NAOSH week was first launched in June of 1997; Canada has been running it 10 years prior to that. In 1997 the United States and Mexico joined in. Canada has been a great help to both countries in their support and experience in occupational health and safety. NAOSH week helps to bring safety and health to the forefront for all North American workers. It starts the first week of May every year.
Getting started :
Participation and enthusiasm are critical for success. We need to establish long term partnerships during NAOSH week; from business leaders, safety committees, the government and suppliers. We want all safety and health organizations to participate through education, meetings and safety demonstrations.
This should be a week of fun, friendship, knowledge and safety. When the week is over and you return to work, we want you to be excited and share your experience with those you work with. Get them involved, start planning what you can do as a person, a company, or a community. We all want to be safe whether it be at work or home or interacting in the community.
What can I do for NAOSH Week?
- Sponsor a poster contest for your employees’ children.
- Create a safety calendar for your employees and clients.
- Host a safety fair or picnic for your company and their families.
- Conduct safety meetings and seminars for your employees.
- If you don’t already have one, develop a “new worker” orientation manual.
- Promote NAOSH week through your company newsletter, memos, e-mails.
- Use NAOSH merchandise as awards for safety achievements, caps, buttons and even T-shirts.
- An open house is a great way to involve the community, show them you’re a safety minded company.
NAOSH Week at Schools, Colleges and Universities :
Students are the future, the workers and business leaders; we need to make them aware of safety and the need for training and knowledge so safety is a part of their life and work.
- Invite classes to your company; demonstrate basic safety features and the importance of working safely.
- Promote poster competitions. Sponsor special safety days.
- Conduct training sessions that are specific to new and young workers.
- Put on a fun fashion show of personal protective equipment.
- Have different departments speak with the students.
- Work with the local school board to expand safety efforts.
- Encourage students to think of safety as a career
- Prepare young workers for the future in your community
- Work with community newspapers to publish a special supplement featuring safety articles, advertizing, and NAOSH week events and activities.
- Encourage local business owners to display NAOSH week posters.
- Plan special events at the mall.
- Get local government officials involved.
- Sponsor a public discussion on health and safety issues.
Over the years NAOSH has done a lot to bring communities together, they’ve developed teen worker safety, helped Habitat for Humanity, donated personal protective equipment and so much more. Each year Congress passes a resolution Supporting NAOSH (yes, it’s a big deal) and all they do for worker safety, health and the environment. Through education we create safer work and leisure environments. It doesn’t matter if you’re an office worker, coal miner, trucker, or grocery store worker. We can all do our part. Look at all the products on the market, all the research. People, towns and cities working to make this world a better, safer place. We have made progress, but we still have a long way to go.
Get Involved, As a global community we can make a difference.
Some NAOSH-Week Resources :
- About NAOSH Week
- Official Website
- Candian Society of Safety Engineers
- American Society of Safety Engineers
- NAOSH Week Poster (For you to print and hang up)
- Resource Guide
- Safety and Health Checklist
