Safety Net

A safety net is a net to protect people from injury after falling from heights by limiting the distance they fall, and deflecting to dissipate the impact energy. The term also refers to devices for arresting falling or flying objects for the safety of people beyond or below the net. Safety nets are used in construction, building maintenance, entertainment, or other industries.

The social safety net is a collection of services provided by the state or other institutions such as friendly societies. It includes welfare, unemployment benefit, universal healthcare, right to healthcare, free education, right to housing, legal aid, victims’ rights, mutual funds, superfund for pensioners and veterans, workers compensation, severance package, consumer protection, social credit, private electricity, homeless shelters, and sometimes subsidized services such as public transport, which prevent individuals from falling into poverty beyond a certain level.

A practical example of how the safety net works would be a single mother with several children; unable to work. By receiving money from the government to support her children, along with universal health care and free education, she can give her children a better chance at becoming successful members of society, rather than be caught up in the hopelessness of extreme poverty.

Parents were our safety nets growing up. Kids don’t have any money to save or purchase insurance, so are dependent on their parents for shelter, medical, nourishment and clothing. Teachers are the safety nets for educating the young with information to insure their future employment. Faith workers are the safety nets for molding moral behavior and character.

We hopefully do not want to use these safety nets, but it is comforting to know they are there.