man like this for my president. I understand that that is not Mike's aspiration but I sure wish it was

[@kortt]

Common sense ain't so common.

[@sistergoldenhair4595]

Interesting study Mike. Thx! 💁‍♀️☕️

[@pdlegend6829]

When will you learn Mike? You're making sense and being rational.. No one understands that.

[@jackwalsh1468]

Hey Mikey! I liked it a lot. It's analogous to the old Boy Scouts motto "Be prepared" Mikey, would you consider doing a segment on the Boy Scouts most famous Scout "Green Bar Bill"???? A national treasure in my book. Cheers, Mate!

[@dropkickmurphy4114]

Can't say it enough: self-responsibility does wonders for people (in any setting).

[@alegator7249]

I remember back some years when facilities had the "Safety is Priority 1" banners strung throughout their facilities. Once the concept was acknowledged that "priorities" change; the banners became not so common anymore.

[@tamasmihaly1]

Mike is a living legend.

[@biggreentruck4907]

I had an employer that paid me to obtain an "OSHA Certification ". What a waste of time. Productivity is a safety hazard. No way around it. But, the risks are worth taking.

[@kevins8527]

Oh, how this applies so much to what we are dealing with today!

[@joedecesere7033]

Along with safety, common sense must be included in the practice of of being safe. A life jacket in 10 inches of water, common sense was not a consideration in the safety officer's request.

[@kurtkrause7151]

Please tell this to people who visit mountains and/or places at greater altitude than they are used to. Thanks for the 'Word to the wise Mike'.

[@elijahschaffersonlysimp]

Why are these so great!?

[@jayhew4798]

I think that you could likely generalize the pledge to simply “I am responsible for my actions, my decisions and their respective consequences.” How often do we justify our actions or the results of those actions by blaming others- it was the company’s fault; it was my family’s fault; it was the (insert anything but yourself here)’s fault. Sooner or later we’re going to have to own our actions...

[@monicacollins8289]

We've all seen people step off the curb onto a crosswalk, their eyes glued to the phone, heads down, assuming that drivers will see them and stop. SMDH.

[@rydplrs71]

It was quite dangerous at my last job, I always told people to be safe and don’t take chances. We did what we could to reduce risk and systematically eliminate single sources, but ultimately the person doing the job was still the difference between an injury and another day without injury or close call.

[@andrewconor7499]

"they're not protecting you, they're protecting themselves" and there Mike hits on the REAL reason for all these safety briefings and compliance officers and so on. It's to protect the company from lawsuits. That's what they REALLY care about.

[@blk7088]

Then what's your excuse for working safely?

[@wendybryan9857]

Absolutely you are always responsible for your own safety. Noone will take care of you better than yourself ever. This is a great one. I like the safety third concept you talk about also. I xant wait to get back on a gun range and add that back to the ways I can take care of myself vision or no vision it is my right to be able to protect myself always.

[@ryan643]

That is not true, it can be argued that people are actually the worst at taking care of themselves. I would say that most peoples approach to their safety is very careless compared to the same task in a work environment.

[@wendybryan9857]

@@ryan643 maybe in your case you have no self determination and rely on others to take care of you. However, this is not the case for me.

[@timbrown9731]

Mike I’m going to send this to our Safety Manager for Constellation Brands, wish me luck.

[@lidlett9883]

Well said Mike. Complacency is the biggest killer

[@hengineer]

Its also why many unmarked intersections have FEWER accidents than marked ones.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Love your work Mike! Quick question....what's it going to take for me to get you to come hang out in a crane for a day or two?

[@robertscott2210]

Truer words were never spoken. 👍

[@steffkelly3830]

OMG!! You are so RIGHT!! I worked for cities and state Colleges... In live THEATER!! I encountered numerous situations like what you described... I worked with safety officers who took that sooooo serious... Brilliant video! And I hope you bought low and sold high!! 😂💰⛑️! 😉

[@davidhewett1484]

It’s all about the almighty dollar and it should be personal responsibility. Don’t do stupid things and nobody gets hurt.

[@markreynolds9570]

Brilliant Mike.

[@beardoggin8963]

Complacency along with Laziness is one of the biggest threats in the Utility field I work in. Too many people get hurt because they rely on “safety” equipment and believe that as long as they follow the rules in the big green book nothing bad can happen. People are also too lazy to follow all the safe work practices and choose to climb over something rather than walk 20 feet around it on a safe path.

[@paulscharf7960]

There is a book called "THE Safety Anarchist" by Sidney Dekker that dives into this same thought fairly in depth. It is well documented. People will drive a car with more safety features faster than one without. "Self stopping, so I can look at my phone right?" I have always tried to exercise a modicum of common sense as a safety person.

[@davida5379]

Simply .....Well Said!!!!

[@misctony]

I just took a mine safety class I wish I seen this video before this makes way too much sense.

[@SJ-gd6bo]

Mike needs to run for some sort of political office, Department of Education, something.

[@allenfischer5878]

Know of a guy who decided to recharge a dead lawn mower battery in the presense of gasoline fumes. It didnt go well!

