A Look at National Safety Month 2023
Explore the four key safety themes that will drive discussions and actions throughout the month.
- By Alex Saurman
- Jun 08, 2023
It's June, and that means it's National Safety Month—a time specifically dedicated to focus on the importance and value of safety.
“Since its start, the National Safety Council [NSC] has been on a mission to promote safety and health,” Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of NSC—which founded the observance 27 years ago—said in a news release. “Regardless of whether you’re on the job, on the roads, in your community or at home, in order to be safe, you must be able to feel safe, and safety means something different for each of us; it’s personal."
In 2023, 5,190 workers lost their lives to work-related injuries, and an additional 2,607,900 workers were injured on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“This June,” Martin continued, “the National Safety Council encourages employers and individuals alike to be safety role models on and off the job because it just may prevent an injury or save a life.”
National Safety Month, now in its 27th year, will focus on a different theme every week. This year’s themes are:
- Week 1: Emergency Preparedness
- Week 2: Slips, Trips and Falls
- Week 3: Heat-Related Illness
- Week 4: Hazard Recognition
Many agencies and organizations provide a wealth of information and resources on these topics that can be used to raise awareness and start discussions at your place of work. For a list of resources from NSC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), visit NIOSH’s blog “National Safety Month 2023.” For free materials, visit NSC’s website.
About the Author
Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.