Weall know thestereotypes– the rash, risk takingdaredevil
whospendshis life constantlyseekingnewexperiencesor the
safetyobsessedworrierwhowouldhappilynever leavehis
home if itmeant never having to face theunknown.
But doyou reallyhave to choosebetweenprogressandsafety?
In this issueof Trends inAutomationwewant to lookat this
question fromanumber of perspectives. Think, for example,
penguins, forwhom thebraveryof the individual isessential
for thesafetyof thegroup. Alternatively, consider polar explorer
Arved Fuchs. For himsafety isparamount becauseof thehuge
riskshehas to take inhisquests toexpandour knowledgeof
theworldspolar regions.
Thesame canbeapplied to theworldof automation technology,
where thewatchwordsareprogressviasafetyandnot safety
insteadof progress. Therearemanydifferent aspects tosafety in
industry.Machinesafetyprotectsusersandsystems, purchasers
and logisticsexpertsneeddelivery reliabilityanddesignersneed
tobesure that specified technical data canactuallybeachieved.
Safety isakeyelementof theFestoproductivitypromise. Youcan
findoutmoreaboutwhatwedo toensure thatwedeliver on this
promise frompage12onwards.Webelieve insafetyfirst, so
that you canexpand the limitsofwhat ispossiblea littlemore
eachday.
Weare theengineersof productivity.
Wehopeyouenjoy reading this issue.
GaryWyles
Safetyversus
progress?
GaryWyles,
ManagingDirector, FestoGB
