Retirement Doesn’t Mean Stepping Away from Safety
Retired Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety professionals continue to shape the field through mentorship, teaching, and advocacy—ensuring that the next generation carries forward a legacy of prevention, ethics, and worker protection.
- By Bernard Fontaine
- Nov 10, 2025
Retirement has traditionally meant stepping away from the workforce, but for many Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) professionals, it does not mean stepping away from purpose. After years devoted to protecting workers, communities, and environments, our expertise remains as valuable as ever — especially to those beginning their careers or taking on safety responsibilities for the first time.
Even when no longer in the field, retired professionals have countless ways to stay involved. Opportunities exist to mentor and coach younger practitioners, develop or teach safety courses, present at conferences, and contribute articles, case studies, or books. Many colleges, professional societies, and local safety chapters welcome experienced voices to guest lecture or speak at meetings. Each engagement strengthens the link between generations and helps maintain the high professional standards our field depends on.
Our knowledge crosses boundaries. We have witnessed how safety connects to economics, culture, politics, and even justice. Some of us have participated in legal proceedings that reveal the real human costs of unsafe work. This breadth of understanding gives retired OEHS professionals a unique perspective — one that can help others see beyond compliance toward prevention, ethics, and human well-being.
Retirement offers freedom: freedom to focus on mentorship, advocacy, and lifelong learning. By sharing our experience, we ensure that the principles of health, safety, and environmental stewardship continue to evolve. Our work in OEHS may no longer define our daily routines, but it can — and should — continue to shape the profession’s future.
About the Author
Bernard L. Fontaine, Jr. CIH, CSP, FAIHA is the Managing Partner of The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc.