Robert Boyle, CM, Chesapeake Safety Coordinator, RSO (Radiation Safety Officer), MBP
Years as an ASSP member: 6
Years in the safety industry: 30
Key responsibilities of your job
In the field, making sure projects are completed correctly, on time and safely. In the office, Mentoring new Team Members on Safety and Inspection work. MBP has a Safety Committee with a Safety Coordinator in each office. We take turns creating Toolbox Topics, Safety Quizzes, Safety Lunch-NLearns, Quarterly Meeting Presentations, News Letters and open to new ideas.
Most significant accomplishment in your career
- 30 plus years ago I worked for Companies that could not even spell safety. Knowing back then that a safe work environment was needed, I pushed and pushed until changes were made or they just gave up listening to me.
- Hear at MBP, they have given me the opportunity to make safety enjoyable and memorable with my Friendly Safety Reminders. The reminders are funny, still getting the safety practices needed in a roundabout way including the whole family.
- The most significant: As a veteran, we knew the person next to us had our backs and we had theirs. This is a safety mindset that I practice to this day. In the field or in the office we need each other. In the field, you can be as safe as possible but one distraction could end it. If you have someone watching your back, your chances of going home in one piece have increased significantly. It is all a mindset/ Safety culture that you create. Team members in my office do not say have a great trip or great evening. They say have a safe trip.
What do you/did you love the most about your job
Figuring out ways to make sure that my team members get home each day safely but also making sure the team and their families stay safe, including the four legged family members. What happens at home also affects the team members at work.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in the safety industry
Just like any job, times can and will be tough. Learn to push through it and make a difference. Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m not a poetry type of guy. A few years ago, another Safety Professional introduced a poem at a safety meeting that I will never forget. This is why we keep pushing forward.
I CHOSE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY – By Don Merrell
I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.
It wasn’t that I didn’t care;
I had the time, and I was there.
But I didn’t want to seem a fool,
Or argue over a safety rule.
I knew he’d done the job before;
If I spoke up he might get sore.
The chances didn’t seem that bad;
I’d done the same, he knew I had.
So I shook my head and walked by;
He knew the risks as well as I.
He took the chance, I closed an eye;
And with that act, I let him die.
I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.
Now every time I see his wife,
I know I should have saved his life.
That guilt is something I must bear;
But isn’t’ something you need to share.
If you see a risk that others take
That puts their health or life at stake,
The question asked or thing you say;
Could help them live another day.
If you see a risk and walk away,
Then hope you never have to say,
“I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.
List your some of your hobbies
Pyrography and Photography
I still practice safety at the shooting range.
What is something people don’t know about you
Irish/Cherokee, Disabled veteran, and cancer survivor. A little crazy but not stupid. Just do not ask my wife that. When I took my first MRI home and put on the laptop, I said see honey, there really is something between the ears. She’s still skeptical.
What hashtags describe your personality best
Stern but fair. I hope common sense is in there.
What is the #1 TV show that you recommend for everyone to watch
Not much for TV anymore.
Biggest Pet Peeve
I can fix safety, but not stupid.
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be
Anything with beans.
What is the first concert you ever attended
Aerosmith in a small theater in Downtown Dayton Ohio. The ticket was a whopping $5.00. It cost a whole $2.00 to see the Eagles Perform in Baton Rouge. The good old days.