August 2003                       return to the newsletter contents page

Industry Leaders Meet at Safety Week 2003

It was three days of free flowing ideas, provocative speakers and outstanding networking at the third Safety Week, July 26-29 in Miami, FL. Co-sponsored by SEDA, the International Glove Association and the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Agents Association, Safety Week attracted 185 industry leaders and spouses. The beach location made the sultry July weather bearable, and the speakers and panelists gave everyone lots of take-home value.  

Jed Bullard, chairman of E.D. Bullard Co. and chairman-elect of the National Safety Council, got the conference off to a rousing start with his call to action for the safety industry. Seizing the Safety Week theme of Channel Interdependence, Mr. Bullard gently chided his colleagues for failing to adequately promote the interdependence of manufacturers, distributors and safety and health professionals. The lack of collective marketing by the safety industry to promote the value of PPE as the first line of defense for workers has allowed many of these products to become commodities. He urged the industry to get back to basics and refocus on the value of the safe worker.

According to Mr. Bullard, today’s workers are better educated than ever and understand the value of a safe workplace. At the same time, workers have more leisure time available to them today, yet the industry has not done a good job of following those worker home and providing them with appropriate PPE while working on home projects or during leisure activities. He offered some staggering statistics to back up his thesis:

• Nine times more workers die off the job than on the job.

• The estimated annual economic cost to employers solely from traffic accidents is $43.1 billion.

• Injuries to employees’ family members affect absenteeism and turnover.

• Employee injuries on and off the job reduce productivity and quality.

Panelists Offer Industry Insight

Two distinguished panels of safety equipment manufacturers and distributors gave their insight into how channel partners can solve some of the vexing problems facing the industry today. A summary of their comments is on the Members Only section of the SEDA website.

Safety Week 2004

Safety Week 2004 will take place July 25-29, 2004 at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto, Canada. Those members who were disappointed by the change in venue due to the SARS scare this spring will have a chance next summer to visit the city that has been called “New York if it was run by the Swiss.” Mark your calendars now for next year’s meeting.