Safety Coach
Feast on Safety
In recent years, cultural norms have promoted heavy consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs during the long Thanksgiving holiday, resulting in some people adopting a “party” mindset and stretching safety limits.
Of course, these types of behaviors raise red flags, particularly for safety professionals looking out for workers on the job or behind the wheel. The list includes everyone from forklift drivers in your warehouse to those responsible for end-of-the-month accounting work.
Impairment impacts judgment, coordination and reaction, no matter the time of year. Learn how to take safety steps that go beyond banning the use of alcohol and other drugs on the job. Register now to join us for free online impairment training at 10 a.m. (CT) Thursday, Dec. 9:
- Impaired Driving, Emerging Trends and the Occupational Arena
A law enforcement investigator specializing in impiarment will lead this 30-minute presentation, touching on prevention, enforcement, adjudication and treatment.
Impairment on the job can result in productivity losses and increased health care costs. On the road, impairment can result in tragedy. About 28 people die every day in drunk-driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Research indicates three in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash during their lifetime.
Impairment is not limited to drinking. In fact, one-third of employees observed cannabis use during work hours, according to a recent National Safety Council survey. Other key findings include:
- More than half of employers that eliminated THC testing reported seeing an increase in incidents or other workplace performance issues
- Less than half of employers have a written policy on the use of cannabis
Are you prepared to tackle these issues? Let us help. Join us for free online training.
Tailgate Talk
Thanks for Seat Belts
Many of your employees will be on the road during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, one of the busiest travel times of the year. Send them on their way with seat belt safety reminders. One way to do just that is to put on your “physics” cap and throw out this question:
What would happen if the passengers in your vehicle were not wearing a seat belt and the car you were driving was brought to an abrupt halt by a collision with a big tree?
Provide these answers as part of a brief safety talk:
- Everyone inside the vehicle will move in the direction of impact until they are stopped by their seat belts or they collide with an inside surface (steering wheel, windshield, etc.)
- The organs of vehicle occupants likely will be jarred; some will rupture and bleed, resulting in injuries
- Seat belts protect the driver and passengers from the powerful moving forces and the three collisions that occur in every crash (vehicle collision, human collision, internal collision)
Did you know that an adult passenger riding in the back seat without his seat belt fastened will be thrown forward with the force of 3½ tons in a collision if the vehicle is moving 30 mph? That’s the weight of an elephant charging straight through the driver. A seat belt can stop that elephant in its tracks.
Research indicates if you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce your risk of fatal injury by 45% and your risk of moderate or critical injury by 65%. Here are a few more ways you can make seat belt safety fun and a part of your Thanksgiving holiday traditions moving forward:
- Use our driver behavior micro e-learning modules, including one on passenger restraint, to create a safety course and reward employees with a certificate upon completion
- Download, print and display seat belt safety posters at your location; click on the seat belts tab here
Make use of free resources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found on this webpage to test your employees:
- Myths vs. The Real Deal
- What’s Your Seat Belt IQ?
Get social with the NHTSA Thanksgiving Seat Belts Playbook Guide, which includes instructions on how to use a variety of assets on your own channels. Get the playbook here.
Nearly 47% of people killed on Texas roads last year were not restrained, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. It takes two seconds to click. Those two seconds can save you from a lifetime of heartache. Buckle up and enjoy the holidays!