So why does everyone hate the safety director?

Right on the money VIDEODROME. What I believe is, that they created the job to please the DOT. I am aware of two different safety people who left the job, because they backed the drivers instead of dispatch. Actually, it was a case of them fighting the sales, because sales was committing to do the impossible, (legally) for the customer.

It came down to a matter of company management backing the sales/marketing/dispatch and telling the safety department to "deal with it." So my question here is, "Why have a safety department at all, if you are doing business this way?"

 

I don't know that I could rightfully be a safety director at a company, given that I know what goes on behind closed doors in dispatch and management.. I'd be arguing pretty much every day, and if I wasn't winning, I'd be leaving.

I think my safety director career would last as long as my psychologist/counselor career.

 

They should rename the lot of them 'Compliance Director,' as that is a far more accurate descriptor. And while the bureaucrats in gov't don't seem to understand that safety and compliance are not the same, I'd guess most of those with "boots on the ground" understand this. Far too many of the safety guys spend too much time on the paper trail to spend time actually equipping drivers to be safer drivers. Imagine the benefit of a company being able to spend some of the small fortune spent on compliance on teaching drivers to be better drivers, rather than better bookkeepers.

I know... but we can dream, can't we?

 

Be interesting to see if there's a statistical correlation to accident rates for listeners/non-listeners, broke out by experience level.

 

My guess is you'll find a pretty fair tie in to attitude. Of course you'll have those who seem to listen, but don't follow through; and those who are hostile but do actually go back and think about it. They will be exceptions though, I would think, and not numerous enough to throw the numbers off very much.

 

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned here--is all the other jobs that typically fall on a safety director--which can be an extremely daunting task at any company with just a few trucks--let alone a big fleet--next time one of y'all wondering what/why they do--think about driver qualifying--then drug/alcohol testing--and the about 50 other pieces of paper in any new drivers file that must be maintained for DOT Compliance--then add to that--checking logs--driver reviews--the drivers that can't seem to get anything right--updating registrations/permits etc.....
There is a ton of stuff before we even start to discuss--why he is telling you what to do---
Then there is the driver's who constantly say d/m is making me do-----
and the operations department screaming about loads to cover--and the shop foreman screamin I don't give a ######--that trucks do not going anywhere--or the reverse--telling shop foreman FIX it--etc etc etc...
Then there is the 15 incidents a day--hell could have been all parked trucks--but yup they are in it up to their #####--
Oh yeah and when the DOT comes a calling--guess who they want to see?
And this is all b4 their first cup of coffee!
And some wonder why they just might come across as an #####***E from time to time?
Step back and try to look at big picture--they couldn't PRINT MONEY fast enough for me to take their job.......
Just my$.02