June ushers in the beginning of summer, and this month also marks a month of safety awareness sponsored by the National Safety Council. The annual National Safety Month campaign addresses crucial areas of safety concerns, highlighting the need for greater awareness and diligence in the workplace, at home, and beyond.
This year’s campaign highlights four areas of safety education: safety engagement (at work), road safety, risk reduction, and slips, trips, and falls. Eureka Fire Protection District is supporting the outreach of the NSC by increasing safety awareness to the Eureka community.
Table of Contents:
The Importance of Safety Engagement
Effective Safety Training for All
Road Safety Tips for Drivers
Pack a Car Safety Kit
Risk Reduction at Home
How to Minimize Slips, Trips, and Falls
Key Takeaways:
The National Safety Council’s 2024 National Safety Month campaign focuses on safety engagement, road safety, risk reduction, and minimizing the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Work accidents cost billions each year, and proper safety protocols help reduce the incidence of injuries and accidents.
The Importance of Safety Engagement for Decreasing Accidents
Safety engagement helps decrease work accidents and injuries. Engaged employees adhere to proper safety protocols and best practices, ensuring a safer work environment.
Engaged employees don’t simply go through the motions; they actively show up for their role and exhibit an awareness of their performance and habits. While some work environments pose more safety hazards than others, all offices have some safety risks.
How do employers improve employee engagement and safety outcomes? Leaders must lead by modeling proper safety best practices and behaviors—leaders who lag and compromise safety show that this behavior is acceptable.
Effective Safety Training for All
In work environments, safety is crucial to all employees’ well-being. Safety training teaches new employees the correct safety guidelines, procedures, rules, and protocols. This training emphasizes handling injuries and emergencies and explores the consequences of safety violations.
Offices, factories, and construction sites must teach and train employees about the importance of abiding by safety protocols and procedures, including the proper safety equipment and protective clothing to prevent injuries and accidents. According to the National Safety Council, more than 4,900 employees suffered from occupational-related injuries that led to death. In 2022, work-related injuries cost $167 BILLION.
Road Safety Tips for Drivers
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), more than one thousand people lost their lives in traffic accidents during 2021. Every driver must abide by proper safety road rules and regulations. Arrive alive and follow these safety rules of the road:
Buckle up. This is the law in Missouri because seat belts save lives!
Follow the speed limit. Don’t rush the drive; follow the speed limit and keep a safe distance between other vehicles.
Don’t drive distracted. Any task that takes the attention away from the road is a distraction. Don’t eat, talk on the phone, text, or rubberneck. Focus on the road ahead and the other drivers.
Be mindful of hazardous road conditions. During rain and snow, drive slower. Use headlights to increase visibility.
Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Remember to appoint a designated driver.
Pay attention to road signs alerting of accidents or construction. Always slow down in construction zones.
Check tires regularly. Deflated tires can lead to accidents and decrease gas mileage, too.
Pack a Car Safety Kit
Every driver must prepare for an emergency. Accidents, bad weather, or mechanical failure can leave drivers stranded. Prepare for all emergencies with a kit that includes the following:
First aid essentials. The car should always include a first aid kit. Pack bandages, tape, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, tweezers, scissors, antihistamines, gauze, and antiseptic wipes.
Jumper cables. You never know when you will need them.
A spare tire.
A tire jack.
A fire extinguisher. A Class ABC fire extinguisher is ideal for the car.
Flashlight (and batteries)
A blanket
Towels
Gloves, a hat, and snow boots
A rain poncho
Ice scraper
Duct tape and tools (plus a safety vest)
Cat litter or sand
Small shovel
Cell phone charger
Risk Reduction at Home
Injuries and accidents can happen anywhere. The number one killer in the home for children younger than 15 is mechanical suffocation, while accidental poisoning leads to the accidental (at-home) deaths of older teens and adults.
Mechanical suffocation includes suffocation from bedding, strangulation from hanging or other accidents, suffocation from plastic bags, etc. The National Safety Council explains that accidental poisoning deaths for older teens and adults are due to the rise of opioid addiction. Children are also at risk for accidental poisoning related to the ingestion of harmful substances and chemicals.
There are several guidelines for increasing safety at home to decrease the risk of injury and death:
Never use bumpers, blankets, or pillows for babies. Remove stuffed animals during bedtime and always place babies on their backs to sleep.
Keep plastic bags and garbage bags away from young children.
Teach children to avoid dunes and other soft areas that are structurally unsound.
Store medication and chemicals in locked cabinets or on shelves that are out of reach
Remind children never to touch hot surfaces (like stoves), which can lead to severe burns and injuries.
Some tips are simple but crucial to minimizing accidents at home. For example, always remember to:
Clean up all spills, which can lead to falls
Remove toys and other obstacles from the floor
Use baby gates to block all stairways
Keep a Class ABC fire extinguisher in the kitchen
Test smoke detectors regularly
Never leave small children unattended near water (even the bath, buckets, and kid’s pools!)
Turn pot handles inward when cooking; this makes them more difficult for children to grab
How to Minimize Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls can lead to minor injuries or more severe (or even fatal) accidents. Whether at work or home, always clean up spills and messes. Wet surfaces pose the greatest slip hazard. In addition, cluttered spaces also lead to dangerous accidents and serious injuries. At home and at work, keep areas clutter free and surfaces dry.
Ladder Safety
Ladders also pose a fall risk if proper safety protocols are not followed. Always keep ladders braced and secure. Never handle work that requires a ladder; always enlist a “spotter.” Wear appropriate shoes with good grips; never climb ladders barefoot or in sandals or open-toed shoes.
Stay Safe at Home, Work, and On the Road Everyday
June’s National Safety Month campaign increases awareness on a variety of safety concerns and issues around the home, at work, and on the road. Make safety a priority every day and abide by best practices and procedures. Stay safe and keep others safe, too!
About the Author:
Eureka Fire Protection District is an EMS, Fire, and Rescue service provider located in Eureka, Missouri. Staffed with nearly one hundred volunteer and career Paramedics, EMTs, Firefighters, Junior Firefighters, and administrative teams, the department provides its local community with fire prevention, education, safety resources, and emergency relief. Eureka Fire Protection District maintains a reputation as a well-run, high-performing fire department by keeping up to date with the latest in life-saving training and technology.