Safety is nothing new, it’s human nature to watch out for one’s well-being. Yet a governed approach to safety is relatively new.
Over the last century, we’ve seen safety transform from self-regulated to regionally mandated. Safety in the past mainly fell on the peers, mentors, and the specialists themselves. Now it’s still crucial to have a knowledge-sharing crew like the old, but some of the old responsibilities have been reduced thanks to signage, information, awareness training, and safety gear. Let’s explore some of the centralised changes that ushered us into today.
The Early Days of Safety: A Look at the Evolution of Equipment
In the early 20th century, workplace safety was still a developing concept, with much of the focus placed on preventing the most egregious hazards in industries such as mining, construction, and manufacturing. At this time, equipment was basic, often homemade, and not standardized. Here’s a look at some of the pivotal safety equipment developed during this period and the years they were introduced:
1. Safety Goggles (1900s)
- Purpose: Protecting the eyes from debris, dust, and harsh light.
- Evolution: Initially made from glass and later evolved to incorporate shatter-resistant materials.
2. Respirators (1910s)
- Purpose: Shielding lungs from harmful dust and gas, especially prevalent in mining and chemical industries.
- Evolution: Early versions were simple masks made of cloth and rubber, which evolved into the more effective gas masks used during World War I.
3. Hard Hats (1919)
- Purpose: Protecting workers’ heads from impact and falling objects.
- Evolution: The first industrial hard hat, known as the “Hard Boiled hat”, was invented by Edward W. Bullard. It was originally made from steamed canvas, glue, and black paint.
4. Safety Boots (1920s)
- Purpose: Offering protection for the feet against heavy objects and sharp materials.
- Evolution: Early boots were made of heavy leather with steel toes added for extra protection, which became a standard in industrial footwear.
5. Ear Protection (late 1920s)
- Purpose: Preserving hearing in environments with constant, loud noise.
- Evolution: Early forms of ear protection were rudimentary, often mere cotton wool stuffed into the ear canal, evolving into more effective earmuffs and earplugs.
6. Safety Belts (1930s)
- Purpose: Preventing falls from heights in construction and utility jobs.
- Evolution: Initial designs were basic belts with simple hooks, evolving into full-body harnesses with multiple attachment points for better safety.
These early developments in safety equipment were crucial stepping stones in the journey toward modern workplace safety standards. Each piece of equipment was a response to the specific dangers of the time and marked progress towards understanding and mitigating workplace risks. These innovations laid the groundwork for the comprehensive safety protocols and advanced protective gear we see in industries today.
The Mid-Century Shift in Workplace Safety: A Closer Look at Regulations and Awareness
The mid-20th century marked a significant turning point in the evolution of workplace safety. This period was characterized by an increasing industrial output post-World War II, which brought heightened awareness to the numerous risks present in rapidly growing industries. This era saw the establishment of pivotal safety regulations and the founding of crucial safety organizations, which collectively enhanced the safety standards across various sectors.
1. The Establishment of Regulatory Bodies
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – 1970, United States
- Purpose: OSHA was created under the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.
- Impact: The formation of OSHA was a response to an increasing number of workplace fatalities and injuries. By enforcing safety standards, OSHA significantly contributed to the reduction of workplace injuries and deaths.
2. Key Safety Regulations Introduced
- The Coal Mine Safety Act (1952), United States
- Purpose: Specifically aimed at improving safety in coal mines following several deadly mining disasters.
- Impact: This act led to more stringent inspections and regulations in the mining industry, including mandatory safety standards for coal dust and gas monitoring.
3. Industrial Focus and Technological Advances
- Construction and Manufacturing (1940s-1960s)
- Safety Focus: With the post-war building boom, there was an urgent need for safety regulations in construction and manufacturing to handle the increased risk from heavy machinery and high-rise construction projects.
- Technological Advances: Introduction of safer construction equipment, automated systems in manufacturing, and better personal protective equipment.
4. Rising Worker Rights and Safety Culture
- Labor Movements (Throughout the mid-20th century)
- Purpose: Workers increasingly organized to demand safer working conditions and the right to participate in safety planning.
- Impact: These movements led to greater employee involvement in safety practices and fostered a culture of safety that emphasized preventive measures.
Technological Integration: Safety Goes Digital
As we moved into the late 20th and early 21st centuries, technology started playing a pivotal role. The introduction of computers and software solutions in safety management marked a new era. Today, companies like BIS Safety Software are at the forefront, developing digital Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) modules and offering online training courses that not only comply with regulations but also provide accessible and comprehensive safety training.
