workplace safety

National Safety Month: Simple Steps for a Safe June (and Beyond!)

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girl wearing doctor uniform holding first kit

June is National Safety Month, a dedicated time to raise awareness about preventing injuries and accidents. But safety shouldn’t be confined to just one month — here are some easy-to-implement tips to keep yourself and your loved ones safe all year round.

Be Prepared with a First-Aid Kit

Accidents happen. Having a well-stocked first-aid kit readily available at home, in the car, or at work can make a big difference in treating minor injuries. Review the contents of your kit regularly and replace expired items.

Safety First at Work

If your job involves potentially hazardous conditions, following safety guidelines is paramount. This includes wearing high-visibility clothing in low-light environments, using proper footwear with good traction, and ensuring all equipment is functioning correctly before operating it. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you see unsafe practices – your voice can prevent accidents.

Road Safety

While it’s always important to practice safe and cautious driving, June is a month to remember that school is out — kids will be out playing, there is an increase in road work — which can put workers at risk of injury or death, and motorcycles are out — but are often less visible than most other vehicles on the road.

Reduce Risks

Sometimes, the best safety measure is simply removing potential hazards. Take a look around your home and workplace. Are there loose cords, tripping hazards, or cluttered walkways? By keeping your environment organized and clutter-free, you significantly reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls.

Prepare for Emergencies

Disasters can strike at any time. Being prepared can minimize stress and confusion in the face of an emergency. Work with your family to create an emergency plan that outlines evacuation routes, communication strategies, and meeting locations. Regularly update your plan and conduct practice drills to ensure everyone knows what to do.

By incorporating these simple steps into your daily routine, you can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries for yourself and those around you. Remember, safety is a shared responsibility – let’s all work together to make every month a safe month!

Bonus Tip: National Safety Council (https://www.nsc.org/) offers a wealth of resources on safety in the workplace, at home, and on the road. Take some time this June to explore their website and learn more about how you can stay safe!

When Should You Call Out Sick?

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April 28 is World Day for Safety and Health at Work, with a focus on what employers and employees can do to maintain workplace safety. One crucial factor that often gets overlooked is the importance of staying home when you’re sick.

Employees often feel obligated to go into work even when they’re under the weather, but doing so is a leading factor in the spread of contagious diseases. Remember that taking a sick day isn’t just about your own recovery; it’s an act of responsibility that helps protect your colleagues and the wider community.

 

Why Working While Sick Isn’t Worth It

The pressure to avoid calling out sick can be immense. People worry about falling behind on their projects and burdening their team. They’re reluctant to use up their paid time off. They may even think that taking a sick day will jeopardize their position, fearing that their employer will regard taking time off for illness as a lack of commitment.

However, the workplace allows for the easy transmission of disease, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and even the break room coffee machine all serving as potential transmission points. Coming into work while sick can cause much greater disruptions than taking a day off to recover by:

  • Prolonging your own illness: Trying to work while your body is fighting off an infection can hinder your recovery and potentially lead to more serious complications.
  • Spreading illness to colleagues: You might think you can power through something that feels like a moderate cold, but the same illness could cause more severe symptoms if it spreads to a colleague with a compromised immune system or underlying health condition.
  • Reduced productivity and errors: When you’re not feeling your best, your focus and cognitive abilities are likely impaired. This makes it more likely that you will make mistakes, be less efficient, and not produce your best work. The spread of an illness can amplify these same effects within your team, leading to a much more significant disruption than if you had simply stayed home.

 

Knowing When It’s Time to Stay Home

It’s especially important to know when something is a minor ailment and when it’s a symptom of something more serious. If you can maintain hygiene and manage your symptoms, such as taking an aspirin for a mild headache, you may not need to take a sick day.

However, your body will send clear signals when it needs a rest. These include:

  • Fever: A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, which is often a sign of an infection.
  • Persistent cough or difficulty breathing: These symptoms can be signs of respiratory illnesses like the flu or bronchitis, which are highly contagious.
  • Significant gastrointestinal issues: Vomiting or diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration and rapid transmission of an illness. 
  • Widespread body aches and fatigue: Feeling overwhelmingly tired and achy often means your body is actively fighting off an illness.
  • Known contagious illnesses: If you’ve been diagnosed with something like the flu, COVID-19, or norovirus, staying home is essential to prevent further spread.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution. It’s always better to take a day to recover and prevent potential spread than to try and push through and risk making things worse for yourself and others.

 

Working from Home

The rise of remote work has blurred the lines when it comes to sick days. The temptation to “work from home sick” is understandable. You might feel you can still contribute while resting intermittently, thus minimizing any disruptions at your workplace.

While remote work can offer flexibility, being unwell still impacts your ability to perform effectively. Ask yourself:

  • Can I truly focus and concentrate? If your symptoms are significantly impacting your cognitive function, you won’t be able to do your best work.
  • Am I still contagious? Even if you’re not physically in the office, you might still be contagious to household members. Pushing yourself could prolong your illness and potentially expose others.
  • Am I truly resting and recovering? Trying to work while sick can prevent your body from fully recovering, potentially extending the duration of your illness.

There might be instances where you feel well enough to handle a few essential tasks remotely. However, it’s crucial to differentiate between lightly engaging when you’re on the mend and trying to maintain a full workload while genuinely ill. Often, the best course of action, even when working remotely, is to take the time you need to fully recover. This allows you to return to work feeling refreshed and able to contribute effectively in the long run.

Learn more from the Uncas Health District.