Workforce Management

National Safety Month

Ella Baker
June is National Safety Month
Reading time 6 Mins
Published on Jun 8
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The National Safety Council is working to keep you safe during National Safety Month

June is National Safety Month and the National Safety Council (NSC) is working with thousands of organizations nationwide to ensure No One Gets Hurt. Working to eliminate preventable deaths at work, home, in communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education, and advocacy, the NSC is highlighting a different safety topic for each week of June: Emergency Preparedness; Wellness; Falls; and Driving. In addition, the NSC encourages all employers to take the SafeAtWork Pledge to show their commitment to safety.

Week 1: Emergency Preparedness

The first week of National Safety Month will focus on Emergency Preparedness. The NSC provides materials that help participants plan for, research, and prepare for emergency situations of all kinds.

Being prepared can save you precious time in the event of an emergency. The NSC can help ready you for natural disasters, like floods or tornadoes. In addition to learning first aid and CPR, the NSC recommends that individuals participate in emergency drills at work and school, develop home emergency plans, and get a fire-proof safe or safety deposit box for the storage of important documents.

Every home and work site should have fully stocked emergency kits. In addition to flashlights, extra batteries, and a radio, emergency kits should also include three-days’ worth of non-perishable food and water, a can opener, and a fully equipped first-aid kit. Plastic sheeting and duct tape are vital for sealing windows, and whistles can help signal rescue workers. Cars should also be stocked with an emergency kit that includes a spare tire, jack, jumper cables, tire iron, and cat litter for traction. A tool kit, compass, reflective triangles and vest, blanket, shovel, food, and water should also be included in your car kit.
The NSC also reminds everyone to change the batteries in smoke alarms at least once each year. The National Fire Protection Association reports that a working smoke alarm reduces a person’s risk of dying in a home fire in half.

Week 2: Wellness

The second week of National Safety Month will focus on Wellness. The NSC provides materials that help participants focus on improving their overall wellness.

While regular medical checkups and tests play a role in maintaining your health, daily activities like choosing healthier snacks, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, taking a break from the desk, and going for a walk at lunch can all help improve your overall wellness. In addition, taking advantage of your workplace wellness program and exploring exercise classes in your community will also help you achieve your fitness goals.

Avoiding fatigue by getting enough sleep is also a recommended step to achieving wellness, as chronic sleep deprivation can lead to depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other illnesses. Individuals should limit intake of caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen sleep problems, and create quiet, dark bedrooms that are conducive to falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.

One of the best ways to avoid fatigue is to get seven to nine hours of sleep each day. To make sure you’re not one of the 70 million Americans affected by sleep disorders, the National Institutes of Health recommends those with chronic fatigue should consider talking to their doctor about potential sleep disorders.

Week 3: Falls

The third week of National Safety Month will focus on Falls. The NSC provides materials that help participants focus on improving the prevention of slips, trips, and falls.

The third leading cause of unintentionally-injury-related deaths for all ages, falls are largely preventable. At home, nightlights in low light areas, removal of clutter, grab bars near showers and toilets, and non-skid strips or mats on stairs and in showers can help prevent falls. In the workplace proper footwear, cleaning up spills quickly, and removal of clutter like electrical cords can help stave off tripping incidents.

In modern society, one of the greatest dangers of falls or other tripping injuries comes from cell phone-related distracted walking. In fact, the Journal of Safety Research reported more than 10,000 serious injuries resulted from distracted walking over a 10-year period. You can limit your risk by not using your cell phone while walking, being aware of pedestrians using their phones when you are driving, avoiding listening to headphones near intersections, and being particularly mindful of not being distracted in high traffic areas like airports and shopping centers. Bottom line, if you need to use your phone, find a place to sit down or stand still until you are finished.

Week 4: Driving

The fourth week of National Safety Month will focus on Driving. The NSC provides materials that help participants focus on driving safely.

Safe driving starts with being focused on the task at hand. This means avoiding any type of impaired driving, making sure that all occupants of the vehicle are properly secured, and avoiding distractions, like cell phones or changing the radio station, while driving. Impaired driving can be caused by alcohol or other drugs, lack of sleep, or even over the counter medications. Talk to your teens about avoiding distractions while driving, practice safe driving techniques with them, and lead by example. If you drive for work or if you have employees who drive for work, talk to them about safe driving habits.

With innovations in automobiles coming every day, it can be easy to become reliant on the safety features offered by your vehicle. These features can make you safer, but only when used correctly. Read your owner’s manual to familiarize yourself with how the features of your vehicle work and take it for routine maintenance to ensure that all features work properly. Pay attention to the alerts and warnings given by your vehicle. Finally, don’t develop an overreliance on these safety features – there’s no substitute for a focused, engaged driver.

Your car’s most important safety feature is the seatbelt. In 2016, injuryfacts.nsc.org reported that 48% of vehicle occupants killed on the road were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of injury.

Start spreading the news

The NSC wants your help spreading the word about National Safety Month and steps that can be taken to improve safety at home, at work, and in the community. Individuals can create blog posts about safety issues or share posts on social media channels using #No1GetsHurt. Businesses can create bulletin boards featuring NSC materials, hold a safety fair, or provide additional safety training for employees.

Sheakley lets you focus on running your small business

Sign up today to reserve your spot at Sheakley’s Workforce Management Safety Day Seminar on Thursday, June 28. Join us for a full day of sessions with a panel of experts that will be covering various safety topics, from OSHA standards all the way to violence in the workplace. Attendance at this seminar will qualify as credit towards all state-wide safety council external participation requirements and your 2 hour Green Year safety training requirement.

Learn more about Sheakley’s Workforce Management Services and workplace safety by visiting our site or by contacting us today. Stay up-to-date on all things Sheakley by subscribing to our blog and following us on social media. Join in the discussion by commenting below.


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