Stand Tall
Whether your coworkers are playing host to a big gathering this Thanksgiving or traveling to visit friends and relatives, you can help keep them safe by building and maintaining a culture of safety in the workplace.
Safety learned on the job is carried home.
Traditionally, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year. In 2021, AAA estimated 53.4 million Americans jammed airports and roads.
Impairment is a hidden risk that can impact safety in workplace and on the roadway. In Texas, one person was injured every 2 minutes and 12 seconds in crashes on state roads last year, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. And 24% of crash fatalities occurred in alcohol-related incidents.
But it’s not just chemical substances, like alcohol, opioids or cannabis, that cause impairment. Fatigue and social factors such as stress contribute to crashes as well. In fact, there were 8,848 crashes in Texas last year involving drivers who were fatigued or fell asleep at the wheel, according to TxDOT. That’s more than 24 every day. Share these resources to help keep employees safe at work and while traveling.
- Use the Fatigue at Work Employer toolkit from the National Safety Council to mitigate risk. The kit is stocked with posters and tip sheets, digital presentations and ready-made safety talks.
- Watch and share this 60-second video, available in English and Spanish, to raise awareness of risks associated with fatigue while driving.
For many, holiday preparation is emotionally and physically draining. Learn how to promote employee mental health and wellbeing. Download, print and display our free impairment road safety infographic.
Employers should consider all forms of impairment when determining whether an individual is fit to work or drive safely. These resources can help employers create a workplace free from impairment, with policies, procedures and materials to support employee health and prioritize safety:
- Register for a free session: Drug Impairment Training for Texas Employers
- Address Fatigue in the Workplace
- Prioritize Mental Health
- Prevent Impaired Driving
NSC wishes you a safe and happy holiday season.
Float to the Top
In any organization, no matter the size, a strong safety culture can lead to benefits such as these:
- A reduction of injuries
- Lower medical and insurance costs
- Better employee understanding of how to respond in emergency situations
- Improved employee morale
During our next free online training session, we’ll build on those ideals. We’ll also explain how and why traffic safety needs to be incorporated as part of your overall health and wellness program, and not just for those who drive professionally. Crash costs impact your bottom line, whether they occur on or off the job, and whether they involve employees or their family members.
Join us Wednesday, Nov. 9, for ODC Fast Pass training. Register to attend now.
We’ll offer tips for implementing a traffic safety culture and point you to a variety of free resources such as these to improve your safety program:
- Driver behavior micro e-learning
- Journey management planning
- 60-second videos on distracted driving in English and Spanish
This training is for HR professionals, safety professionals and instructors, risk managers, supervisors and department leaders who play a role in safety and employee education.
Join us and make safety a priority!