NAOSH Week Encourages You to Make Safety a Habit

May 1-7, 2016 is North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The goals of this annual safety event are to:

  • Increase understanding of the benefits of investment in occupational safety and health
  • Raise awareness of the role and contribution of OHS professionals
  • Reduce workplace injuries and illness by encouraging new safety and health activities and interest.

This year’s theme is ‘Make Safety a Habit,’ which will carry through NAOSH week over the next five years.

Started in 1997, NAOSH Week presents a great opportunity to focus, reinforce and strengthen commitment to workplace safety and health. Participation and involvement in NAOSH Week has been shown to:

  • Improve attitudes towards safety
  • Increase understanding of the importance of occupational safety and health
  • Foster a safety-minded culture
  • Increase cooperation
  • Assist in team building and improve communication between employees, JHSCs and safety professionals.

Special NAOSH week events are being held across Canada (and the US). (Just go to the ‘Events’ page on the NAOSH Week website to see what’s being done in your jurisdiction.)

You can also hold any of these suggested events and activities in your workplace, including:

  • Hang this poster in your workplace
  • Conduct a safety audit (use this checklist)
  • Have senior management issue a proclamation on the importance of workplace safety (here’s a model proclamation you can adapt and use)
  • Update the safety posters in your workplace (See, SafetyPosters.com)
  • Host a PPE fashion show
  • Launch a recognition program for safety suggestions that are implemented or enhance ongoing OHS practices
  • Introduce games, contests to test knowledge of OHS laws, facts and information (you can use our Quick Quizzes)
  • Host a public symposium on health and safety issues in your community and work with a local business, service organization or supplier to sponsor the event
  • Work with high school students to promote safety as a career.