That is the message of this year’s National Safety Month, which occurs each June and brings together thousands of organizations nationwide to make certain safety issues a priority. The annual campaign is backed by the National Safety Council, who, this month, is celebrating 100 years of teaching the general public how they can reduce the risk of serious accidents at home, in the workplace, and in their communities.
Each year, the NSC focuses on different topics related to safety awareness and injury prevention. This year’s theme—”Safety: It takes all of us”—was inspired by the idea of continually engaging in risk reduction actions in several key areas, including:
- Preventing prescription drug abuse (week 1)
- Stopping slips, trips and falls (week 2)
- Being aware of your surroundings (week 3)
- Putting an end to distracted driving (week 4)
- Summer safety (bonus week)
To help promote National Safety Month, the NSC always releases a variety of free educational materials to the general public that correspond with the safety topics being spotlighted.
On their website, the NSC stresses the importance of always staying vigilant when it comes to ensuring a safe environment, saying: “A successful safety program depends on spotting hazards early, evaluating their risk and removing or controlling them before harm is done. Use this June to find creative ways to engage everyone in reducing risk in your workplaces. A little effort today has the potential to prevent tragedy tomorrow.”
The National Safety Council estimates nearly 6 million lives have been saved through the collaborative efforts of the people working to save lives and prevent injuries within the past century.
As a personal injury law firm, we witness first-hand what happens when safety is put on the backburner.
Indeed, maintaining a safe work and living environment takes a village—but it only takes one careless individual to cause a serious injury.
Negligence comes in many forms: a spill left on the floor, a hammer not put away like it was supposed to, having just one more drink before driving home, etc. Learning to identify these safety hazards before they do serious damage can—and does—save lives.
In addition to taking preventative action, it is also important to hold neglectful individuals and organizations accountable when they fail to live up to safety standards. In turn, this will discourage the same future carelessness from occurring and give some justice to the individuals and families affected by negligence.
If you have been the victim of negligence and been serious injured, lawyer R. Mack Babcock wants to talk to you about your legal rights. Call now for a free consultation.