Different generation. That thought never crossed my mind.
You're right. I grew up and entered the workforce right around the time they suddenly really wanted everyone to know that safety is the most important thing in the fucking world.
Funny thing is, companies will talk about how important safety is to them; but when it's time to fork up some money to fix a massive pothole in a road where forklifts are operated, suddenly it's not so important.
They talk and talk and talk about safety. They have regular meetings about safety. BUT IT'S ALL JUST TO MAKE THEM LESS LIABLE WHEN SOME DUMB FUCK KILLS HIMSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. It's got nothing to do with them caring about you.
Edit: Also, I think my protective instincts are tapped into- I'm watching two tiny blonde children (who look like they could've been my siblings, oddly) sort of messing around with heavy machinery that kills hundreds of grown men worldwide every year. I think it was more of a concern of what the children might do, and not what the operator was doing; kids get excited and do stupid things. One could've gotten a little too curious and moved in to try to touch the excavator, only to get their tiny hand caught in a pinch point. Really, I don't think I would've been concerned about danger at all if the kids stepped back about 5 feet, but they're right on top of the action. That's what had me a little worried.
The liability of safety is what it should be called in the work place if they were truthful about it.
One could've gotten a little too curious and moved in to try to touch the excavator,
Parenting 101
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