Each June, the National Safety Council (NSC) celebrates National Safety Month as a time to bring attention to key safety issues. This year's theme is "Safety: It takes all of us." Environmental Health & Safety brings awareness to key topics in safety, encouraging each of us to take steps towards being more safe every day.
During week one, Environmental Health & Safety provided information on preventing prescription drug abuse. Prescription drug overdoes are one of the fastest growing causes of injury deaths, and according to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 15,000 people die annualy from overdoses of prescription medicines.
In week two, Environmental Health & Safety discussed methods to stop slips, trips and falls. Falls are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the United States, accounting for approximaely 8.9 million visits to the emergence department annually (NSC Injury Facts 2011).
This week, Environmental Health & Safety cautions to "be aware of your surroundings." Today, there are multiple things competing for your attention, and a lack of focus on the task at hand can lead to tragedy, especially in riskier situations.
Follow Environmental Health & Safety's Speaking of Safety blog for ways each week you can stay safe in and outside of the workplace.