As I drive north, I feel the shell of my security of home and family fall away from me. There is no husband to discuss decisions with, there is no little hug to warm my heart when I am stressed. There is only training, focus, and ultimately the letter of the law. I mentally review the history of each company I will see in the coming week. What questions might they have for me? What violations did I find previously? What training will they need most? How is the season affecting their work?
As I review the coming days, I settle into the joy of the position I have earned. How many times have I stood amazed by the incredibly hard working folks that keep this country running. I honestly feel like I am getting away with something just hanging out with these guys.
I remember the first time I saw them manufacturing bridge beams, I don't know how long I stood there just watching them before I began the official safety audit of their facility. I thought for sure I would be escorted out of there, "It's too dangerous for you to be here, young lady. How did you even get here in the first place?" Dangerous? I snapped out of it. That's why I'm here.
I have had the incredible fortune to become a highly trained safety specialist, with probably the most knowledgeable safety guy in this country for a father. I was there because I had earned the right to be there, and because they trusted me to do all I could to protect them from workplace injuries. They did a lot of things right and I did my best to make suggestions to improve their work practice controls and their environmental controls.
These guys have a great deal to be proud of, and without them you and I would be stuck on one side of the river or the other. They work hard to keep America moving forward, and I learn just as much about their industry as they learn about occupational safety. I am always truly honored each time I am invited onto their property. I don't think they mind having me there either. I remember the day I was chatting with a small group of guys as they took a break, kidding them about snacking while I was hard at work. My laughter must have carried because I was almost run over by a heard of workers rounding the corner, one of them calling, "I hear a woman!" I found out months later that the voice I heard was that of the supervisor.
That wasn't nearly as embarrassing or public as the time I was on a car lot near the intersection when one of my trash truck drivers leaned out of his cab at the red light. He yelled to me..."You can't get any safety inspectin' done shopping for a new truck!" Honestly, I may have taught that one particular guy more than I learned from him, but he was a fabulous reminder that when we make an impression on the lives of others, we do make a difference.
There is a group of maintenance guys at the metalworking facility that are making a difference for the betterment of their company, and the safety of their workers every day. They can fix anything. I call them the A-Team and I think if these three guys had been in charge of the oil spill in the gulf, we probably would have never even heard about it. Every time I visit them, they are engulfed in a mammoth project that seems so complex, I could watch for hours and still not know what is going on. Each time, as they explain, I always end up saying, "How in the world will you guys be able to do that?" They are all younger than me and still so knowledgeable. Having had one-on-one time with each of them as they escorted me through each facility during safety audits, I can tell you, they are among the most humble people I have ever met.
I go out of my way to explain safety regulations and offer them a chance to spot violations. I believe that we can learn something from every person we know, and I want my time with each of them to be valuable. I want them to be safer people because of their time with me. I have taught them that safety is the #1 priority, and they have shown me that they appreciate the lesson. I truly believe my A-Team, with their strength and skill, could fix anything, but it is their heart I value the most as they check my tires and add a little air before I leave their shop.
Another group of exceedingly impressive workers represent a natural gas compression company. These are strong family men who excel at a technician position, that I could probably never hold. They are among the most intelligent skilled workers I have ever met. Their respect and acceptance has allowed me tremendous assurance that I have picked the perfect career field for me. Our discussions of the philosophy of occupational safety have filled me with a love for the kind of work in which they are engaged, and reminded me of how I am different from so many other safety specialists.
I'm not a boring trainer who reads from the OSHA law and expects you to live in a bubble of protection without mistake. I am a mom, and I am a cops wife that runs a ministry and prays God's loving hand of protection over those I train with, just as I pray over my children, my husband, and his fellow deputies.
These gas compression techs know me so well, mostly because of my opportunity to inflict my over-dramatic personality on them for several hours every month. Once during truck inspections, I was handed a Material Safety Data Sheet binder to review. Seeing the rubber bands securing it from opening during a bumpy truck ride, I had a decision to make...Remove the rubber bands or reveal my completely unwarranted, but severe dislike for (not phobia of) rubber bands. Finding that my dislike for (not phobia of) rubber bands won out, these guys had a field day. I don't know why I was shocked when the following month, my safety training was interrupted by a a flock of rubber bands sailing toward me during my opening lecture. I'd hate to see the way they treat people they don't respect and accept.
I guess as a police wife, I am frequently reminded of the detriments of this country, of those who put themselves above the good of their neighbors and commit crimes of selfishness and stupidity. Lazy misguided folks who possess a supernatural sense of entitlement get tiring after a while. My career offers me the opportunity to renew my faith in this country every month.
Everywhere I go I train with, and learn from, hardworking Americans who have a drive to provide for their families in a country when so many jobs have been shipped overseas, and sometimes it seems easier to just "draw a check." My guys contribute so much to our society providing strong bridges, reliable machinery, and even much needed energy to heat our homes. Most importantly they do it with impeccable work ethic, impressive skill, and superior intellect.
I am proud to be associated with these valuable workers and I am thankful for their continuous reminder of how proud I am to be an American.
_Katrina Harman Roper
Safety Source LLC
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