May 31, 2013
June is National Safety Month
Believe it or not, tomorrow is the first day of June, which marks the first day of National Safety Month. It is an annual observance to educate and influence behaviors around leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths.
This year’s campaign, Safety Starts with Me, highlights the steps every individual can take to be a safety leader. While leadership from the top is important, creating a culture where there is a sense of ownership of safety by all makes everyone a safety leader.
"On the Journey to Safety Excellence, successful organizations engage everyone in safety and create a culture where people feel a personal responsibility not only for their own safety, but for that of their coworkers, family and friends," said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "While safety is important year-round, June is a great time to get everyone involved as the nation observes National Safety Month."
This year the National Safety Council has chosen to focus on employee engagement. Throughout the month of June we will provide you with links to a number of free downloadables from the council on each of the topics listed below. This year the weekly themes include:
- June 2-8: Preventing slips, trips and falls
- June 9-15: Employee wellness
- June 16-22: Emergency preparedness
- June 23-29: Ergonomics
Bonus topics: Summer safety and driving safety
Unintentional injuries and deaths in the United States are at unacceptable levels. Unintentional-injury related deaths were estimated to total 122,900 in 2011, up 1.7 percent compared to 2010. The latest estimate is 42 percent greater than the 1992 total of 86,777, the lowest annual total since 1924. The cost of unintentional injuries to Americans and their employers exceeds $750 billion nationally, and causes great suffering among individuals and their families.
Help celebrate 100 Years of Safety this June. The National Safety Council also is spending this year celebrating 100 Years of Safety. As we celebrate how far safety has come, take a minute to test your safety history knowledge. Find historical safety information, including an interactive timeline and make a safety pledge for 2013. Encourage coworkers to make a safety pledge as part of your National Safety Month celebration.
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. The council advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and safe communities.
Stay safe with National Safety Month.