Many have heard the phrase “if you see something, say something.” This motto, developed by The Department of Homeland Security in 2010, serves to engage the public in “protecting our homeland.” While “If you see something, say something” was created to raise public awareness of the indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, it was also developed with the intention to show importance of reporting suspicious activity. Therefore this motto can serve as a tool in the workplace to protect against injuries, accidents, workplace violence and safety violations.

According to DHS, this motto was created to protect our communities through awareness-building, partnerships and other outreach. Although the overall goal for this motto is for members of the community to come forward about suspicious activity in order to prevent terrorism-related crime it can, and should, be used as a tool in the workplace.

‘If you see something, say something’ opens the door for training and awareness-building in any workplace and employees should feel equipped with the proper knowledge and support to always report suspicious activity.

When it comes to safety in construction, “if you see something, say something” should be a rule of thumb for all workers, supervisors, visitors and anyone who steps foot on a construction site. All workers should feel comfortable enough to speak up about safety violations they think may be occurring. If you see something that seems wrong, report it to your supervisor or OSHA. OSHA will always support an employee’s right to question the safety of their surroundings. When you report something that seems suspicious in the office or worksite you could potentially save a life. An informed and alert team plays a critical role in keeping the workplace safe.

Reported activity can turn into a learning opportunity for you and those around you. Employee’s should never feel as though they can’t say something. As DHS says, your day is uniquely yours and different than everyone around you. Therefore, when something feels wrong, there’s a chance it is. If you see something that seems off compared to what you know to be right, say something.

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