Four Ways We’ve Recognized National Safety Month All Year Long

June is National Safety Month

June marks the 26th year the National Safety Council (NCS) has sponsored National Safety Month. This year’s themes highlight the most common hazards workers face at the worksite. It’s an important focus and one that is behind the real stories that Liberty Glove and Safety has been following all year long.

Below, we’ve listed each of the National Safety Month weekly themes and given links to our latest safety blogs that back up the data and present the human side of the topics.

Week by week Break Down of This Year’s Safety Themes

Week 1 – Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

MSDs are a leading cause of workplace injury and cost billions each year in workers’ compensation and lost productivity.

The most current BLS statistics show ten occupations make up 40 percent of all MSD cases in the private sector. Of these ten, laborers and freight, stock and material movers, and nursing assistants had the most MSD cases.

But as one of our earlier blog posts from last year pointed out, truck drivers are also high on the list of those suffering from MSD injuries. The BLS data showed that heavy and tractor-trailer drivers made up 31% of the  overall percentage, and light truck or delivery service drivers made up another 38%.

Caption:  MSD cases made up 52 percent of all days away from work (DAFW) cases to nursing assistants. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had median days away from work due to MSDs of 21 days.

The numbers are alarming and make this week’s theme even more relevant.

Gain the latest resources and practical tools to help your organization take action on MSD injuries during National Safety Month’s first week.

Week 2 – Workplace Impairment

We all know the dangers of substance use on the job. But did you know mental distress, stress, and fatigue on the job are also impairing?

An Australian study published by the Lancet Psychiatric Journal examined the impact job strain has on mental health. The research, led by associate professor Samuel Harvey from the Black Dog Institute in Sydney, showed that by the age of 50, the study participants who had experienced higher job strain were up to 14 percent more likely to develop a common form of mental illness.

The findings suggest that modifiable work-related risk factors could be significant in efforts to reduce the prevalence of common mental disorders.

It’s such a relevant topic that last month’s celebration of Construction Safety Week embraced it as their entire focus for the week.

Additionally, Liberty Glove and Safety’s blog post, “Worksite Safety’s Impact on a Construction Worker’s Mental Health,” explored the unique set of stressors construction workers face, including the stress of work-related injuries and illness.

Caption: While you can’t always remove stress from a worksite, there are measures organizations can take to help reduce a worker’s stress.

During the second week of National Safety Month, you’ll learn how to access resources to recognize the signs and address mental health issues in all forms within all industries, including construction.

Week 3 – Injury Prevention

In 2020 alone, more than four million workplace injuries required medical attention in the U.S.

For the safety experts at Liberty Glove and Safety, this topic means encouraging workplace strategies that stay on top of the dangers that cause injury.

One such strategy and one that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says employers are responsible for performing is a “hazard assessment,” which identifies and controls onsite physical and health hazards.

The hazard assessment starts with a walkthrough of the facility to develop a list of potential risks.

However, as our blog post about workplace strategies that encourage safety  points out, the list should not be your only focus. Look for higher-order goals like trust, respect, and workers’ knowledge. Getting their input on safety protocols and PPE use is also essential.

OSHA provides a self-evaluation tool that will help you organize and analyze the information and then determine the types of safety systems and PPE that will be most appropriate.

Caption: A company that cares about its workers continuously emphasizes safety. However, no matter how safe you are, hazards exist in every business.

The third week in June sees National Safety Month teaching practical approaches to prevent injuries and deaths, including how to identify hazards and assess risks.

Week 4 – Slips, Trips, and Falls

Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death.

According to the NSC website, 805 workers died in falls, and 211,640 were injured, requiring days off work in 2020.

And once again, construction workers made the top of the list for this work-related hazard. The BLS reports that falls, slips, and trips were the most frequent fatal events in the construction industry, representing 37.9 percent of all fatalities.

Our research found that most fatal falls, slips, and trips occur during wintertime construction work when workers are faced with super slippery surfaces from parking lots, sidewalks, and roads.

Caption: There was a 22.9-percent increase in fatal falls, slips, and trips over 2018.

This week during National Safety Month focuses on reducing slips, trips, and falls from heights and even looks at how technology is playing a role in saving lives.

Get More Information and Resources for Download

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2021, U.S. workplace deaths were 4,764, down 10.7 percent since 2019.

Last year, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) recorded U.S. workplace deaths at 4,764. That’s down 10.7% since 2019.

While these statistics are encouraging, the numbers are still alarming and make this observance even more relevant.

So, for more information on preventing workplace injuries or downloading free materials specially designed for each topic, go to the NSC website and choose “Sign up now.” There you are asked to enter some basic information.

Once you’re registered on the site, you’ll find a lot of information, including:

  • Safety Tip Handouts (English and Spanish)
  • Safety-focused articles
  • Infographics, and images to share

You can also explore more safety articles on our blog site. We publish regularly and feature experts and information on the latest topics and products most relevant to our customers.

And don’t forget that National Safety Month is a great time to update your organization’s personal protective equipment (PPE). Making certain that PPE is well-fitting and maintained will help keep your workers injury-free and ensure your business stays in compliance.

At  Liberty Glove and Safety, we offer an informative download to help ensure you have the best cut-resistant gloves for your worksite application. Get your FREE guide to cut-resistant gloves today!