About North American Occupational Health Week 2007

The goal of the annual North American Occupational Safety & Health (NAOSH) Week is to focus the attention of employers, employees, the general public and all partners in occupational safety, health and the environment on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace.

We are striving to:

• Increase understanding of the benefits of investment in occupational health and safety.
• Raise awareness of the role and contribution of safety, health and environmental professionals.
• Help reduce workplace injuries and illness by encouraging
  new health, safety and environmental activities and
  interest in NAOSH Week.

The NAOSH Logo

The NAOSH logo- three hands forming an equilateral triangle - portrays the three participating nations - Canada, the United States and Mexico - and symbolizes joint venture, cooperation and the commitment to the common goals shared by all occupational health and safety partners. The three sides stand for partnership of the three countries in this joint occupational health and safety venture, as well as all tripartite partnerships between business, labor and governments. The connected hands illustrate assistance and cooperation on many levels - from interpersonal relationships in the workplace to international exchange.

NAOSH - What You Can Do

At Work

• Host a Family Safety Fair or picnic for your company and their families;
• Launch a recognition program for safety suggestions that are put into use or enhance ongoing health and safety practices.
• Conduct an Open House that focuses on health and safety. Involve suppliers. Invite local dignitaries, clients and colleagues.
• Conduct training sessions for employees
• Set up specific safety demonstrations, focused on safe work habits
• Distribute ASSE's PR brochures - the ASSE 'Workplace Safety Guide for New Workers" and the ASSE "Hazardous Materials Safety Information Guide"
• Promote NAOSH Week through articles in your company newsletter
• Insert NAOSH Week messages in correspondence, memorandums, e-mail messages to staff
• Display the NAOSH Week poster in offices, on bulletin boards, at work stations
• Contact ASSE's PR department for more ideas and tools you can use

At Schools, Colleges, Universities

Students are the workers and business leaders of tomorrow. Making them aware of workplace safety and health at an early age, and, on the need for training and knowledge is critical to helping them work safely in the future. Some activities include:

• Invite classes to tour your operations, highlighting basic safety features and the importance of working safely
• Sponsor special safety days
• Conduct training sessions specific to the new and inexperienced worker and distribute ASSE's "Workplace Safety Guide for New Workers" and other information available from ASSE, the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) and the 'YouthRules' information from the Department of Labor and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
• Distribute this information at local malls, churches, community centers and libraries
• Display and show how to use various personal protective equipment
• Have speakers available to speak to students
• Work with local school boards to coordinate special events or help them expand their safety efforts
• Work with elementary and high school students to promote safety as a career
  

In Your Community

• Consider officially acknowledging NAOSH Week with a flag raising ceremony and signing of a NAOSH Week proclamation by your mayor, community dignitaries and other government officials
• Display a NAOSH Week poster in a prominent location in your community - at malls, libraries, retail outlets, churches, etc.
• Plan special events such as shopping mall displays that feature safety messages sponsored by local businesses that are supporting NAOSH Week
• Sponsor a public symposium on health and safety issues
• Encourage local retailers to display NAOSH Week posters
• With ASSE develop and send localized news release to your contact local media or a letter to the editor in support of NAOSH week and to promote your organization's activities, and much, much more.

 

About Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day

In March 2006 the American Society of Safety Engineers’ board approved the creation of Occupational Safety and Health Professional day to be held every year during North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH) on that Wednesday. This year NAOSH Week runs from May 6-12.

The purpose of this day is to recognize the ongoing efforts of occupational safety, health and environmental professionals to protect people, property and the environment. “They are the ones that make sure you go to and come home from work safely and without injury every day,” ASSE 2005-06 President Jack H. Dobson Jr., CSP, said as the motion was passed unanimously.

National Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day also aims to further raise awareness and pride in the profession, a profession where one is qualified by education, training and experience who identifies hazards and develops appropriate controls for these hazards all aimed at preventing occupational injury, illness and property damage. The safety and health professional follows a Code of Professional Conduct and brings to bear technical knowledge, skill and expertise along with management abilities developed through years of continued education and practical experience. Currently there are about 100,000 occupational safety, health and environmental practitioners in the U.S. today in what has become one of the most challenging and rewarding career fields.

“We take time this May 9th to say thanks to those invisible heroes, who every day work to make your workplace safer and healthier,” Dobson said. “It doesn’t happen often, but when a call is made to a family member that their loved one has been injured or killed on the job several lives change forever. Let’s continue to work with occupational safety and health professionals to make sure you and your family never receives that call.

“If you know one, thank your occupational safety and health professional on this day,” Dobson said. “It will mean more than you know.”