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April 2023 • Safety & Health Information for Wisconsin Employers & Organizations  

Headlines

• Tornado & Severe Weather Month
• Workers Memorial Day Is April 28
• Road, Construction Traffic Hazards Accelerate in April
• April Is Distracted Driving Month
• April Offers Several Health & Wellness Campaigns
• A Look Ahead
• About Dave Leix, CSP, Safety Corner's Editor

Tornado & Severe Weather Month

While severe weather can develop and strike unexpectedly any time of the year, April 17-21 has been designated as Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week 2023 in the state of Wisconsin. The week includes an annual statewide Tornado–Severe Thunderstorms & Lighting Emergency Alert System (EAS) live code test, triggered by the National Weather Service, scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, April 20. The EAS live code "test" is designed to trigger National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather alert radios and the Wisconsin broadcast television and radio network's severe weather alert stations.

On Thursday, April 20, at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.,  anyone near a NOAA–EAS device set up to receive alerts should see or hear a message advising them of the drill. Many communities also participate by sounding outdoor warning sirens during the EAS drill times.

During the severe weather alert drill, Wisconsin residents should talk about and practice what to do during a tornado warning. This includes going to designated tornado shelters while at school, work, or home.

Wisconsin Emergency Management has more information at ReadyWisconsin.

You also can contact your local emergency response agencies, the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Administration's Safe Rooms website. Wisconsin Emergency Management resources include:

• Tornadoes
• School Information
• Tornadoes and Thunderstorms Toolkit

Workers Memorial Day Is April 28

Workers Memorial Day is an internationally recognized day to honor the victims of workplace deaths, injuries, and illness, and to keep the promise of safe jobs for all workers. U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) offices, labor organizations, and various safety organizations often plan recognition activities around this date. April 28 is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration one year later.

Road, Construction Traffic Hazards Accelerate in April

Highway and road construction workers face significant hazards with road and construction traffic. Just last month, six highway contractors were killed in Baltimore, and a We Energies flagger sustained serious injuries after being struck by an inattentive driver in Southeast Wisconisn.  In 2020, there were 774 work zone crashes resulting in 857 fatalities across the country, according to the most recent year statistics are available. Wisconsin had 15 work zone crashes and 16 fatalities that year. More statistics, including state-level data, are available from the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. The annual National Work Zone Awareness Week is observed the week of April 17-21. The event takes place across the United States, with partnerships between state departments of transportation (DOT), national road safety organizations, government agencies, private companies and individuals, held at the start of construction season, promotes safe driving through highway work zones. Additional work zone safety information and resources can be found here: American Traffic Safety Services Association National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse 2023 NZAW Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse

April Is Distracted Driving Month

According to national statistics, nine people die each day due to Distracted Driving.  The National Safety Council estimates more than 46,000 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents across the United States, including 598 motor vehicle fatalities in Wisconsin.

Motor vehicle safety is critical to successful roadway safety. In 2020, motor vehicle crashes caused 20 percent of work-related deaths across the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That 20 percent has remained consistent since the late 1980s, signifying there is more work to be done to promote safe driving and reduce injuries.

The following organizations offer additional safe driving information and resources:

• Occupational Safety & Health Administration
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• National Safety Council
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

April Offers Several Health & Wellness Campaigns

Several organizations have health and wellness campaigns during the month of April:

• The National Safety Council and the Window Safety Task Force has established the first full week of April as Window Safety Week to help homeowners make window safety and fall prevention a priority all year. 
• Prevent Blindness has designated April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month to highlight a variety of women’s vision issues.
• National Youth Sports Safety Month brings awareness to youth sports injuries and physical trauma.
  

A Look Ahead

The first week in May traditionally marks the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration's (OSHA) Fall Prevention Campaign, and this year it will be May 1-5. For 2023, OSHA is promoting National Safety Stand-Down activities to highlight methods to prevent construction falls. Other May safety observances include National Electric Safety month and Police/EMS/Trauma weeks. With the onset of summer recreational water activities picking up, May is also safe boating/water safety month. More to follow!

About Dave Leix, CSP, Safety Corner's Editor

Dave Leix is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Safety & Risk Manager for the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) – Worker's Compensation Division. Dave brings over 40 years of professional safety and health (EHS) consulting and managerial experience to a wide variety of customers and clients. Read more about Dave on the DWD website.