Four areas to prioritize following National Safety Month
June marks National Safety Month, an annual initiative from the National Safety Council, and this year was particularly special as its 30th anniversary. Each week focused on a different safety theme, and the data behind them tells an important story. Workplace injuries are preventable, and the cost of inaction is significant.
Week 1: Moving safety forward
The month opened with a call to build stronger safety cultures through forward-thinking strategies and tools. According to OSHA, every $1 invested in an effective safety program could return $4-$6 in savings.
A strong safety culture starts at the top and shows up in daily habits. A few ways you can make progress here:
- Conduct regular safety audits and act on what you find
- Set measurable safety goals and share progress with your team
- Involve frontline employees in identifying hazards
- Track leading indicators (near-misses, training completion, inspection rates) rather than waiting for incidents to reveal gaps
Week 2: Staying safe on the roads
Roadway incidents are leading causes of work-related death in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For organizations with employees who drive — whether a dedicated fleet or occasional company vehicles — road risk is one of the top and most manageable business exposures.
Reducing that risk starts with clear policies and consistent reinforcement:
- Establish and enforce a written distracted driving policy that covers cell phone use, navigation and other in-cab distractions
- Implement regularly scheduled pre-trip vehicle inspections and driver qualification reviews
- Use telematics data to identify risky driving behaviors before they result in a claim
- Require regular defensive driving training beyond onboarding
Week 3: Promoting holistic worker health
Week 3 moved past physical safety to include mental, emotional and physical well-being. The NSC and NORC at the University of Chicago found that employers spend an average of more than $15,000 per year on each employee experiencing mental distress. Supporting whole-person health is both the right thing to do and a sound business strategy.
Start here to build a healthier workforce:
- Normalize conversations about mental health by training leaders to recognize warning signs and respond with empathy
- Review your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) utilization
- Address fatigue as a safety issue (the NSC estimates that 13% of workplace injuries are attributable to fatigue)
- Create psychological safety so employees feel comfortable reporting concerns without fear of consequences
Week 4: Preventing slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls are one of the most persistent workplace hazards. The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index estimates that falls on the same level alone cost U.S. employers nearly $10 billion annually in direct injury costs. These incidents are common and largely preventable.
Simple, consistent housekeeping practices go a long way:
- Keep walkways and work areas clear of clutter, cords and debris
- Address spills, wet floors and uneven surfaces immediately, marking them clearly until resolved
- Ensure adequate lighting in all work areas
- Provide guidance on proper footwear and consider slip-resistant requirements for high-risk roles
Safety is a year-round commitment
Preventable injuries and illness cost U.S. employers over $100 billion dollars annually. The organizations handling this well are the ones who take the time to build proactive safety cultures to protect their people and operations every day.
Want more tips on how to strengthen your safety culture? Visit our Risk & Workforce Solutions page to learn how we can help.
