PARK RIDGE, Illinois — There can never be enough awareness and understanding of the value that safety and health programs bring to workplaces everywhere. That’s why the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) is encouraging involvement in the second-annual Safe + Sound Week held Aug. 13-19. The nationwide campaign – spearheaded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and co-sponsored by ASSP – aims to build a stronger connection between safe workplaces and sound businesses. It calls for management leadership, worker participation and a systematic approach to finding and fixing workplace hazards.
“Safe workplaces are sound businesses,” said ASSP President Rixio Medina, CSP, CPP. “Through safety and health programs, organizations can proactively identify and manage hazards before they become problems. If a company wants to be successful and sustainable over the long term, it must recognize the vital importance of worker safety.”
Organizations of any size and from any industry can participate in Safe + Sound Week by planning an event for their employees or hosting a public event to engage the community. More than 1,400 companies across the country are scheduled to be involved in an activity. Join the growing effort and discover the free safety trainings and events being held locally by checking out OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week map.
“By supporting campaigns such as Safe + Sound Week, we draw attention to our collective responsibility to make workplaces safer,” Medina said.
In 2016, there were 5,190 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The International Labor Organization reports that there are 2.8 million deaths globally each year for reasons attributed to work, with the largest number linked to work-related diseases.
As part of OSHA’s year-round Safe + Sound campaign, Safe + Sound Week emphasizes the need for safety and health management systems at small- and mid-sized businesses, many of which do not have such programs due to limited resources. Management system standards such as ANSI/ASSP Z10 and ISO 45001 are used by occupational safety and health professionals to start conversations with employers that can lead to better safeguards for workers.
Many of ASSP’s 38,000 members worldwide – who develop and implement safety and health management programs for employers in every industry – get actively involved in safety observances. They seek the support of company leaders and fellow workers in raising awareness of job-site risks. Join ASSP’s social media outreach on Twitter (#SafeandSound2018) and Facebook to share your activities during Safe + Sound Week.
About ASSP – Working together for a safer, stronger future
For more than 100 years, the American Society of Safety Professionals has been at the forefront of helping occupational safety and health professionals protect people and property. The nonprofit society is based in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge. Its global membership of over 37,000 professionals covers every industry, developing safety and health management plans that prevent injuries, illnesses and deaths. ASSP advances its members and the safety profession through education, advocacy, standards development and a professional community. Its flagship publication, Professional Safety, is a longtime leader in the field. Visit www.assp.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Media contact: Blaine Krage, 847.768.3416, bkrage@assp.org