Posted By KCS Yesterday i was introduced to a lady and she asked me what my profession was, when i told her that i was into Health & Safety she said 'Oh...your one of them'. I had a chuckle and told her that when I'm not working sometimes I'll go for a skydive and that I also ride a sportsbike(GSXR by the way), her face was a picture! yes 'we' do have a life and not without risk. I then went over to the barbecue and asked the operative if he had received any training on the equipment he was using and if he could tell me how combustion occurs....he said shut up DAD!

Posted By Lukasz Couple weeks ago on birthday party I spotted melting plastic because it was to close to candle... but it was more like 'You saved us' M

Posted By AMelrose You could tell them you're "Death's Apprentice" and learning all the different ways people can die in the workplace at the moment. Tell them black clothing and sharp scythe are optional at this stage!!

Posted By Andrew Robertson-Böber "oh...your a killjoy then" was a recent reply. Though I'm not entirely sure there is any joy is someone being killed - tired as the expression may be, and it certainly put me into torpor. It is diff to talk about our vocation when there is a lot of preconceptions attached to it and I’d agree that often I explain to people where I work before I try and describe the role. Perhaps what is infuriating is that whilst many of us wouldn’t dare to express an opinions about what a doctors job is, a police officer, a dentist, an accountant, vet, postman, &c – as we don’t necessarily understand or know the complexity or nuances of these trade – there remain a surprisingly high number of people who feel that they can comment re. that of a occie safety & health practitioner, no matter who unqualified or hideously speculative it is. It can make one feel rather sure that the irrational prejudice and need for blame is quite alive and kicking. And to think that my family came here to escape the pogroms. B

Posted By KCS Scotts AM, I didn't say it was a negative comment, it was just a remark from a lady who didn't understand our profession, she believed we all dribbled on about legislation and that we didn't have a life.....now anyone fancy attending a free seminar in Dover this Sunday on 'What Effect the current climate is having on Health & Safety'?. KCS

Posted By Phil one thing's for sure: - dying ain't no living.

Posted By Buzz Lightyear I am proud of what I do too Chris. However, I am tired of having to justify myself. I just don't think you can change someones outlook in one conversation. The more I try to sing the praises of what I do and what H&S is about the more it makes me sound like I am in the land of the righteous which is probably one of the most irritating aspects of H&S people - myself included! I hope I am in a better mood next week!

Posted By Pete48 My partner worked for....wait for it...the Inland Revenue or HMRC in their current guise. Strangely I have never had a problem with telling people I am an elf'n'safety bod! Why expect people to be grateful or appreciative of what you do? Is that really why you do it? I don't suppose an undertaker finds it easy to tell people his trade but we would be in a right pickle without them!! Enjoy your weekend, I think I will go down the pub and start a conversation about how many people have fallen from ladders this week. Or if that doesn't work I will try the "hows your bad back Jack" approach. Embarrassed, ashamed, whatever next? I love Fridays because it means I can spend all weekend being risky or do I mean risque, have a good one.

Posted By Garry Mcglaid Nice one Ron, It could have been worse, she might have thought you played football with Ferranti Thistle.(The scottish folk will know what i mean) I love the reaction i get when i say what i do. I believe folk have a vision of what we should look like (clipboard, etc) Like most folk in here though i think because of our profession we tend to play hard, thus destroying the stereotype. Long may it continue. My six year old son declares, "he's gonna be a danger man like his dad" Ah the innocence of youth Lovin it, have a nice weekend all

Posted By ARUN I've never had anybody (outside the workplace) saying anything negative about what I do. Surely I'm not the only one. Arun Joshi Kota INDIA

Posted By Nigel Bryson While the response to my admission that I'm 'in the business of saving lives' has been varied, I have never had a particularly negative reaction. On the other hand when working as a health and safety specialist in the trade union movement there used to be some bizarre reactions. In the main, though, most people accepted the value of improving health and safety standards at work as being important. Being a trade unionist in 'the Winter of Discontent' and through the Thatcher/Major years was hardly a bag of laughs!! Yet the background of continuous negative publicity over many years did not stop the success of trade union Safety Representatives. Nor was I ever embarrassed to be a trade union official. Quite the reverse. I was always proud to represent working people and remain so today. Given the negative publicity of the last few years, there are more tongue in check comments about h&s being over the top. However such comments should give us the chance to reflect on how the deaths, maiming and ill-health associated with today's work can be prevented - as Chris said. There is little new about the situation today. The media have to fill so much print space every day and television's 24/7 coverage requires stories all the time. So its our turn to be in the firing line. So what? If people are so concerned about it, they can post off their ten best successes to the Communications Department and help IOSH promote what we are really all about. Cheers. Nigel