When I returned to the nuclear industry in January 2022, it had been over 40 years since I was a full-time safety and health pro. Some changes were blatant and mostly good, but a few were more subtle and sometimes disturbing.
Testing, surveying, and monitoring instruments I often use were surprisingly improved. Many analog and mechanical devices have been replaced with more sensitive and accurate digital versions. It was a bit of a learning curve, but not too bad because many of the tools did the work for you!
Smartphones were a vital communication instrument not even dreamed of in the 1980s. I took pictures of equipment and areas I used to have to draw (and I’m a lousy artist!). That, and calling colleagues for updates and assignments, made them essential work tools. I used mine several times to look up safety regulations and other requirements. The downside to smartphones is something that now permeates our work and home life—distraction.
The mix of characters and “gossip” was generally the same on the human side. However, at the three power plants I worked at, safety and health were more at the forefront than when I was a safety pro in the 80s. Every morning, we spent at least ten minutes discussing a safety and health topic, and before any significant or new operation, we had a “Take Two” briefing. They were better and more in-depth than I remember—a pleasant surprise.
One other vital change I knew about because of my speaking career–health, particularly mental health, is being taken more seriously, as it should be, than it was four decades ago. Here are just a few health-related topics we discussed in our morning meetings: depression, anger, how to get better sleep, problems at home affecting your concentration, healthy eating habits, etc. Of course, we spent time on traditional safety topics such as PPE and line-of-fire, but much more time was spent on health than I remember.
Yes, I was one of the oldest workers when I returned and got plenty of ribbing. Besides learning some new slang words, immersing again in the safety and health field reaffirmed my belief that it is ‘bussin.’
Now I’m back to my true love. “Making Safety Fun!” as a speaker, consultant, coach, author, and all-around FunBird!
