Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Safety and Health Information for Wisconsin Employers & Organizations 

Headlines

• Safe + Sound
• Heat Safety Standards
• Back to School Month
• Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
• National immunization awareness month
• Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
• Stop on Red Week
• International overdose awareness day
• September Look Ahead
• About Dave Leix, CSP, Safety Corner's Author

Safe + Sound

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is promoting Safe + Sound week,  Aug. 7 - 13, 2023. Safe + Sound is a year-round campaign to encourage every workplace to have a safety and health program. Included activities also serve as a model for maintaining a year-round campaign to encourage every workplace to have a proactive safety and health program. Visit OSHA Safe + Sound to learn how to improve your safety and health program throughout the year with strategies for: 

• Management Leadership 
• Worker Participation
• Finding and Fixing Hazards

Organizations are encouraged to sign up and register to receive recognition for participation on the OSHA Safe + Sound Web Site.

Heat Safety Standards

As summer draws to a close and attention shifts to the upcoming school year it is important to remember that hot weather is still a threat. After record breaking heat waves across the country in July, safe practices for working in hot conditions are more important than ever.

OSHA is seeking feedback from small businesses on a potential standard to address occupational heat exposure. Panels will be convened virtually to listen to comments on possible options for a standard.

• Who can participate? Small businesses, small local government entities, and non-profit entities. Check the SBA Table of Size Standards to see if you qualify or contact OSHA or SBA for assistance.
• Which industries can participate? Feedback is welcomed from a wide range of sectors and any industry that might be affected by a potential standard. See below for a list of industries that may be most affected.
• How would you participate? Review potential options for a heat-specific standard and provide input during a small-group teleconference with other participants.
• Interested in participating? Contact Bruce Lundegren at the Small Business Administration (SBA), Bruce.Lundegren@sba.gov, (202) 205-6144 or OSHA at OSHAEvents_DSG@dol.gov.

Back to School Month

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

August is also Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. The Prevent Blindness organization highlights information about eye conditions such as amblyopia and strabismus. They also provide tips about preventing eye injuries in children, signs of possible eye problems, and general eye health information.

National immunization awareness month

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) uses August's "National Immunization Awareness Month" as an annual opportunity to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for people of all ages. They provide resources for health care professionals, parents and patients. The CDC offers immunization education and training courses, strategies to promote vaccination, quizzes for types of vaccines one may need, and other educational resources. The CDC website also provide vaccine promotional material in both English and Spanish.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) campaign "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" aims to end drunken driving and takes place from Aug. 17 to Sep. 5, 2023.

One person is killed about every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, totaling more than 11,000 lives lost each year. NHTSA says impaired driving has become a serious safety epidemic in our country. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign focuses on law enforcement and their goal to stop drunk drivers, and emphasizes the positive impact a constant police presence can have on deterring drunken driving. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, have a plan before driving, riding, or hosting an event where alcohol is served. 

Stop on Red Week

Statistics say at least 50 million people are injured or disabled by road traffic crashes yearly. The Federal Highway Administration in partnership with the National Coalition for Safer Roads created "Stop on Red Week" to reduce the severity of traffic collisions by educating the public. Road crashes are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people aged from one to 54. For 2023, "Stop on Red Week" runs Aug. 6-12 and underscores the importance of traffic lights and how they reduce traffic deaths when obeyed. The week also highlights the risks of reckless driving and how it can destroy lives.

International overdose awareness day

Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) .

Since 2012, IOAD has been convened by the not-for-profit Australian public health organization Penington Institute.

IOAD is the world's largest annual campaign to end deaths by overdoses, remember without stigma those who have died from a drug overdose, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. The theme for the 2023 campaign is recognizing the unseen community members who are affected by overdose but might go unnoticed in the crisis.

Visit the IOAD website for more information about events, resources, to post a tribute, or to donate. 

September Look Ahead

September means fall is here, and that means sports are in full swing. Sports Eye Safety Month and Concussion Awareness Day are coming up, with tips on how to protect your eyes and head during sporting activities. We'll also be looking at staying safe while working on farms and providing food safety tips to help you keep your family healthy.

Until next time, stay safe out there!

About Dave Leix, CSP, Safety Corner's Author

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 online.