⛑️National Safety Month

Observed annually in June, National Safety Month focuses on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities. We provide downloadable resources highlighting a different safety topic for each week in June. Topics for 2019 are Hazard Recognition, Slips, Trips and Falls, Fatigue and Impairment.

Each week throughout National Safety Month in June is an opportunity to make a difference in your home, work, and community.

Identifying risks around the home or improving safety standards at home and in your community protects everyone. Whether we increase first aid and emergency awareness through drills or provide water safety tips for summer recreation, we’re taking steps to provide a safer neighborhood.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Get involved!

• Report repairs as they are needed
• Hold drills at home to help children know what to do in the even of
  • fire
  • tornado
  • medical event
  • another natural disaster
• Volunteer to participate in community emergency preparedness events
• Put together a first aid kit
• Take a CPR class
• Teach someone to change a tire properly and safely
• Learn about proper storage and disposal of medications
• Take a defensive driving course
• Learn how to identify fall hazards in a home

Visit the National Safety Council website for tips and resources and use #NationalSafetyMonth to share on social media.

HISTORY

The National Safety Council promotes National Safety Month annually.  

There are over 1,500 national days. Don’t miss a single one. Celebrate Every Day® with National Day Calendar

noun, plural safe·ties.

the state of being safe; freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss.

the quality of averting or not causing injury, danger, or loss.

a contrivance or device to prevent injury or avert danger.

Also called lock, safety catch, safety lock. a locking or cutoff device that prevents a gun frombeing fired accidentally.

the action of keeping safe.

Football.

1. an act or play in which a player on the offensive team is tackled in his own end zone ordowns the ball there, or in which the ball goes out of bounds on a fumble, having last beenin bounds in or over the end zone and having last been in the possession of an offensiveplayer.Compare touchback.
2. an award of two points to the opposing team on this play.
3. Also called safety man. a player on defense who lines up farthest behind the line ofscrimmage.

Baseball. a base hit, especially a one-base hit.

Slang. a condom.

Obsolete. close confinement or custody.

Here’s the Top 10 Workplace Safety Tips Every Employee Should Know to help you inform your own workers and create a workplace safety environment based on shared responsibility:

1) Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

This step requires knowing the particular hazards of your job or workplace. Once you’ve learned these risks, you are able to keep clear of potential hazardous areas, and potential hazardous situations. Also, always be alert of machinery.

2) Keep Correct Posture To Protect Your Back

If you work at a desk, keep your shoulders in line with your hips to avoid back problems. If you’re picking things up, use correct form so your back doesn’t get hurt. Avoid stooping and twisting. If possible, always use ergonomic designed furniture and safety equipment so everything you need is within easy reach.

3) Take Regular Breaks

So many work-related injuries and illnesses occur because a worker is tired, burned out and not alert to their surroundings. Taking regular breaks helps you stay fresh on the job. One trick to staying alert is to schedule the most difficult tasks when your concentration is best, like first thing in the morning.

4) Use Tools And Machines Properly

Take the proper precautions when using tools, and never take shortcuts. Taking shortcuts is one of the leading cause of workplace injury. It’s a huge safety risk to use scaffolding as a ladder or one tool in place of another for a specific job. Using tools the right way greatly reduces the chance of workplace injury.

5) Keep Emergency Exits Easily Accessible         

In case of an emergency, you’ll need quick, easy access to the exits. It’s also recommended to keep clear access to equipment shutoffs in case you need to quickly stop them from functioning.

6) Report Unsafe Conditions To Your Supervisor

Your supervisor needs to be informed about any workplace safety hazards or risks. They are legally obligated to ensure their employees have a safe working environment and will take care of the unsafe conditions and make them safe for you and your coworkers.

7) Use Mechanical Aids Whenever Possible

Instead of attempting to carry or lift something that’s really heavy in an attempt to save a sliver of time during your workday, take the extra minute to use a wheelbarrow, conveyor belt, crank or forklift. Too many injury risks are involved with trying to lift something that weighs too much.

8) Stay Sober

Around three percent of workplace fatalities occur due to alcohol and drugs. When a worker’s ability to exercise judgment, coordination, motor control, concentration or alertness is compromised, this leads to any number of risks for workplace injury and fatalities.

9) Reduce Workplace Stress

Stress can lead to depression and concentration problems. Common causes of workplace stress include long hours, heavy workload, job insecurity and conflicts with coworkers or managers. Take your concerns about workplace stress to your supervisor to see how they might help you address them.

10) Wear The Correct Safety Equipment

If you’re not wearing the correct safety equipment for a task, you may get injured. Depending on the job, equipment like earplugs, earmuffs, hard hats, safety goggles, gloves or a full-face mask greatly reduce the risk of workplace injury.

It’s up to facility managers and business owners to get their employees onboard with workplace safety efforts, encouraging them to become active members in the process. Share with them the workplace injury statistics and the inherent risks their job presents to them on a daily basis. Provide incentives that reward them for exemplifying great workplace safety behavior. These simple initiatives really do make all of the difference.

Make 2017 your safest year ever. See how Arbill can help you reduce injuries and reach your safety goals this year. Call 800-523-5367 or speak to an Arbill Safety Expert today.

TOPICS: safety, safety training, workplace injury, safety equipment, workplace illness, workplace safety,workplace fatalities, back injury, safety standards, work-related injuries, workplace stress

1. Use tools and machines properly

• Always make sure that you know how to use tools or machinery correctly.  If you are not comfortable with any equipment do not operate it until you have further training! Accidents can quickly happen when something is not a familiar item.  Common issues include using the wrong tool for a task or creating an unsafe environment while not correctly using heavy equipment.

2. Be aware of your surroundings

• Check your surroundings and make sure they are up to standards.  If there are preventable measures to take, always check those are intact, such as certain marks on equipment.  A tool like the Security Check Paint Marker is great for making sure that equipment is stable and safe for use.

3. Be safe in the cold weather

• Working outside means watching out for harsh weather! Be mindful of extreme temperatures and in this current winter weather, keep your skin protected. 

4.  Follow procedure, don’t take shortcuts

• Trying to take shortcuts to save time or money can possibly cause a procedure to be done the wrong way.  In the end it may cost the company more time and money either in the short or long run.  Always follow correct procedures as they are being held in place for a reason, if you see a beneficial shortcut speak with a supervisor first.

5.  Wear your protective gear

• It is important to always wear protective gear where it is required.  Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes items like hard hats, goggles, shoes and gloves that are vital to staying safe in certain work environments.  The reasons to wear this gear can vary from job to job; make sure to always wear everything that is necessary.

6.  If you see unsafe conditions, let a supervisor know

• Being aware of your surroundings means you may spot unsafe conditions in a work environment.  If you spot unsafe work areas make sure to make this known to a supervisor or corresponding personnel.  Marking items or machinery with appropriate tools can help bring possible hazards to attention.  Marking tools such as Valve Action Paint Markers or even more specified tools like Tempilabels  to measure temperatures can be great help.

7.  Take breaks

• Long periods of time without proper breaks can lead to a decrease in focus or alertness.  This can possibly also cause a loss in productivity; make sure you are taking regular breaks within your work day.

8.  Stay sober

• Drugs or alcohol cause a huge difference in productivity and affect your motor skills and judgment.  This is a huge hazard for yourself and coworkers around you make sure to never take any drugs or alcohol prior to beginning your work day.

9.  Practice correct posture

• Bad posture may not seem like a big problem but in the long run can have a huge effect on the employee as well as the company.  Make sure to practice good posture while sitting or lifting to avoid, sprains, strains, muscle tears or dislocations on your back or hips

10.  Reduce workplace stress

• Talk to your manager if workplace stress is hindering your focus.  Workplace stress can include issues such as overly long hours, conflicts with coworkers and heavy workloads.  This often leads to distractions, rushing and lower productivity. 

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