Observed annually in June by the National Safety Council (NSC), National Safety Month focuses on saving lives and preventing injuries in the workplace and beyond. This year, NSC will shine a spotlight on pressing topics, including:
- Mental Health
- Ergonomics
- Building a Safety Culture
- Driving
Mental Health
In today’s environment there are many sources of stressors that could cause you and/or your loved ones feelings of fear or anxiety. To keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed, focus on the smaller issues that you can control and build from there.
Experts at the CDC offer the following tips to battle the possible dip in mood.
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about certain topics, like the pandemic, repeatedly can be upsetting.
- Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
See more tips in our recent blog post Maintaining Physical and Mental Health During Social Distancing.
Mental Health of Essential Workers
More than 48 million workers have been deemed essential during the fight against COVID-19, including those in healthcare or supporting crucial supply chains. Our blog post Supporting the Mental Health of Essential Workers provides more detailed information related to this group of workers.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the science of designing a safe and efficient job environment in which to work. This can include a construction site, manufacturing floor or an office. Any worksite can be set up so as not to cause you pain. The NSC provides the following considerations for an ergonomic work setup:
- Work in a neutral posture
- Avoid exerting a lot of force while working
- Vary your tasks
- Lift with your legs – never your back
- Keep frequently used items close to avoid twisting or turning often
- Use the right tools and setup for the job
- Make sure work areas are well lit
- Get proper rest and take breaks
Home Ergonomic Tips
As many organizations are still requiring remote work due to remaining concerns around COVID-19, it is important to ensure that you are following safe work practices at home. It is recommended to follow guidelines that can help ensure you have a proper ergonomic set-up in your at-home workspace. Read our blog post Ergonomic Tips While Working from Home for more information.
Building a Safety Culture
A strong safety culture begins with leadership who consistently demonstrate the value of safety through their actions and investment. This leads to reduced incidents and injures when the entire workforce, including contractors, are accountable to a safe workplace and promote safe actions.
Understanding the perceptions of safety across an organization’s operation is a crucial step for leaders to proactively mitigate risks and prioritize actions. As referenced in the NSC article Safety Leadership: Seven practices of great safety leaders, capturing regular feedback from the workforce is a critical action for leaders to promote ownership of safe actions to all.
According to results from ISN’s 2019 Contractor Management Strategy Survey, improving safety culture alignment ranked as the most effective step to drive down serious injuries and fatalities (SIF). Download a copy of the white paper for more insights.
Driving
According to the NSC, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in the workplace. If vehicles are commonly used by your workforce, it is important to plan for their use and anticipate the risks to attempt to prevent injuries.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a particularly widespread and misunderstood problem on the road. Any amount of time you spend using a phone, hands-free device or infotainment system built into the vehicle can increase the odds of a crash.
Read more tips in our blog post Multitasking is a Myth: Defining and Reducing Distracted Driving.
Drowsy Driving
Studies have shown that sleep-deprived persons tested in a driving simulator or performing hand-eye coordination tasks produced the same results or worse than those who were intoxicated. According to the American Sleep Association, about 40 percent of working-age adults report short sleep duration. The UK National Health Service (NHS) reported that 1 in 3 people suffer from poor sleep.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults 18+ need 7-9 hours of sleep a day, while teens need at least 8 hours. Prioritizing healthy sleep habits and adhering to a sleep schedule will help you reduce the risk of driving drowsy. Find more resources on our blog posts, Managing Fatigue in the Workplace and Drowsy Driving Awareness and Prevention.
Safety is Your Responsibility
It is important to demonstrate your commitment to safety through leading by example and following company policies. If you are a contractor, review your company’s safety policies and programs to help reduce incidents.
If you are a Hiring Client, it’s a good time to evaluate your safety procedures and requirements for contractors. Ask your ISN account representative for information on how our team can help.
Are you a Hiring Client interested in learning more about improving workplace safety? Request a demo of our contractor management system, ISNetworld, to find out how ISN can help you streamline your health and safety and contractor management programs.