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Safety and Health Information for Wisconsin Employers & Organizations 

Headlines

• National Farm Safety & Health Week
• Construction Worker Suicide Prevention
• Overdose Awareness
• National Preparedness Month
• School Safety
• Additional September Safety Events
• October Look Ahead
• About Dave Leix, CSP, Safety Corner's Author

National Farm Safety & Health Week

Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the agricultural sector is still the most dangerous in America. The 2019 data included 573 fatalities, the equivalent of 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. 

Since 1944, the third week of September has been recognized as "National Farm Safety and Health Week". Led by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), the theme for this year's Farm Safety Week is “No One Can Take Your Place.”

 Featured Daily Topics of Focus

• Monday, Sept. 18 - Equipment & Rural Roadway Safety
• Tuesday, Sept. 19 - Health & Wellness
• Wednesday, Sept. 20 - Priority Populations
• Thursday, Sept. 21 - Confined Spaces
• Friday, Sept. 22 - Brain Health

AgriSafe will also provide free educational webinars from Monday, Sept. 18 through Friday 22. All webinars will have live Spanish interpretation.

For those unable to attend, each webinar will be recorded and available for free on-demand on their learning lab. 

Construction Worker Suicide Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) the Construction Industry has the highest number of suicides across all occupational groups. September is National Suicide Prevention Month and each year the construction industry dedicates a week to raising awareness about the unique challenges workers face in construction that can lead to suicide and what we can do to prevent it. This year's Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 4 through 8.

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) was born out of necessity in response to the statistics released in a CDC study ranking construction as the #1 industry for deaths by suicide. 

The rate of suicides among construction industry workers is more than 4 times the rate among the general population. This starting statistic is a reminder that mental health awareness and suicide prevention concerns in the construction industry are just as important as physical job site safety issues.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also taken note of these startling construction industry statistics and created their own suicide prevention web site with safety resources and links to other organizations suicide prevention materials. 

Confidential support is available 24/7 for everyone in the United States by calling the new three-digit dialing code 988 or find online chat at org/chat, to reach the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline where those in crisis can speak with a mental health professional and get support. 

Para obtener información en español, llame al 1-888-628-9454 o visite el sitio web

Overdose Awareness

Last Thursday, Aug. 31, was "International Overdose Awareness Day", which will be followed by September's "Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery" month.  

Occupational and nonoccupational factors are associated with construction workers’ psychological distress and suicidal ideation. OSHA's affiliated Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) also has worker suicide prevention resources available including a recent study:  "Psychological distress and suicidal ideation among male construction workers in the United States."  Study conclusions noted that both illicit opioid use and alcohol dependence or abuse were risk factors, and psychological distress was a strong predictor for worker suicidal ideation. To improve workers’ mental health, it is necessary to integrate workplace injury prevention with alcohol abuse and illicit opioid-use reduction programs for suicide ideation prevention.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website has various Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery resources available, including an addiction Recovery Tool Kit to promote Drug and Alcohol recovery.

National Preparedness Month

Hurricane season is recognized as falling between mid-August through mid-October when hurricane atmospheric activity is at its peak for the continental United States. While hurricanes and related severe weather patterns mainly affect the south and southeastern coastal regions, their influence on inland weather patterns and resulting emergencies are an ever-present concern. National Preparedness Month (NPM) is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for natural disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Check out NPM Ready for weekly activities and ideas to improve your odds during natural disasters and emergencies, including resources to: Make a Plan; Build a Kit; Low-No Cost Preparedness; and Get involved in your community. NPM' 2023 theme coincides with Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 'Ready Campaign' and its 2023 National Preparedness Month theme: “Take Control in 1, 2, 3”, which focuses on preparing older adults for disasters. We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability or live in rural areas. Emergency managers and all those who work with and support older adult communities can access the new NPM Ready webpage in English and Spanish. Additional resources are available on preparing for individuals with disabilities, also in English and Spanish.  .

School Safety

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for natural disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Check out NPM Ready for weekly activities and ideas to improve your odds during natural disasters and emergencies, including resources to: Make a Plan; Build a Kit; Low-No Cost Preparedness; and Get involved in your community. NPM' 2023 theme coincides with Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 'Ready Campaign' and its 2023 National Preparedness Month theme: “Take Control in 1, 2, 3”, which focuses on preparing older adults for disasters. We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability or live in rural areas. Emergency managers and all those who work with and support older adult communities can access the new NPM Ready webpage in English and Spanish. Additional resources are available on preparing for individuals with disabilities, also in English and Spanish.

Additional September Safety Events

Miscellaneous additional September Safety Campaigns of interest include:

Food Safety Focus - National Food Safety Month - 2023

ServSafe | NFSM 2023 -  Eight (8) Food Safety Blog Topics from ServSafe 

Food Safety Focus - Restaurant and Food Safety Sanitizing

October Look Ahead

As a "look ahead" preview, October includes National Fire Prevention Week (NFPA) and Fire Prevention Month (NSC.)  October is also National School Bus Safety Month, Protect Your Hearing and Substance Abuse Prevention month. More to follow on these topics in next month's DWD WC Safety E-Newsletter.

Have a Safe Day, Always!!

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.