For the past couple of years now, we've done a broad-based industry survey. One of the questions focuses on which issues are very important to you and your peers.

Much to my surprise, safety and ergonomics came in third both years. Only cost containment and company growth scored higher. Furthermore, safety and ergonomics will become more important going forward, said respondents.

This surprised me because we so often hear people talk about the importance of those two. But spending money to improve them is often another story.

That tide seems to be changing, however. When we talked to some of your peers about lift truck safety (Safety first), it's clear where it stands—at the top of the charts. And that's true for companies as diverse as APL Logistics, The Container Store and Mercedes.

In a way, this shouldn't come as a surprise. The Industrial Truck Association, which represents lift truck suppliers, has long been a strong advocate of safety. There have even been times when the group has pushed OSHA to set safety standards higher. And tougher standards usually get everyone's attention.

But as you will see in the article, there's more to lift truck safety than regulations. Other components include training and changing cavalier attitudes toward safety. It also requires a team effort from pedestrians in the facility to lift truck operators, safety specialists, supervisors and managers.

And just as people in plants and warehouses are becoming more aware of the importance of safety, a career in safety is becoming even more desirable. Now through 2014, employment of occupational health and safety specialists and technicians is expected to increase by double digits, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That fact came to me in a release from Mancomm and American Safety Training, sister companies that develop safety compliance products and training. As you would expect, the release pointed out that a career in safety offers the personal satisfaction of helping others as well as high visibility for improving the bottom line of companies. That's tough to argue with whether it's in a press release or not.

Fact is, safety is becoming increasingly important in the plant and warehouse. And it's not confined to lift trucks. The cost of injuries, the interrelationship of safety and ergonomics and new management attitudes are all coming together to make this issue one of ever greater importance. And that's good for all.