Safe and sound.
That expression is widely used to convey the importance of being unharmed and out of danger. National Safety Month, observed throughout June, calls attention to being safe and sound at home and work and in the community.
“This June observance mobilizes businesses, organizations and individuals to take action that saves lives,” said Thomas Machado, public relations specialist for the National Safety Council.
The nonprofit has designated June as National Safety Month since 1996.
“For nearly three decades, National Safety Month has served as a vital landmark in the push to make people safer, from the workplace to anyplace,” explained Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the council.
The council’s statistics are staggering. Every two minutes in the U.S., someone dies from a preventable injury, and more than 7,000 preventable injuries occur every hour. In 2023, such injuries killed 222,698 Americans, a 154% increase since 1992.
Machado noted that statistics “represent families and friends forever changed by preventable tragedies.”
“Everyone plays a role in preventing injuries and deaths,” he emphasized. “The more educated we are about risks – whether at work, on the road or at home – the more lives we can save. Education leads to action and action saves lives.”
Both the private and public sector participate in National Safety Month initiatives.
“As America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate since 1913, (the safety council) encourages organizations, businesses, schools, communities and individuals to participate by hosting events and spreading awareness about safety risks and solutions,” Machado said.
In New Jersey, the Department of Children and Families has been delivering weekly tips and reminders that promote safety for families. Kenvue, a New Jersey-based consumer health company with brands like Aveeno, Tylenol and Neutrogena, is a National Safety Council member committed to the safety, quality and compliance of their employees and products.
This year’s National Safety Month, Machado said, centered on four areas for each week in June:
- Week 1 – June 1-7: Continuous improvement. The focus of the first week was about building a safety culture that evolves through learning.
- Week 2 – June 8-14: Employee engagement. The week emphasized engaging employees and making them feel heard, a key to making workplaces safer.
- Week 3 – through June 21: Safety while driving is in the spotlight during the third week. Motor-vehicle crashes are currently the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries, according to Machado.
- Week 4 – June 22 through June 30: Mental health, fatigue, substance abuse and psychological safety are the highlights. Well-being can play a major role in causing preventable injuries, according to the council.
“Our goal is simple: to help people recognize daily safety risks so they can protect themselves and their loved ones,” Machado stated.
For more information, visit nsc.org/nsm to learn about becoming a participant during the rest of National Safety Month. Free resources to help prevent injury and death at home, in the workplace and in the community are available, including weekly five-minute safety talks and quizzes, weekly videos and articles, facts and figures and Go Green for Safety signs.
“Each year, we, along with businesses and individuals across the country, take this month to encourage and educate others around safety at work, on the road and in our communities,” Martin pointed out. “Thank you to all those who partner with us to end preventable injuries and deaths each June and all year long.”
