Picture imperfect

A picture can be worth 1,000 words, and sometimes it can offer 1,000 lessons.

A recent CNN article on the recovering housing market was featured on the news organization’s homepage, and an accompanying photo caught my attention. (See screen-capture on the right.)

I didn’t think the photo of the worker was showing safe behavior. So I contacted Tim Neubauer, a National Safety Council senior consultant, to find out what might be wrong. In addition to noting a lack of eye protection on the worker, Neubauer suggested the worker wasn’t properly protected from a potential fall.

“I will not give him the benefit of the doubt on proper fall protection or [personal protective equipment] for the assumed task of nailing shingles on a roof,” Neubauer said.

News coverage inadvertently showing unsafe behavior has happened before, offering a valuable lesson to employers and workers. This is just another example.

- Digital Partners -

The opinions expressed in “Washington Wire” do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.

- Digital Partners -

Next Webinar

AI in Safety and Risk: What’s Real, What Matters?

Date: Thursday July 23rd, 2026

Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm CDT

Sponsored By: Avetta

Register Now

Current Issue

What's Trending

From our Partners

Earn recertification points

Board of Certified Safety Professionals

Take a quiz about this issue of the magazine and earn recertification points from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.