Design-Based Safety

Selling Safety

Abstract

Marketing safety can be compared to the Greek myth in which Sisyphus, the King of Corinth, was punished in Hades by having to roll a huge stone uphill, only to have it roll down repeatedly as soon as he had pushed it to the summit. A quick review of negative opinions that make selling safety a task like that of Sisyphus tells us that the introduction of alternate safer design is often greeted with the comment, “Safety does not sell.” Many people have a built-in mindset that rejects design-based safety. They feel that accidents can be avoided with simple common sense and believe accidents are the result of bad luck and are the cost of progress.