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Trauma Awareness Month Press Release - Coming Soon!

Although your work environment may look different from others, the average person spends approximately 50% of their total waking hours at work during any given working day. Therefore, it is not surprising to find that injuries and death, especially those that are preventable, occur during working hours. Fatigue, or sleeping fewer than 8 hours a night, increases your risk of a motor vehicle crash up to five-fold, and is a leading cause of work-related deaths (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2016). Fatigue also contributes to falls and other work-related mishaps, causing numerous non-fatal injuries and 700 fatalities annually (OSHA, 2018). Opioid drug use has also become a rising concern in the workplace, leading to increased absence from work, decreased productivity, increased health care costs, and increased risk of workplace injury and violence (American Psychiatric Association, 2015). Promoting adequate rest, safe driving, and appropriate seat belt and car seat usage, as well as recognizing and reporting unsafe workplace habits are essential to workplace health and safety.  

WORK SAFETY

The National Safety Council provides information on all injuries, including those from work, motor vehicle, home, and in the community. Nearly 13,000 American workers suffer an injury every day. In 2018, the industry sector experiencing the largest number of preventable fatal injuries was construction, followed by transportation and warehousing. The industry sector experiencing the highest fatality rates per 100,000 workers was agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, followed by mining.

• Work Safety
• Safety First Block
• Workplace Safety
• Work Safety Introduction
• Injury Facts

SAFE DRIVING

Motor-vehicle deaths in October 2020 totaled 3,980. This preliminary estimate is up 16% from October 2019. Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of workplace death, as many occur during the workday or the daily commute. Safe driving can help mitigate these statistics and save lives on the road.

• Distracted Driving for Employers
• Safe Driving Toolkit

Distracted Driving

In an NSC public opinion poll, 66% of drivers nationwide said they would make phone calls while driving through parking lots. Respondents also said they would:

o   Program GPS systems (63%)

o   Text (56%)

o   Use social media (52%)

o   Send or receive emails (50%)

o   Take photos or watch videos (49%)

Resources

• Parking Lot Safety
• Safe Driving Considerations for Employers

Safe Driving

• Cell Phone Distracted Driving
• Distracted Driving Technology Solutions
• Parking Lot Safety- Driving Considerations for Employees
• Safe Driving Resources for Parents with Teens
• Road Safety for Older Individuals and Adult Children of Older Drivers

Child Car Seat Safety

Parents generally find themselves multi-tasking on a regular basis but sometimes that multi-tasking results in not being fully aware of surroundings or routine changes. Child car seat safety is important to use to help keep your children safe with you in the car!

• Safe Kids St. Louis
• Car Seat Safety - Printouts parents can use at home]
• Car Seat Quiz
• Child Vehicle Safety Quiz
  

FATIGUE AT WORK

The leading cause of work fatalities is motor vehicle crashes, and the leading cause of non-fatal injuries is overexertion and bodily reaction. More than 43% of workers are sleep-deprived, and those most at risk work the night shift, long shifts or irregular shifts. Adults need an average of 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Adequate sleep is necessary for a productive workday.

• Workplace Safety: Fatigue
• Work Related Fatigue
• Fatigue at work Employer toolkit

FALL SAFETY

Falls are 100% Preventable. Falls to lower level is the third leading fatal workplace event and the fourth leading event resulting in cases with days away from work. Make sure you are properly trained on how to use the equipment, as improper use can contribute to slips, trips, and falls in the workplace as well.

• Slips, Trips, and Falls at Home
• Lower Level Falls
• Same Level Falls
• Fall Protection Quiz

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Assaults are the second leading cause of work-related deaths following roadway motor-vehicle crashes. Certain industries, including healthcare, services providers, and education, are more prone to violence than others. The deadliest situations involve an active shooter. It is the responsibility of the facility to create an action plan, in the event this happens on the job. DHS advises staying calm and utilizing Run, Hide, Fight. Employee training, mock training exercises, and zero-tolerance policy can raise awareness and help prevent or mitigate workplace violence.

• Workplace Violence
• Workplace Assault
• Workplace Violence Prevention for Nurses

SAFER: Safe Actions for Employee return

SAFER helps to analyze conditions as people continue to work during COVID-19 and provide solutions and alternative ways for returning back to work.

• SAFER Guides Employers as U.S. Returns to Work
• Workplace physical redesign issues for COVID 19 paper

OPIOID/DRUG USE

Training supervisors and employees to spot the first signs of drug misuse and impairment is important. Employers should treat substance use disorders as a medical condition that can and should be treated, and ensure evidence-based treatment mechanisms are covered by employer-based health care plans. Educating and engaging employees and enacting clear and strong company drug-free workplace policies is paramount and can be achieved using consistent and comprehensive communication with employees.

• Drugs at Work
• Organization Opioid Use Toolkit
• Prevention Checklist
• Asking for Help at Work
• Drug and Alcohol Education Online Interactive Activities
• Drug and Alcohol Facts
• Prescription Awareness

Kuhl, E. (2015). Mitigating Effects of Opioid Use Among Workers [Scholarly project]. In American Psychiatric Association.