On a trip to California, I was flipping through an airline magazine. I happened upon an advertisement for older movies that are now available on DVD. One specific movie title caught my eye, and I thought about how relevant the plot was to today’s work environment.

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	Patrick VanTyle

In 1976, Paramount Pictures released a movie starring Academy Award winners Dustin Hoffman and Sir Laurence Olivier. The name of the movie was Marathon Man. In this movie, Sir Laurence Olivier played a rather nasty antagonist with a penchant for practicing root canal dentistry without the use of Novocain in order to extract information. Hoffman was the victim of this torture in one of the most memorable and horrific scenes in cinematic history. He was being held down while Olivier drilled away without mercy, and then Olivier would stop and calmly ask, "Is it safe?" I have never forgotten this movie, and decades later, I will still remember those three words: "Is it safe?"

Flash forward to today, to the real world and all of its daily tasks. The lessons we learn in real life are much harder because we must deal with the repercussions of our decisions. Owners of companies know this reality all too well. One single decision can mean the difference between growing your company to the next level or going out of business. Decisions made-consciously or not-by owners in the creation of safe working environments for their employees impact everyone.

I am always amazed at the amount of effort a company will put into the creation of a company handbook while ignoring safety in the workplace. Stop for a moment, and take a long look at your company. What do you see? Do you feel everything is in order? Do you have all the safety plans, training, and knowledge in place you should? If you have plans, are they up to date? Now, here's the most important question of all about your company and your work environment: is it safe?

As the owner of your company, you alone are required to have the appropriate policies and procedures in place when necessary. Do you know the benchmarks, under OSHA standards, that drive some of the rules and regulations?

Here are a few OSHA standards you should consider:

• emergency action plans
• emergency evacuation plans
• fire prevention plans
• lock-out/tag-out procedures
• MSDS sheets
• Power industrial truck (forklift) safety training

Chances are your company is required to have some, if not all, of these in place right now. The specifics of your formal plans and documents depend on the number of employees you have, the industry you are in, and the facilities you operate. Are you aware of the three key components necessary to ensure your company's compliance? If you are not sure what safety-related policies and procedures you need to have in place, seek guidance from someone who is.

Far too often, safety and creating a safe work environment are low priorities within a company. Procrastinating in the area of safety is dangerous. Ignoring these rules and regulations can lead to unsafe working conditions, a catastrophic accident, and the possible loss of life on your premises.

Most companies fail to realize the benefits of compliance with these regulations. Better working conditions mean higher employee morale. A great way of looking at safety and training is as a positive investment in your employees. Attracting and retaining good employees is a top priority on everyone's list.

In Marathon Man, Hoffman found himself running for his life. Eventually he prevailed over his adversary. When it comes to safety, I have found prevention is best. If you plan, train, and implement a good safety policy, you should never find yourself behind the eight ball. Best of all, you will be able to ask yourself "Is it safe?" and answer "Yes!"

About the Author

Patrick VanTyle is a seasoned executive who has successfully implemented high-growth strategies in numerous industries. Today he works with entrepreneurs and business owners to enable them to lead their businesses to the profitability and success they desire.

Patrick's diverse background includes business development, general management, operational development, sales, human resources, customer relations, safety training, management coaching, disaster recovery, and management consulting. He is adept at the management of day-to-day operations, building high-efficiency teams, and the creation of safe working environments. He has a keen understanding of the needs of startup operations during extreme growth periods and the necessity of successful systems integration. He has held senior management positions in several companies in both the private and public sector and in a wide variety of industries.

Patrick is the founder of VanTyle Business Solutions, Inc., a business advisory firm located in Sharon, Massachusetts. VanTyle Business Solutions, Inc., provides business owners with practical advice and services that work. Through strategic business solutions, your company will become more viable and profitable, improving both your business and personal lives. As his company's motto states, "solutions are key to success." He can be reached at patrick@vantyle.biz.

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