In my work in the EHS arena, I have noticed that a given company’s focus on safety is usually intensified (sometimes initiated in the first place) after the organization has the proverbial “bad run” of accidents.
Coaches and players always carefully review film after the game. They analyze how they did, what they did well, and what they missed... what they might have done better.
Something interesting happens to folks when they make it to the top in business. They become remarkably prone to lose touch with the people down the ladder – the people who do the work and make or break the company.
I believe academicians interested in making a positive difference can effectively translate their science into practice if they step away from the jargon of the academy and learn the issues and language of the businesses they aim to help.
