1.
safety first; safety comes first
A set phrase used as a motto and guiding principle in workplaces, construction sites, transportation, and other contexts where physical safety is a priority. Functions both as a standalone slogan and as an adverbial modifier meaning 'with safety as the top priority.'
Compound of 安全 ('safety') and 第一 ('number one; first priority'). Ubiquitous on Japanese construction sites, factory floors, and in transportation — you will see it on banners, helmets, and signs. The phrase originates from the English 'Safety First' slogan popularized by U.S. Steel in 1906, which was adopted in Japan during the industrial modernization of the early 20th century.
Usage
- Used as a standalone slogan on signage, or adverbially with で to mean 'prioritizing safety.'
- The pattern X第一 is productive: 品質第一 ('quality first'), 健康第一 ('health first'), 顧客第一 ('customer first').
- Often appears in morning safety meetings (朝礼) at workplaces.
Common collocations
- 安全第一で作業する: to work with safety first
- 安全第一の標語: safety-first slogan
- 安全第一を心がける: to keep safety first in mind
Similar words
- 安全: safety — the base noun without the 'first priority' emphasis
- 労働安全: occupational safety — the broader field of workplace safety
- 健康第一: health first — parallel expression prioritizing health