[@MrJimbo327]

Your safety starts with "you."

[@floydferguson5366]

Great video!

[@jhuntosgarage]

I'm in compliance with this concept. Thereby being safer. :)

[@dsmreloader7552]

What a concept!

[@chrisfritz6720]

AMEN!!!

[@wadetjack]

Pledge #7 pleaseee

[@CrazyPetesProjects]

I'was a fall safety and rescue instructor. this is all true, safety is a mind-set, not a rule-set

[@CommanderXED]

To start I have over 30 years experience as a Safety Manager for the Air Force, private industry and for OSHA. While I agree with the main premise of this video, there are other potential causes for the rapid increase in mishaps they experienced in season 4 (2008-2009). The time frame coincides directly with the advent of the "Smartphone", which by late 2008 had 13% penetration in the cell phone market, and TV crews are notorious early adopters. My initial guess is that many if not all of their mishaps were in one way or another, related to inattention and distraction caused by use of smartphones.

[@ryan643]

You might also be able to argue that they began to take greater risks in their shoots which lead to a higher incident rate.

[@johncoleman2990]

Mike covered that in the video, when he mentioned the crosswalk example.

[@thefreedomwarrior]

Whatever

[@GiffysChannel]

Hey, now THAT's an idea

[@johnradik406]

Always enjoy Mike Rowe...always

[@jackvoss5841]

So, what does S.W.E.A.T. Stand for? Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

[@robertbruce7937]

Well, Mike. You are talking about what I call the shotgun approach. Generally people are very good about protecting them selves. But there is always one idiot that gets injured. Instead of companies taking careful aim as to the cause of the accident ie the idiot. They automatically assume everyone is doing the same thing. When that is not the case. I agree with you. We are all responsible for our one safety first those around us secondary. Oh I encourage natural Selection.

[@JohnDoe-yo9kr]

Completely agree with natural selection and would like to add self preservation to that as well

[@QuadeQuick]

I see 20 compliance officials voted this video down. Apparently that is a sort of safety measure to help them keep their jobs.

[@tensortab8896]

Your safety "professionals" were really just safety bureaucrats.

[@TedSeeber]

What freaky resolution is this video?

[@nancyhood3996]

Oh Michael….you are sooooo…..handsome…

[@Shastavalleyoutdoorsman]

State of California requires us to wear falltech safety gear anytime our feet are more than six feet off the ground. Falltech safety line expands to 8 feet once popped by a fall. I was never very good at math but uh ............. Not to mention if you do fall it's probably cuz you tripped over your fault safety line. I worked on rooves until I was 25 with nothing attached to me. Pretty sure I was a lot better off then.

[@lloydscharf6897]

Consider that entitlement also leads to more accidents.

[@JohnDoe-yo9kr]

Watch Hank Hill: Good worker syndrome Next to iron out really training that is so badly needed these days

[@keredrellit3992]

Amen

[@Metla666]

So, Mikes team became complacent resulting in injuries to themselves and that's the fault of the people that asked them to remain focused on safety?

[@mikehess4494]

Thank you.

[@peggymcthompson261]

Good Morning Mike

[@NorseButterfly]

Just today, while my 23 year old was driving me home from my cardiologists office, we were discussing how common sense isn't so common anymore. He said that common sense seemed to have gone by the wayside long before he was ever born. That got me thinking. When I was younger, my sister disobeyed our mother and waded into the lake. She ended up slicing her foot open so badly, she needed internal and external stitches. When my dad and the neighbor went to the park to look for what she stepped on, they found a block of concrete someone had poured, and added several broken beer bottles into. A device, to which would cause much damage. I made my sister walk the quarter mile home that day, with her sock tied around her foot, holding the cut together. I figured that was her punishment for disobeying. Those were the thoughts of a 9 year old. My common sense was lacking then, as was the sicko who put the concrete/bottle thing in the lake. My son, in his young, infinite wisdom, was right.

[@cactusok]

Same with Speed limits reduced on main roads for Safety -no close housing 80klm (50mph) - 60 klm (35mph) drivers become disconnected as traffic Jams form up . Revenue (hidden cameras) for Police goes up as people were compliant before when Traffic Flowed smoothly. Australia thewest.com.au/news/wa/police-in-perth-trialling-new-speed-camera-starting-on-great-eastern-highway-ng-b88790194z

[@abescheepers]

Yeah, Rather teach people to learn to concentrate, pay attention, be vigilant, be responsible and not be ignorant to any kind of danger then safety will come first!! They (Safety Pro's) are protecting their companies from legal actions and claims.

[@wesbuhr548]

I've been saying this for years. There trying to save us from our selves.

[@brianbehle1620]

Thanks Mike

[@KRich408]

Insurance company's are partly to blame for this!! They won't pay if you don't prove you took precautions.

[@kenpearce3269]

NOTICE Ignore safety and it will go away

[@kimmidojo6102]

Ahhhhh, common sense ... I miss that in people 🤣

[@rc3140]

This theory applies when someone thinks they need to help me back up my car trailer into my driveway which I have done many many times all on my own without any issues.