Year after year it seems the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that injuries are the main cause of death for Americans from the ages of 1 to 44. It’s not surprising, then, that they’ve claimed June as National Safety Month; a time when everyone can be a little more careful and try to keep themselves (and everyone around them) a little safer.
Throughout the month the NSC has dedicated each week to a different aspect of safety. Throughout that week, they hope to bring awareness to that safety feature and spark conversation among employers, employees, organizations, and the entire community.
Week 1: Stand Up to Falls
The first week of June focused on one of the leading causes of personal injury—slips, trips, and falls. The NSC encourages everyone to identify tripping hazards and remove them. The most common tripping hazards are:
Cords
Walkways or doorways that are blocked
Rugs
Loose or uneven flooring
Spills
Maintaining a clean and safe environment will also reduce the likelihood of slips, trips, and falls.
Week 2: Recharge to Be In Charge
Fatigue can be a dangerous thing at home, on the roads, and at the workplace. During the second week of June, the NSC focused on reminding everyone to get enough sleep to combat fatigue throughout the day. Their best tips to get enough sleep are:
Use beds for sleeping only, not watching TV or reading.
Do not look at devices such as tablets and phones for an hour before going to bed.
If possible, do not keep technology in the same room; it can emit light which can disturb sleep.
Avoid heavy meals for several hours before bed.
Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
Week 3: Prepare for Active Shooters
It’s a sad fact, but it’s true. In today’s society, everyone needs to be prepared for active shooters, and be ready to protect themselves and those around them should they ever be in an active shooter situation. Some ways to be better prepared are:
Know where the closest two exits are wherever you go.
Leave your belongings and run to a safe place, if possible.
If running is not possible, hide.
Lock and/or barricade all doors.
Call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.
Week 4: Don’t Just Sit There!
The last week of June will wrap up with a focus on ergonomics. This week will focus on everything from making sure workers have chairs that provide proper support to reminding employers that things such as safety harnesses and ladders must be used properly at all times.
Of course people should be careful every day of the year. But with National Safety Month underway, now is the time to really start focusing on safety and start conversations about how we can all keep each other a little safer.
If you’ve been injured, call the personal injury lawyers with the experience to help you. Call The Husband and Wife Law Team today.