Kansas State University

National Safety Month — 'Safety: it takes all of us'

Submitted by Lisa Linck

The National Safety Council celebrates National Safety Month in June as a time to bring attention to key safety issues.

This year's National Safety Month theme, "Safety: It takes all of us," was inspired by the idea of continuous risk reduction — a key pillar in the Journey to Safety Excellence. Everyone at Kansas State University can get actively involved in risk reduction efforts through hazard identification and reporting.

A successful safety program depends on spotting hazards early, evaluating the risk and removing or controlling hazards before they can do harm. If left unnoticed, hazards that produce no injury today can lead to a serious injury in the future.

This month's weekly topics include:
Week 1: Prevent prescription drug abuse
Week 2: Stop slips, trips and falls
Week 3: Be aware of your surroundings
Week 4: Put an end to distracted driving
Bonus week: Summer safety

Engage your employees and coworkers during National Safety Month, because safety takes all of us. Here are some creative tips to encourage everyone's participation in National Safety Month:

1. Create a planning committee to determine how your department will participate in National Safety Month.
2. Distribute the Spot the Hazards game and award prizes to the first five people to turn them in each week.
3. Post safety posters from the National Safety Council around the office.
4. Start your meetings with a five minute safety talk, and distribute tip sheets and articles for reference.
5. Involve your community. Ask a police officer to speak on the dangers of distracted driving.
6. Check with local community officials to see if they have a community-based drug "take-back" program.
7. Encourage staff to share stories and personal experiences about distracted driving and prescription drug abuse.
8. Ask employees to go on hazard walks around your department and identify all hazards. Offer a prize for the team that finds the most hazards.
9. Have a safety trivia contest each week based on the weekly topics. Give the winner a safety prize.
10. Recognize participation in National Safety Month and hold a safety awards presentation

Below you will find a variety of materials you can use to help promote National Safety Month throughout the month. Make sure to use these downloadable resources to engage everyone in reducing risk in your workplaces. A little effort today has the potential to prevent tragedy tomorrow.

Poster: Recognize the risks
Crossword puzzle
Spot the hazards: Hazards in the office
Spot the hazards: Hazards in the warehouse
Spot the hazards: Hazards in the home
Home safety checklist