June Is National Safety Month

June is National Safety Month. This annual campaign, organized by the National Safety Council (NSC), highlights efforts to prevent injuries and deaths both in and out of the workplace. It also provides various learning opportunities for employees, allows employers to share their pride in safety and encourages employees across industry lines to pledge to work safely. This event focuses on a different research and prevention theme each week.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 5,000 work-related fatalities and 2.5 million recordable cases of nonfatal injuries and illnesses take place in the private sector each year. These findings underscore the importance of promoting workplace safety. This article provides more information on National Safety Month, highlights this year’s weekly initiatives and offers related risk management strategies for employers.

Weekly Initiatives for 2026

During National Safety Month, a new safety topic will be highlighted each week. Here are this year’s topics:

• Moving Safety Forward (June 1-6)—Workplace safety requires ongoing effort and periodic adjustments to manage evolving hazards. This includes routinely assessing risks, reviewing company policies, and providing staff training on the latest safety equipment and procedures. Employers can also leverage technology and data analysis to spot trends that require further attention. Additionally, regular safety audits should be conducted to identify areas for improvement.
• Staying Safe on the Roads (June 7-13)—A range of jobs may require employees to operate a vehicle. As such, it’s crucial for employers to only hire qualified drivers and educate them on roadway safety. Specifically, drivers should be instructed to inspect their vehicles before and after each journey, avoid any distractions behind the wheel and comply with all applicable traffic laws.
• Promoting Holistic Worker Health (June 14-20)—Workplace well-being refers to the overall state of an individual’s physical and emotional health, which can often be influenced by different job dynamics. Mental health is a key component of workplace well-being. Unfortunately, the NSC confirmed that instances of mental health distress have been linked to poor decision-making and unnecessary risk-taking, prompting higher rates of workplace accidents. Employers can support workers’ well-being by providing comprehensive mental health resources, encouraging proper work-life balance, normalizing mental health discussions and referring struggling employees to medical professionals as needed.
• Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls (June 21-30)—Slips, trips and falls can happen in any workplace. These incidents may cause injuries as minor as bruises and sprains or as serious as broken bones and concussions. There are several measures employers can implement to reduce the risk of these incidents at work, including maintaining safe walking surfaces, ensuring proper lighting and visibility in hallways and stairwells, and upholding strict housekeeping protocols. Employees should also be required to wear nonslip shoes, keep workstations tidy, promptly clean up or mark spills, refrain from rushing through tasks or neglecting safety protocols, and report any ongoing hazards.

Next Steps

By educating their employees on these topics, employers can create healthier and safer work environments. For additional safety-related information and resources and to sign up for National Safety Month, visit the NSC’s website.

Article Published By: Zywave, Inc.