Thread: Difference between Safety and Security?

Hi,

What is the difference between Safety and Security?

I managed this project, where I had a script in English that was talking about Safety and Security. I had to translate this script into several European languages. My french translator came back to me saying that he couldn't translate Safety and Security because it would sound too "redundant" (especially for a script for audio purposes). Therefore, I tried to think about how to translate both terms, without saying the same thing twice. In the end, my spanish and french translators chose to keep and translate Security, and swith Safety to Protection.

I found this pretty interesting link about this topic (pretty good illustration with an umbrella)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140...ty-vs-security


Thanks for helping out!

I have to admit that when I first thought about that, I couldn't think of a difference between them, but now it makes more sense. So, vicente, what would be your pick if you had to translate these terms into french and/or spanish, in the case scenario that it is going be audio recorded?

Hi nablym,
What did your translators suggested for these languages? That could give us ideas. Comparing the same translation into several language is a common practice when there is a group of translators doing the same thing.

No problem vicente, your answer was accurate enough without having read the link, hats off.
I got "Seguridad y protección". My french translator only left "Sécurité", because he didn't want to sound too repetitive. Maybe Frank could help us with that

Interesting article...

In my opinion, as far as Spanish goes, I believe that a viable translation for these terms would be something along the lines of "Seguridad y Prevención" which I've seen used in several manuals regarding safety and security topics of this sort.

As I see it, "Security" refers to active protection, while "Safety" is more related to the use or implementation of preventive measures that help avoid certain risks or accidents form occurring, that might not come to actually happen.


In a way, I believe Security has to do with how to deal with actual threats while Safety has to do with what should be done to avoid them in advance or how to contain any resulting collateral damage.

Hi

Safety defines your freedom from physical injury or risk and on the way security defines protection of your valuable asset. With ATA certified translation you can reduce all your confusions.