The importance of communicating safety

June marks National Safety Month, a time for organizations to communicate and raise awareness about the importance of safety while promoting a culture of ongoing safety.

The National Safety Council (NSC) seizes this opportunity to focus on reducing the leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road, and in our homes and communities. I believe that those of us in the propane industry can always learn by being aware of diverse discussions on safety from various sources and by reflecting on reminders about issues we may think do not pertain to us. Safety is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of where or what we are doing.

The NSC offers a variety of materials to both members and non-members on its website at nsc.org. The topics for National Safety Month 2025 are:

Week One – Continuous improvement. In 2007, in partnership with the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council, the American Heart Association (AHA) worked together to designate a National CPR and AED Awareness Week at the federal level. On Dec. 13, 2007, Congress unanimously passed a resolution to designate June 1-7 each year as National CPR and AED Awareness Week, emphasizing how Americans can save lives by learning CPR and how to use an AED. According to the AHA, over 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home. When an emergency occurs, knowing CPR and how to use an AED can save lives. Additionally, there is a webinar on fostering a culture of continuous improvement in the workplace, along with videos on:

• Eliminating Fatality Risk with Technology
• MSD Pledge, Opioid Overdose Response Program Implementation
• NSC Workplace Injury Survivor Story

The Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates a 3 percent decrease in preventable deaths, dropping from 4,695 in 2022 to 4,543 in 2023. This corresponds to a 1.7 percent increase in the workforce, which rose from 159,379,000 workers in 2022 to 162,102,000 in 2023. Consequently, the death rate fell by 6 percent, decreasing from 3.2 per 100,000 workers in 2022 to 3.0 in 2023. This reduction in the preventable death rate marks the end of two years of rising rates and matches the rate achieved in 2020. Notably, homicides and suicides (excluded from preventable-injury estimates) experienced a 6 percent decrease, from 791 in 2022 to 740 in 2023, although the rate remained unchanged at 0.5 deaths per 100,000 workers.

Week Two – Employee engagement. This week focuses on promoting active participation in workplace safety initiatives. A webinar titled “Boost Safety: The Science and Strategy” will be held, along with these videos:

• Let’s Make People Safer
• A Preventable death Occurs Every Two Minutes
• What are the odds? Learn your odds of dying from different causes in the U.S.
• Top Causes of Death at Every Stage of Life

The NSC indicates that the top three leading causes of preventable injury-related death – poisoning, falls and motor vehicle incidents – in 2023 account for 86 percent of all avoidable deaths. No other preventable cause of death, including suffocation, drowning, fires and burns, and natural or environmental disasters, accounts for more than 3 percent of the total. In contrast, nonfatal emergency department visits in 2023 were dominated by fall-related injuries, which account for 35 percent of all preventable nonfatal injuries. Struck by or against is the only other injury event that makes up more than 10 percent of the total (11 percent). Motor-vehicle occupant injuries comprise 9 percent of the visits, while other specified events, overexertion and poisoning each account for approximately 7 percent of visits.

Week Three – Roadway safety. This week, we will focus on the risks associated with driving and transportation. There will be a discussion about driver safety both on and off the job, along with videos like:

• How to Set Up Your Drive
• Vulnerable Road User Safety
• Distracted Driving is Preventable
• A Distracted Driver Hit Her Going 40 mph
• Safety is Personal CEO Series: Anthony Nuckles, UPS
• