Curious relics of safety from bygone years. (Photo by Jan Thomas)

Around the offices at Circle Safety there are many signs of my years of service within the ranks of the safety and health professions, from framed diplomas and certifications to old photos and safety memorabilia, including rusting, cracked crane hooks. But what may be most telling is my collection of “Humor, Junk and Keep It” files – some of which are shown above.

I know I’m not alone in this habit. I’ve shared and swapped items with old safety friends for years.

Yes, I’ve got lots of versions of the “Cowboy After OSHA” cartoons, as well as Gary Larson’s The Far Side. That guy knows how to nail safety!   But, my collection runs further afield.  One example is my cherished children’s book, Safety Can Be Fun by Munro Leaf—a 1961 “New, Revised Edition” that was originally published in 1938!

I even have a complete copy of American Standards Association, August 31, 1966 Safety Code and Requirements for Dry Martinis.  Unfortunately, I’ve been told by ANSI that it is still under copyright so I can’t share it (but I will find a way to divulge its safety rules at a later date, so stay tuned).

So, what do you have in your Humor, Junk and Keep It file?