June is National Safety Month. This campaign, put together by the National Safety Council (NSC), highlights efforts to prevent injuries and deaths inside and outside the workplace. It also helps provide learning opportunities for employees, allows employers to share their safety pride and gives employees the opportunity to pledge that they will work safely.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 5,500 workplace fatalities and over 2.8 million job-related injuries occurred in the last 12 months alone. These findings emphasize how vital it is to promote safety at work. During National Safety Month, a different safety topic will be highlighted each week. Here’s an outline of 2024’s topics:
- Safety engagement (June 1-8)—In order for employees to prioritize workplace safety, they need to be engaged. Employers can foster greater safety engagement among their staff by developing interactive training activities, scheduling regular toolbox talks, posting plenty of safety signage on-site and offering a range of written resources (e.g., workplace safety manuals and flyers). Additionally, employers should conduct routine occupational safety audits and reward employees who demonstrate a commitment to injury prevention.
- Roadway safety (June 9-15)—Having employees operate commercial vehicles poses a variety of potential safety risks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle traffic crashes contribute to more than 40,000 fatalities each year. As such, it’s critical for employers to only hire qualified drivers and educate these employees on roadway safety. Specifically, drivers should be instructed to inspect their vehicles before and after each journey, avoid any distractions behind the wheel and comply with all traffic laws.
- Risk reduction (June 16-22)—While all workplaces share some common safety hazards, specific risks vary based on employers’ operations. That’s why employers need to perform in-depth risk assessments and analyze their unique safety exposures. In doing so, employers can adopt more effective occupational safety measures and better protect their employees on the job. Employers should also encourage their employees to participate in risk reduction by reporting any unaddressed workplace safety issues.
- Slips, trips and falls (June 23-30)—Slips, trips and falls are prevalent injuries across industry lines. What’s worse, falls can sometimes be fatal. In fact, the National Institutes of Health reported that falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional, injury-related deaths. With this in mind, it’s crucial for employers to identify and mitigate any workplace risks that could cause slips, trips and falls. Further, employees should receive regular training on slip, trip and fall prevention.
By educating employees on such topics, companies can create healthier and safer work environments. For additional safety-related information and resources, contact our loss control team today.
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