Data-Driven Safety: The Modern Approach
The latest developments in safety are characterized by data-driven approaches. Utilizing big data, AI, and IoT, safety systems can now predict potential hazards and prevent accidents before they occur. Wearable safety devices and smart helmets equipped with sensors provide real-time data to both workers and remote monitoring teams, enhancing on-site safety exponentially.
Cultural Evolution: Safety as a Shared Responsibility
Perhaps one of the most significant changes in safety over the last century is the shift in mindset. Safety is no longer viewed as solely the employer’s responsibility but as a collaborative commitment between employers and employees. This cultural shift has led to the development of training programs that empower workers to take an active role in maintaining safety standards.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Safety
What does the future hold? If the past century tells us anything, it’s that safety will continue to evolve with advancements in technology and changes in workplace practices. Innovations like augmented reality for safety training and AI for hazard recognition are on the horizon, promising to make workplaces even safer.
As we continue this journey, one thing remains clear: the importance of adapting and adopting new safety measures will always be integral to protecting lives and livelihoods. The next century of safety starts with us today, learning from the past and building a safer tomorrow.
Related Articles
- All Posts
- 360 Immersive
- 360immersive
- accident prevention
- accidental careers
- adjustable workstations
- adult education
- AI in Safety
- Alberta safety courses
- Allan James Moore
- asking for help
- audit readiness
- automation in safety
- avoidable injuries
- awareness
- Aztec Safety
- back strain
- BambooHR integration
- behavior-based safety
- Behavioral Safety
- biometric sensors
- BIS Podcast
- BIS Safety Software
- BIS Safety Spotlight
- black holes
- BP Texas City Explosion
- Brave Leadership
- Brett Burkard
- burnout
- Canadian safety history
- Canadian safety standards
- carbon monoxide
- Carolynne Heron
- CCOHS
- chemical
- chemical vapors
- chronic injuries
- chronic pain
- cloud-based safety tools
- Coming Soon
- community safety programs
- Competency in Safety
- complacency in safety
- Compliance
- compliance courses
- compliance tools
- compliance vs protection
- Construction advocacy
- Construction education
- Construction industry
- construction safety
- construction safety training
- continuous improvement
- continuous safety improvement
- corporate culture
- crane
- Customer Spotlight
- Customer Spotlight Kevin Swinden Global Hazmat Safety Culture Hazmat Management Dangerous Goods Competency in Safety Workplace Risk Mitigation BIS Training Clients Canadian EHS
- customized training
- daily trip inspection
- Damage Prevention
- Dangerous Goods
- dangerous goods classification
- Danny Sellers
- data-driven safety
- defensive driving
- digital compliance
- digital forms
- digital safety tools
- digital safety transformation
- DMS features
- document control
- document management system
- Dr. Joanna Pagonis
- driver file management
- driver training
- driving instructor program
- DTRMS
- e-learning
- early intervention
- EHS
- EHS digital solutions
- Einstein
- electrical safety
- emergency preparedness
- emergency response
- emergency supplies
- emotional training
- employee behavior
- employee engagement
- employee health
- employee safety
- employee training
- ergonomic consulting
- ergonomic design
- ergonomic risks
- ergonomics
- evidence collection
- EWI Works
- exoskeleton
- exoskeletons
- fall protection
- field experience
- field safety
- field safety services
- fire prevention
- first aid kit
- first week on the job
- first workplace injury
- fleet management
- fleet safety
- frontline safety
- Global Hazmat
- gravitational waves
- hand injuries
- handling hazardous materials
- hands-on training
- Hazard Awareness
- hazard communication
- hazard prevention
- hazard recognition
- Hazmat Management
- Health & Safety Podcast
- health and safety
- hearing loss prevention
- hearing protection
- heavy equipment safety
- hidden workplace hazards
- high voltage systems
- HR automation
- HR software
- human factors
- human vs machine
- human-centered design
- human-centered safety
- humor in safety
- ICBC certification
- immersive learning
- Imposter Syndrome
- incident data
- incident investigation
- incident prevention
- incident reporting
- Industrial Hygiene
- industrial safety
- Infrastructure Risk
- injury consequences
- injury prevention
- injury prevention tips
- injury recovery
- injury reporting
- injury response
- injury response plan
- instructor development
- internal audits
- invisible dangers
- Jeff Mulligan
- Jennifer Lastra
- job site accountability
- job site hazards
- job site risks
- job site safety
- Jody Young
- KBR Safety Training
- Kevin Swinden
- labor movement
- ladder safety
- Leadership
- leadership accountability
- leadership and empathy
- learning from incidents
- lifting techniques
- LIGO
- Linda Miller
- LMS
- lockout tagout
- lone workers
- mental health at work
- MI Safety
- minor injuries
- movement in workplace
- new workers
- no-blame investigations
- noise exposure
- Northern BC
- NRCA
- NSC Standard 13
- occupational fatigue
- occupational hazards
- occupational health
- occupational safety
- occupational therapy
- OH&S
- OHS
- OHSA
- oil and gas safety
- omni-training
- onboarding safety
- Online safety training
- organizational culture
- organizational safety
- OSHA compliance
- OSHA standards
- outdated practices
- overconfidence
- overhead crane courses
- pain awareness
- personal protective equipment
- Pharmaceutical Safety
- physics careers
- pipeline safety
- podcast
- post-accident review
- post-incident protocol
- PPE
- PPE enforcement
- PPE improvement
- pre-trip inspection
- predictive analytics
- pretrip inspection
- proactive safety
- proactive safety measures.
