Event Safety Insights Issue Three | Spring 2017 | Page 5

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This issue of Event Safety Insights is the first to be pub-
lished in 2017, and the first to be fully created following the 2016 election. Re-
gardless of how you feel about the outcome this past November, there’s no
denying that the United States has entered a tumultuous period in our history.
The 2016 election created rifts among family, friends, and co-workers. People
who have been working together for years are now viewing each other with
suspicion. I’ve read news reports of folks refusing to communicate directly with
co-workers who they believe must have voted for “the other one”. On social
media, this attitude is unfortunate. On the jobsite, it’s dangerous.
Safety has no political affiliation. In this period of increased divi-
sion, ESA is and shall remain firmly non-partisan. While addressing contentious
issues is often unavoidable, the organization will always approach matters from
a purely safety perspective. When we must take a stance that could be seen as
“political”, it will always be made based upon the best information available
and with the guidance of specialists from inside and outside of the industry. As
individuals, we each hold strong points of view, but these will never override
the consensus of the experts.
In times like these, it’s important to focus on what binds us. We all love this in-
dustry. We all take pride in our craft and seek to do it to the best of our abilities.
We all have families, ambitions, and bills to pay. And we all want to come home
safe at the end of the night.
Ours is a diverse industry, with diverse ideas. But
when the lights go
down, we’re all part of the same show. Let’s not lose sight of
that.
- Jacob Worek, Event Safety Alliance
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