The Evolution of Safety Professionals

An image of old industrial site.

Welcome to the second installment of my "Food for Thought" series! Today, let’s dive into the history of safety professionals. Who are safety professionals today, and how did we begin? The profession likely took root during the Industrial Revolution, as mass production in coal mines and factories exposed workers to uncharted risks like machinery accidents. Social pressure surged when media covered serious incidents, pushing business owners to prioritize safety, a progress driver I admire. Initially an extra duty for supervisors with basic hazard checks, it evolved by the early 20th century, with tragedies like the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire sparking dedicated roles in manufacturing, oil and gas, and construction.

Post-World War II, industries like energy and transportation formalized safety to meet regulations, cemented globally by the 1970s U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act. Women pioneers, like Alice Hamilton in the 1910s studying industrial toxicology, broke barriers, with their presence growing by the 1980s. My 20+ years, from LNG plants to pipelines, reflect this journey—advisors, not just enforcers. Today, unions and laws support us, and I guide businesses through safety challenges at OccuSafeServ.

What’s next? Could AI replace us, safety professionals? I’ll explore this in my next post. Share your thoughts—how has safety evolved for you?