Each June, we celebrate National Safety Month! This annual observance is sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC) to stress the importance of safety at, and away from, the workplace, and to highlight the leading causes of preventable injuries and fatalities. National Safety Month is a great opportunity to reinforce your organization’s commitment to workplace health and safety.
The weekly themes for this year’s event are:
- Week 1 (June 1-6), Moving Safety Forward: The emphasis of week 1 is on advancing a culture of safety with forward-thinking strategies that prioritize employee health and safety. This includes embedding safety into the organization’s values and leadership and focusing on preventing incidents before they happen. The NRC stresses the importance of continually monitoring and updating programs to go beyond compliance to proactively identify hazards and mitigate risks. Included in the resources that they provide are a Continuous Improvement Quiz and a 5-Minute Safety Talk on Identifying and Addressing Safety Hazards to move the program forward.
- Week 2 (June 7-13), Staying Safe on the Roads: Injuries resulting from roadway incidents involving motorized vehicles are the leading cause of work-related deaths. According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), roadway fatalities had been declining consistently for 30 years, but progress has stalled over the last decade. The NSC highlights the importance of focusing on all aspects of driver safety including distracted and impaired driving as well as speeding. Resources provided for week 2 include a 5-Minute Safety Talk on Sharing the Roads Safely and a Fact Sheet on Workplace Roadway Incidents.
- Week 3 (June 14-20), Promoting Holistic Worker Health: During week 3, the NRC emphasizes the importance of supporting total worker wellbeing—including mental, physical, and emotional health. They also explore the connection between employee wellbeing and safety. According to the NSC, a comprehensive approach to workplace safety must factor in the underlying causes leading, or contributing, to injuries. They recommend considering the impact of wellbeing-related risks when prioritizing workplace safety and holistic worker health. These include fatigue, stress, substance abuse, and mental health. NRC resources include a Workplace Wellbeing: Prioritizing Safety for the Whole Worker Video and a Wellbeing Quiz.
- Week 4 (June 21-30), Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls: Based on recent data, incidents related to slips, trips, and falls are the second leading cause of workplace fatalities, and the third leading cause of workplace injuries. In many cases, these types of injuries are preventable. Prevention strategies include maintaining clean, dry, and non-slip flooring; requiring the use of proper footwear; avoiding distractions such as cell phone use while walking; and addressing spills immediately to prevent slipping hazards. NRC resources include a How We Can Prevent Falls and Save Lives Video and a Keep an Eye Out for Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards 5-Minute Safety Talk.
You can register to get additional free materials to promote National Safety Month at your workplace. For more information or for ideas about how to incorporate this year’s themes into your safety program, please contact us!
This blog was written by Beth Graham, Safety Partners’ Director of Quality, Research, and Training.
