The National Safety Council (NSC) observes June as National Safety Month, a time for everyone to reconnect to safety initiatives highlighting leading causes of preventable death and injury and focusing on ways to lead safer lives in the workplace and at home. The NSC initiated National Safety Month in 1996 as a set time each year to re-evaluate safety procedures and prevent injury.
“Preventable injuries are a leading cause of death in the United States.” – NSC
According to the NSC, “Construction has one of the highest fatality rates among all industries, accounting for roughly 20 percent of all workplace fatalities. Understanding the leading causes of fatalities in construction… can help you identify the most useful safety resources.”
The month-long safety observance promotes the prevention of injuries and deaths nationwide.
Each week of June focuses on a different safety topic. June 1-7 is continuous improvement; June 8-14 is employee engagement; June 15-21 is roadway safety; and June 22-30 is wellbeing.
Week 1: June 1-7. Continuous Improvement.
Continuous improvement (in safety) is an ongoing effort to enhance safety practices, protocols, and culture within an organization. It comprises identifying opportunities for improvement, implementing changes, and then evaluating the effectiveness of the changes made. Continuous improvement can include attending safety talks and seminars in addition to promoting knowledge in first aid or CPR or how to use AED.
Week 2: June 8-14. Employee Engagement.
Companies that promote an environment where feedback is valued and encouraged can adapt to challenges and develop or update their safety standards.
One way to do this is by utilizing a safety team. Safety teams show that an organization and leadership value the health and safety of its employees. The safety team should be supported by top management and should act under the guidance or advice of safety professionals. It should meet and function on an ongoing basis and should assess and control hazards and risk and communicate safety and team initiatives to the organization. The goal is for employees to engage with safety teams (or management) to identify hazards and increase safety overall.
Week 3: June 15-21. Roadway Safety.
More than 42,000 people die in crashes every year on U.S. roads, with many of those deaths resulting from incidents during the workday or commutes to or from work. Implementing a driver safety program can help save on costs and prevent injuries to employees. Additional roadway safety issues include distracted driving, which kills at least eight people a day and includes calls, texts, vehicle touchscreens, food and even other passengers. Impaired driving includes drugs and alcohol in addition to stress, fatigue or distractions while driving. Furthermore, speeding is a major factor in crashes in addition to frequent and unnecessary lane changes, tailgating and running red lights.
The NSC's mission, for over 110 years, is to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury in America-especially in the workplace and on roadways. For more safety information, go to https://www.nsc.org/
Week 4: June 22-30. Wellbeing.
“A comprehensive approach to workplace safety must consider the underlying causes leading to or contributing to injuries that may not be visible to the human eye,” - NSC.
Wellbeing includes all the risks to workplace safety and health, which include fatigue, substance use, mental health and psychological safety. The Construction Wellbeing Initiative (CWI) is a non-profit “that works to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all construction workers”. It strives to raise awareness about mental health in the construction industry and provide resources and support, including mental health counseling, peer support groups, educational workshops and jobsite interventions. Additional wellbeing information can be found at wellbeing.construction/about-cwi.
