For those of you who don’t like the idea of applying military principles to health and safety management by imposing a merciless, prescriptive hierarchical culture, don’t worry. That is really not what this book is about.

For thousands of years, the military world has by far been the most advanced in terms of strategy, and we have much to learn from it when it comes to preventing work accidents.

Strategy must include the knowledge and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of all players within organizations, a recurring problem in health and safety systems. The unity of command inherent to military strategies has much to teach us in this regard for the coordinated execution of the roles and responsibilities of the various players within our companies.

In war, two armies face off in battle. When it comes to health and safety, we face a completely different enemy. Who is this enemy? Risks and hazards. Well hidden within the walls of our companies, they lie in wait, ready to injure or even kill our employees if we don’t get a proper handle on them.

Do you have an effective strategy against risks and hazards? Could it be made better, more effective, better understood, and better implemented?

That is what we talk about in this book.

Losing the war is not an option. This book can help.

Marc-André Ferron