- Professional development
- protective clothing
- psychological hazards
- psychological safety
- real-time safety
- recordkeeping
- regulatory updates
- repetition in safety
- repetitive motion injuries
- respirator safety
- respirators
- risk management
- risk reduction
- road safety
- Robin Postnikoff
- root cause analysis
- routine task risks
- safe work habits
- safety
- safety accountability
- safety advice
- safety article
- safety automation
- safety awareness
- safety best practices
- safety communication
- safety compliance
- Safety Conversations
- safety culture
- safety data sheets
- safety documentation
- safety engagement
- safety follow-up
- safety gear
- safety gloves
- safety goggles
- safety habits
- safety incentives
- safety innovation
- safety insights
- safety inspection
- Safety Leaders
- safety leadership
- safety legislation
- safety lessons
- safety management
- safety management system
- safety management systems
- safety metrics
- safety mindset
- safety motivation.
- safety myths
- safety podcast
- safety procedure updates
- safety professionals
- safety reporting
- safety review process
- safety shortcuts
- safety software
- Safety Spotlight
- safety systems
- safety technology
- safety theater
- safety tips
- safety training
- safety transformation
- safety transparency
- Sarah Anderson
- Scott Lyall
- shipping documentation
- silent dangers
- silica dust
- Sinogap Solutions
- slow-building hazards
- smart helmets
- smart PPE
- space science
- Spencer McDonald
- storytelling and safety
- storytelling in safety
- supervisor training
- TDG
- team communication
- teamwork
- tech and ergonomics
- tech-enabled learning
- Thinking Driver
- Titan Environmental
- Total Recordable Injury Formula
- tough guy mentality
- toxic air
- training
- training courses
- training matrix
- training record management
- training records
- transportation
- transportation of dangerous goods
- Trust and Accountability
- unseen workplace threats
- Utility Safety Partners
- vehicle safety
- version control
- veteran advice
- Virtual Reality
- VR safety training
- VR Technology
- wearable technology
- WHMIS
- witness statements
- women in leadership
- work-alone training
- work-related injuries
- worker accountability
- worker advocacy
- worker fatigue
- worker protection
- worker safety
- worker safety habits
- worker safety tips
- worker trust
- worker wellbeing
- workers' rights
- workforce compliance
- workforce management
- workforce training
- workplace accidents
- workplace air quality
- workplace best practices
- workplace certification
- Workplace Culture
- workplace hazards
- workplace health
- workplace incident response
- workplace injuries
- workplace injury prevention
- workplace mindset
- workplace risk factors
- workplace risk management
- Workplace Risk Mitigation
- Workplace safety
- workplace safety culture
- Workplace Safety Leadership
- workplace safety rules
- workplace safety tips
- workplace safety training
- workplace stress
- workplace tiredness
- workplace wellness
- WSPS
Scott Lyall transforms traditional safety training by blending storytelling with scalable technology, creating buy-in, boosting engagement, and turning compliance into...
Explore how outdated, paper-based safety practices put workers at risk, how real-time data empowers proactive prevention, and why predictive systems...
In safety-focused industries, document control isn't optional—it's essential. Discover how a DMS helps Canadian companies stay compliant, avoid confusion, and...
