National Safety Month US: Putting Safety Awareness First

What is National Safety Month US?

National Safety Month is a safety observance held every June in the US by the National Safety Council (NSC). Its primary goal is to raise awareness about preventing accidents, whether at work, at home, or in everyday life. Each year focuses on different weekly themes, and for 2025, the focus is on Continuous Improvement, Employee Engagement, Roadway Safety, and Wellbeing.

History

The NSC established National Safety Month in 1996, declaring June as a time to raise awareness about preventing accidents and saving lives.

However, efforts to promote safety management didn’t begin there. During the Industrial Revolution, workers in textile mills and coal mines experienced extremely poor working standards due to unsafe conditions. In particular, this was a time when many were required to work over 10 hours a day only for minimal pay. These harsh realities sparked the passing of laws around protecting workers.

Still, laws alone weren’t enough to prevent workplace disasters, as human error remained a major factor. It wasn’t until major tragedies happened that the US government began taking more active steps to support industrial workers’ rights and prevent such incidents. These events helped pave the way for the establishment of National Safety Month.

Importance

As an eye-opener, data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) shows that in 2023, there were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the US. That means a worker lost their lives every 99 minutes due to a preventable workplace incident. If the right protocols had been in place, many more lives could have been saved.

Safety regulations and protocols have been in place since the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act). The OSHA Standards legally require employers to identify and address workplace hazards to create safer environments. What’s needed now is greater awareness from employees and stronger compliance from businesses. That’s where National Safety Month comes in: to remind America that both workplace and non-workplace accidents are preventable.

How Does it Differentiate Internationally?

While every country has its own safety laws and regulations, the goal is the same, promoting safety awareness.

Take India, for example. They observe National Safety Week from March 4–10, led by the National Safety Council of India (NSC). The focus of this event is similar to the US: building a strong safety culture, preventing accidents, and encouraging safe practices.They also set yearly themes based on national priorities. For 2025, the theme is “Safety and Well-being: Crucial for Viksit Bharat.”

In Australia, every October is their own National Safe Work Month, organized by Safe Work Australia. Unlike the US, their focus is purely on work-related and workplace safety. This month aims to make sure both organizations and employees are putting safety first, mentally and physically. For 2025, the theme is “Safety: Every Job, Every Day,” reminding every workplace, no matter the industry, location, or size, to keep safety top of mind.

Meanwhile, in Canada, Safety and Health Week takes place every first full week of May, organized by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Similar to the US, their focus is broad, covering everyone in the community. They even boost engagement with a national launch event featuring guest speakers and contests for communities. For 2025, the theme is all about preventing injury and illness, not just at work, but also at home and in the community.

National Safety Month is just one piece of the US government’s broader lineup of safety-focused events. They also highlight more specific areas with occasions like Fire Prevention Week, National Poison Prevention Week, Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and more.

How to Promote National Safety Month at Your Workplace

Workplace Tips for Safety Month

Everyone is encouraged to take part in National Safety Month this June. This year’s themes, Continuous Improvement, Employee Engagement, Roadway Safety, and Wellbeing, are all highly relevant across various workplace settings. Here are some simple yet effective ways to promote these safety priorities:

• Participate in Spreading Awareness – You can actively raise awareness online, or simply by following workplace safety protocols.

• Host Safety Events – Organize safety talks, safety walks, or interactive sessions with your team and go over key topics like what to do during an earthquake or heat wave.

• Conduct Training – Invite professionals to lead hands-on training that reinforces safety procedures and emergency drills.

• Plan Team Building Activities – Promote teamwork and employee engagement while reinforcing safety through fun, interactive, and safety-themed challenges.

• Download Risk Management Tools – Manage the risks of your assets with the help of digital solutions like SafetyCulture to improve overall safety management.

• Inspect Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Check that PPE  like gloves and hard hats are in stock, undamaged, and used and maintained correctly.

• Schedule Equipment Maintenance – Maintain equipment and assets regularly to prevent malfunctions and keep machinery safe and up to date.

• Provide Mental Health Checkups – Support employee wellbeing and ensure psychological safety within the workplace by offering access to mental health resources and stress management tools.

• Post Safety Signs – Highlight emergency exits, potential hazards, and safety reminders, especially in areas involving chemicals or high-risk tasks.

• Follow Traffic Rules – Encourage safe driving habits such as obeying speed limits, using seat belts, respecting pedestrians, and avoiding distractions.

Implementing Technology in Safety Management

Technology is rapidly changing how the world works, and safety is a big part of that shift, making things less manual and a lot less stressful. With the help of AI tools, organizations can spot and fix issues faster and more efficiently. Some tech, like digital twins, even help reduce the need for risky in-person tasks. Other ways technology can boost safety include the following:

• Digital checklists for equipment inspections and maintenance

• Digital training and online courses

• Storage management tools

• Paperless audits

• Team-wide instant communication

• Predictive analytics

• Vibration and temperature sensors and other Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices

Digital solutions like SafetyCulture make it easy to streamline safety, all in one integrated hub for your business, from keeping assets maintained and safe, to ensuring your teams stay engaged, both physically and mentally.