Seussian Safety Management
All three on my children have been brought into the world of reading partially through the works of Dr Seuss. I can't count the number of times I have read his books. As my kids have grown older, they have turned into the reader and read these amazing books back to me.
Just recently, my daughter read to me The Bike Lesson. The story is the delightful scenario of a dad teaching his son how to ride. He does this by professing a bunch of rules and lessons while breaking said rules or failing said lessons before turning his mistakes into examples of what not do to.
This story is one of my favourites for the very nerdy reason that towards the end of the book The Berenstains provide us with a short & succinct definition of safety. It's three simple stanzas that I think encapsulate modern safety management perfectly.
But instead of just repeating them here and doing some pseudo-intellectual analysis of a kid's book, I thought I would challenge myself to write a Seussian poem on the subject of safety management. I've co-opted a some of the existing material to set the scene - this is the text in italics.
The SMS Lesson
(A Seussian-inspired poem for aviation safety managers)
Come here, Small Bear
Here is something you've sought.
Look, Ma, look!
A brand-new airport.
Thanks, Dad, thanks!
For me, you say?
I'm going to run it
right away!
Not yet, not yet
not yet, my son...
First come the lesson
then the fun
Managing safety is
lesson number one.
To be a good leader,
to really know how,
you will have to learn
about safety now.
To be safe, Small Bear,
when your airport takes flight,
you can not just take
any road you like.
Before you take one
you must know...
...where that road
is going to go.
Define what it means
to be safe at your shop.
Your policy should be clear
and come from the top.
Those in charge of safety
should know what to do.
Accountabilities are key.
And for those that are new...
...it should all be written down
in black or in blue.
Now picking your road
you should do in a group.
Lest you want to land
in some foul-smelling gloop.
For hazards abound
and try as you might,
unless you control risk,
you won't sleep at night.
But just doing this stuff
it's never enough
Check and review and audit and then...
..if anything goes wrong
find out what happened, my friend.
Let's stop there and talk
about a system that's just.
It looks beyond fault
for a system that's bust
For your team exists
in a world that you've made.
You've created a culture
that is formed by your shade.
Change is a constant
And things constantly move.
Managing this, should be
part of your groove.
For people to work
in your system today,
they need training and guidance
and coaching and play.
They'll be the ones
to make your 'port great
And when it is working
please don't hesitate...
... to shout safety for all,
shout it loud, shout it long.
Promote it with pride.
Make it your song.
