Workplace safety is something that should be on everyone’s mind, employers and employees alike. When everyone in a workplace is concerned about safety, it can help prevent workplace accidents. June 2020 is National Safety Month by the National Safety Council (NSC), and its main focus is on workplace safety.

What does the NSC want everyone to know about workplace safety this month?

• Mental health matters: Discussions about workplace injuries will almost-always focus on physical injuries and illnesses. Rarely will the idea of mental health concerns ever be brought up, which is something the NSC wants to change. This month, you, your employer, and your coworkers should all be open to discussions about mental health difficulties that can be caused in relation to work. Employees can start to feel anxiety or depression if they are overworked or undervalued. Taking some time to survey worker satisfaction and issues is a good starting point.
• Ergonomics make a big difference: Repetitive stress injuries (RSI) are a form of injury that occurs only after completing the same action again and again, usually across many hours or days. RSIs like carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain are serious concerns among office workers who need to use a keyboard and sit in an office chair all day. Ergonomic products can be used to help reduce the chances of suffering an RSI, though. Talk to your supervisor about getting ergonomic chairs, keyboards, and more around your office. With less RSIs, there will be greater productivity overall.
• Build a safety culture: One thing that every workplace should strive to do no matter the month is to build a safety culture. Basically, a safety culture is a workplace that thinks about safety first and foremost, to the point that it becomes second nature. Employees can be encouraged to build a safety culture by rewarding them for acting safely and promoting safety themselves. For example, employers can give small rewards to employees who retake safety training courses.

Workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility. When something goes wrong, though, workers’ compensation should hopefully provide for the injured employee. If you live in Orange County and have questions about how to file for workers’ comp, then please call (800) 980-6905 and connect with Alvandi Law Group, P.C. Our attorneys are standing by to help you with all portions of your claim, including initial filings and challenging wrongful denials. We are still accepting new clients during the virus by handling the majority of our casework through online and digital processes.