National Safety Council has declared June the National Safety Month in the United States since 1996. The initiative aims to reevaluate personal safety and environmental safety practices and improve upon them. This month-long event focuses on spreading awareness about safety hazards and injuries in industrial labor.
National Safety Month - 2022 Theme
Each week of the month is designated a theme under safety, and awareness programs are held to promote a secure atmosphere. For 2022, the national security council focuses on workplace safety and has crafted the following action plan for mass awareness campaigns.
- Week 1: Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of occupational injury, costing billions in workers’ compensation and loss of productivity each year.
- Week 2: Workplace impairment can be due to substance use, mental distress, fatigue, and anxiety.
- Week 3: Injury prevention can only occur if potential hazards are identified, and risks are assessed.
- Week 4: Slips, trips, and falls are the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury-related death.
Week 1 - Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are complex and affect one-quarter of the world’s population. They are caused by repetitive motions, uncomfortable or static postures, and violent exertions.
Some examples of MSDs include tendonitis (inflammation of tendons), carpal tunnel syndrome (numb arms and legs), osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Preventing MSDs is of utmost importance, and the use of helpful equipment like trollies and carts decreases the risk factor of diseases. Stretching and flexing your bones, joints, and muscles in action helps relieve pressure from static postures. Spreading awareness about MSDs is crucial in their prevention because they are often overlooked.
Week 2 - Workplace Impairment
Any physical or psychological condition that affects workers’ capacity to safely do their assigned work and poses a risk to themselves or others is considered an impairment.
The underlying causes of workplace impairment are diverse. They can range from medical conditions, medications, recreational drugs, alcohol, and fatigue to mental health disorders.
Early recognition of impairment is important to ensure preventive and curative measures.
Here’s how employers can address cases of workplace impairment.
- Recognizing and evaluating dangers
- Designing safe work processes and identifying safeguards to prevent impairment in the workplace
- Incident reporting
- Incident investigation and documentation
- Assisting workers
Providing instructions, procedures, training, and supervision to encourage individuals to work safely and responsibly is part of making the workplace safe.
On the other hand, employees are expected to adhere to safety measures at all times and wear protective gear, which includes a personal safety device. A panic button, such as Silent Beacon, can help report emergencies timely and ensure a prompt emergency response.
Week 3 - Injury Prevention
Injury prevention is a vital part of improving our general health and well-being. A little injury can have long-term consequences on our capacity to live, learn, and work. Many of us believe that injuries are the consequence of unavoidable accidents, while in reality, most injuries are predictable and preventable.
In 2020 alone, more than 4 million workplace injuries required medical attention in the US. Various efforts can be made to prevent workplace injuries depending on the organization’s business and the activities conducted.
Educate employees and management staff to create a safety standard among employees and management staff. As often as possible, remind staff of the necessity of following safety procedures.
Research the safety weaknesses of your workplace as every firm is different and does not have the same safety concerns. Pay special attention to common mishaps and devise measures to prevent them from occurring.
Protective gear should be provided. Personal protective equipment is required and should be enforced, even during hiring and meetings.
A personal safety device like the Silent Beacon panic button should be deployed for employee safety in hotels, universities, shopping malls, and even the corporate boardroom.
Week 4 - Slips, Trips, Falls
According to statistics, most falls (67 percent) occur on the same level as a result of slips and trips. The remaining 30% is made up of falls from great heights.
Slips occur when the friction or traction between the footwear and the walking surface is insufficient. Some common reasons for slips include oily, moist surfaces, spills, weather dangers, or unanchored walking surfaces.
A trip occurs when your foot collides with an object, causing you to lose your equilibrium and fall. Common causes include obstructed view and poor illumination, exposed cables, and uneven steps and thresholds.
Keep an eye on the safety precautions. Following the first instruction, reiterate safety precautions whenever possible. Rewarding employees who follow company policies or stay injury-free for a defined period can also be advantageous.
Maintain a tidy workplace. Housekeeping issues can pose major health and safety risks. The workplace plan should include enough footpath markings, avoid slipping risks, and spill-cleaning stations.
Having a personal safety device can really help in case of a fall. For instance, if a worker slips deep inside a warehouse, they have no means to call for help. Whereas with a panic button, they just need to press one button to send instant alerts to their emergency contacts along with their pinpoint location.
Why Do You Need A Personal Safety Device?
Besides the four serious health and safety threats discussed above, workplaces are prone to social crimes such as harassment, rape, and causing harm merely due to professional jealousy.
Workplace safety holds utmost importance since a significant amount of your time is spent in your workplace. Long working hours can result in several health and safety threats. Thus you need to ensure that your physical and mental health is not at stake.
A personal safety device gives you confidence that you are not on your own in medical or personal emergencies. At the push of a button, you can contact any number, including 911. Simultaneously, you can send texts, push notifications, and email alerts to any family, friends, or emergency agencies you choose. Instantly sharing your current GPS location allows you to obtain help faster.
Different situations require different responses. Silent Beacon lets you choose who you want to alert for assistance, whether it’s via email, push notification, text message, or phone call.
Adherence to safety protocols and wearing a personal safety device is the only way you can ensure personal safety in workplaces and beyond.
