BWC Recognizes June as National Safety Month

The National Safety Council recognizes June as National Safety Month to raise awareness of how to stay safe on the road, in communities and (of course) at work. Now, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is recognizing National Safety Month to encourage all employers and their employees to review and update safety programs.

While safety is important all year round, the BWC hopes employees will be particularly mindful about what contributes to good safety habits this month.

How Can Employers and Workers Improve Workplace Safety This Summer?

With June comes the end of the school year and many younger, less experienced workers join the work force in Ohio. In these instances, it’s possible younger workers aren’t familiar with certain equipment or procedures. The BWC hopes bringing attention to National Safety Month will encourage more experienced co-workers to show and encourage younger workers to implement workplace safety procedures.

Ohio summers bring the heat, which happens to be one of the leading weather-related causes of death in the country. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hundreds of people die from heat-related illnesses each year, many of whom are workers. This month, the BWC reminds both workers and employers to follow three easy steps to combat heat-related illnesses:

1. Hydrate with water every 15 minutes, regardless of whether you’re thirsty

2. Cover up with light clothes or a hat

3. Rest regularly in shaded or cooler areas

Construction workers or landscapers in particular need to watch out for each other and be mindful of when a coworker is displaying symptoms of exhaustion or heat stroke. Due to the fact many of these types of job sites change frequently over the summer, workers must make sure they become familiar with these new locations in the event of an emergency.

Ohio BWC Offers Free Safety Courses All Year For Both Workers and Employers

BWC also wants to bring attention to employers to use the most effective safety practices and encourage them to review the following:

1. Emergence preparedness programs

2. Hazard communication plans

3. Hygiene practices

As a reminder to all employers, the BWC offers free safety courses all year. OSHA always says most workplace injuries are entirely preventable, so long as employers and their employees can work together to recognize potential risks and have a proper response plan.

Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC is a workers’ compensation law firm that helps victims of workplace accidents in the Zanesville, Columbus, Newark, Shadyside areas of Ohio.

Source: http://www.workerscompensation.com/compnewsnetwork/news/24075-bwc-offers-ohio-employers-free-safety-courses-all-year-long.html

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