I have discussed the need to envision safety as a value rather than a priority before. Many dynamic factors will move other problems, issues, goals, or tasks to the top of the demand hierarchy. Change is a constant. And leading change or adjusting to it requires flexibility and strategic modification of priorities.
Values are more constant than priorities.
For individuals, values represent profound internal beliefs or attitudes that establish a context from which we evaluate past behavior and plan future behavior. Given this definition, it's obvious why it's better to talk about safety as a value than a priority. Priorities are compromised to make way for other priorities. Values are rarely compromised. They serve as the standard against which we judge the appropriateness of our behaviors.