By: Kathy Hubbard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has designated August 11 to 17 Safe and Sound Week 2025. Their intention is to encourage all of us to be aware of workplace safety, and to adhere to regulations and protocols that prevent accidents.
In 2023 (the most recent data), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 2.6 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses in private industry. There were 5,238 deaths. Of those deaths, 48 of them occurred in Idaho. Although these numbers are lower than in 2022, they are far and away too high, particularly when most on-the-job injuries can be avoided.
The National Safety Council warns that every seven seconds an employee is injured on the job. “Work injuries not only affect the employee, but their colleagues and employer,” they said.
The most common accidents are slips and falls, muscle strains, repetitive use injuries, cuts, collisions and crashes. For restaurant workers add burns and lacerations; for construction workers add being struck by objects, and for office workers add ergonomic injuries from poor posture.
ESafety.org gives us eight workplace safety tips that they recommend all employees be aware of. They say, “The safest work environments occur when employees at all levels of the organization work together to communicate and adhere to the safety standards set in place.”
Their number one tip is to be aware of your surroundings. Slips and falls are a large liability to a company. A person can fall, hit their head, injure their back or break a bone. We know that every job site has its tripping hazards, so beware of objects being placed where they don’t belong; slippery or wet floors; or equipment that isn’t put away properly.
Keeping correct posture is the second tip. “We’ve all heard that age-old saying, ‘Lift with your legs, not your back,’ but keeping correct posture refers to more than just employees who lift things. Maintaining your body in a neutral posture is important to minimize the stress placed on your body even if you work at a desk. You need to make sure you have good posture to avoid back problems, neck pain, and even carpal tunnel.” ESafety says.
Tip three is to take regular breaks. Tired workers are the most prone to causing an accident. ESafety recommends taking your regular break and scheduling your more difficult tasks for the beginning of your shift when you’re most alert.
Never take shortcuts on procedures is number four. Rules are there for a reason. Use the proper tool for the job. It’s your health you’re jeopardizing, you know. Number five is another no brainer, in my opinion. It’s to keep emergency exits clear. Obviously you can’t get out of the building if someone has planted a heavy object in front of the door. D’uh.
Seven is to report unsafe conditions. “The best way to stop unsafe working conditions from happening is to report them to supervisors as soon as you notice them and then help be part of the solution,” ESafety says.
And, finally number eight is to always wear personal protective equipment. PPEs cover a range of equipment often unique to an industry. In a food service environment, it may mean wearing non-slip shoes. In construction it may mean wearing safety goggles and hearing protection. Warehouse workers should wear back braces, roofers and home builders should use safety harnesses. And the list goes on.
I want to add a thought to ESafety’s good advice. Always keep yourself as fit as possible. Get your annual physical examinations, eat a healthy diet, get exercise outside of your job, socialize and strive for a healthy work/life balance.
OSHA says, “Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line.” I say, an ounce of prevention is a whole lot better than a pound of hurt. Bonner General Health Emergency Department is always open, but that doesn’t mean we want to see you.
Kathy Hubbard is a member of the Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on August 13, 2025.
