[gnode]

> it isn't an absolutest point or mantra.

"Safety first" literally is an absolutist mantra; no part of its wording is conditional. Of course people read into it a less absolute figurative meaning that may be useful for thinking about safety. However it can be politically and legally useful to speak using absolutes.

Using the example of viruses and the economy, it has been politically expedient for politicians to state that nothing should be done which puts life in danger, while making actions which balance safety and economics.

[jack_riminton]

At it's heart I think the phrase is essentially a political one. It signifies at attempt to address the balance between success and safety, rather than skew completely towards success.

When I was in the army fellow officers would say their first priority was to get their soldiers home safely, to which the soldiers would joke "can you fly me home tomorrow then Sir?"

[Werewolf255]

You're arguing from a place where metaphors don't exist. Aside from people who have already questionable judgement, nobody treats "The customer is always right" as a literal dictum. I am not compelled to "Love that chicken from Popeyes" and I can stop eating Pringles after one.