Louisiana resident and President of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Donald S. Jones Sr., P.E., CSP, offers the following business resumption safety tips. These include preparation tips, a disaster safety checklist, mold information and resources to assist businesses of all sizes before, during and after a disaster.

“This is important information that helps us throughout the year. We urge everyone to take stock of their existing contingency plans — whether at work or at home — now to reduce injury and destruction should a disaster occur,” Jones said.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for business resumption following a disaster. Following a disaster, all businesses should do a hazard evaluation and assessment performed by a safety professional which would include the following: (more…)

JANUARY 2007        
January 1 – 31 National Radon Action Month National Safety Council Kristin Marstiller
202-293-2270 ext. 469  Radon Fact Sheet
FEBRUARY 2007        
February 1 – 28 American Heart Month American Heart Association   www.americanheart.org 
February 1 – 28 Save Your Vision Month American Academy of Ophthalmology  John Paine
415-561-8525  www.aao.org 
February 11-17 National Child Passenger Safety Week National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Tina Foley
202-366-9550 www.nhtsa.gov 
MARCH 2007        
March 18-24 National Poison Prevention Week U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission  Kim Dulic
301-504-7908  
APRIL 2007        
April 1 – 30 Sports Eye Safety Month American Academy of Ophthalmology  John Paine
415-561-8525  www.aao.org
April 1- 7 National Workzone Awareness Week Federal Highway Administration   www.fhwa.dot.gov
April 2 – 8 National Public Health Week American Public Health Association Lakitia Mayo
202-777-2515  www.apha.org
April 8 World Health Day WHO Regional Office for the Americas 202-974-3156  World-Health-Day
April 22 – 28 National Window Safety Week Window Safety Task Force  Janice Charletta
847-303-5859 x230  Window Safety
April 22 – 28 National Playground Safety Week   Donna Mokricky
800-554-7529  www.uni.edu/playground 
April 28 Workers’ Memorial Day American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)    www.afl-cio.org 
April 30 – May 6 National SAFE Kids Week National SAFE Kids Campaign  Suzanne Morton
202-662-4476 www.safekids.org 
MAY 2007        
May 1 – 31 National Electrical Safety Month National Electrical Safety Foundation  Michael Clendenin
703-841-3296 www.electrical-safety.org 
May 6 – 12  North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH) American Society of Safety Engineers Diane Hurns
847-768-3413 www.asse.org 
May 6 Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Day American Society of Safety Engineers Diane Hurns
847-768-3413 www.asse.org 
May 19 – 25 National Safe Boating Week National Safe Boating Council  Virgil Chambers
703-361-4294  www.safeboatingcouncil.org 
May 20 – 26 National Emergency Medical Services Week American College of Emergency Physicians  Denise Fechner
800-798-1822 x326  www.acep.org 
May 21 – 28 Buckle Up America National Highway Traffic Safety Administration   www.nhtsa.dot.gov 
May 21 – June 3 Click It or Ticket Mobilization Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign & National Highway Traffic Safety Administration   www.nhtsa.dot.gov 
JUNE 2007        
June 1 – 30 National Safety Month National Safety Council 630-775-2160  National Safety Month 
AUGUST 2007        
August 1 – 31 Cataract Awareness Month 
 
SEPTEMBER 2007        
September 1 – 30 National Preparedness Month U.S. Department of Homeland Security   
September 16 – 27  National Farm Safety and Health Week  National Safety Council   National Farm Safety and Health Week
OCTOBER 2007        
October 1 – 31 Eye Injury Prevention Month American Academy of Ophthalmology John Paine
415-561-8525 www.aao.org 
October 14 – 20 National Radon Action Week National Safety Council Kristin Marstiller
202-293-2270 ext. 469  Radon Fact Sheet

The business community has put the letters O-S-H-A into that  “beware” category.   OSHA is out there to fine me, or shut me down if my workers are in an unsafe workplace.  Their concept of OSHA is something to be weary of. 

How wrong you are. While part of OSHA’s job is to monitor unsafe working conditions and asses fines, they are also available to help business and organizations stay in compliance with federal and state laws.  In Illinois we have the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program, funded by OSHA, to help small business with worker’s safety compliance.  There is a similar program in almost every state in the US.  In addition, OSHA has self-inspection checklist covering 9 different areas of safety.  These will help you start developing a safety programs with regards to the 9 standards covered in 29 CFR parts 1910 and/or 1926.  OSHA also offers e-tools, grants and programs available in Spanish for the Hispanic worker.  Recently, our ASSE chapter had an OSHA area Compliance Assistance Specialist speak at our meeting.  She made it very clear that her position is to help business with compliance.  She is NOT a compliance officer. 

You can be scared of OSHA or you can utilize the services and help they offer to the fullest.  Keep in mind YOUR tax dollars pay their salaries.