National Safety Month
Join the National Safety Council this June for the 30th anniversary of National Safety Month, dedicated to keeping people safe, from the workplace to anyplace. For this year’s observance, NSC is offering a month of free resources on these four weekly topics:
- Moving Safety Forward (June 1-6): Advance a culture of safety with forward-thinking strategies and tools
- Staying Safe on the Roads (June 7-12): Help reduce crashes with practical guidance for drivers, pedestrians and fleets
- Promoting Holistic Worker Health (June 14-20): Support total worker wellbeing with insights on mental, physical and emotional health
- Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls (June 21-30): Reduce common workplace and home hazards with targeted prevention resources
As a National Safety Month participant, you will receive:
- A campaign poster and participant guide
- Weekly fact sheets and 5-minute safety talks
- Weekly curated videos, articles and research
- Go Green for Safety sign
- SafeAtWork Pledge
Sign up to get your free resources.
By joining NSC in this year’s observance, you can help prevent the leading causes of injuries and fatalities at your workplace, at home and in your community.
Plan to Attend
Save the date! Our next FREE online webinar is Wednesday, June 10. The topic: Driving Success – Top 5 Must-do Safety Practices for Managers in Fleet Operation.
This session is designed for fleet and operations managers committed to improving driver safety and performance. We’ll cover the top five things every manager should do to foster a culture of safety, including best practices for risk management, implementing effective training programs, supporting driver personal development and staying up to date with key safety certifications. You’ll learn actionable strategies that can help reduce incidents, enhance driver retention and strengthen your organization’s reputation as a safety leader. Whether you’re managing a small team or a large fleet, this session will provide valuable insights to elevate your safety game.
Presenter: Kenny Ray, Vice President Safety & Risk Consulting, Cline Wood/Marsh
Start Summer with Safety
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer – a season filled with cookouts, parades, family gatherings and road trips. As drivers head out for long weekends and summer vacations, traffic volume surges across Ohio roadways.
Unfortunately, holiday periods also are associated with a sharp increase in impaired‑driving crashes. This makes Memorial Day an important opportunity for employers and safety advocates to reinforce safe driving habits and encourage smart decisions behind the wheel.
What’s at Stake
Operating a vehicle while impaired remains one of the leading threats to roadway safety in Ohio. Data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol illustrates just how widespread the problem is:
- 50% of Ohio’s fatal crashes are impairment related
- 60,415 impairment-related crashes occurred from Jan. 1, 2021, to April 20, 2026, an average of almost 32 impairment-related crashes every day over a period of five years and nearly four months
- Those crashes included 3,158 fatal incidents
- 60% of drivers involved were between ages 21 and 39
- 43% of impairment-related crashes happened at night, between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.
- Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested 83,313 individuals for operating a vehicle while impaired, with 30% involving repeat offenders
These trends highlight when and where risk is greatest – and why planning ahead matters.
Be Proactive
Safety leadership starts with proactive messaging and personal responsibility. Post these tips on your bulletin board or share in a company-wide email blast:
- Prepare personal and workplace vehicles with routine maintenance and recall checks; find out if your vehicle has an open recall
- Drive defensively and expect congestion during peak travel times
- Avoid all impairment, including impairment caused by illicit drugs, over-the-counter medications, stress and fatigue
- Obey speed limits, stay focused and minimize distractions
- Support teen drivers, especially during the summer months; safety risks increase with so many inexperienced drivers on the road, some fulfilling job duties
Provide Education
Our driver safety e-learning portal is stocked with a variety of FREE online courses, including a self-paced module on impaired driving and another that outlines unique risks young drivers face on and off the job. By using the group delivery format, supervisors and managers can assign courses and track completions.
Lean on Partners
The Ohio Traffic Safety Office supports prevention through several initiatives, including:
- Drug Recognition Expert program: A traffic safety program that helps law enforcement detect drug‑impaired driving
- Ignition interlock devices: In Ohio, a judge may order an Ignition interlock device to be installed on a vehicle for certain OVI convictions. Find approved manufacturers and learn about applications and forms of ignition interlock devices
- Shifting Gears: A program designed to educate young drivers about marijuana‑impaired driving
Employers can reinforce these efforts by promoting sober‑ride planning, modeling responsible behavior and discussing driver safety during seasonal communications.
Choose Safety
Impaired‑driving crashes are 100% preventable, and their consequences can be devastating. As summer begins, Ohio employers can help set the tone. Let’s enjoy the season, plan ahead and always choose a sober ride home.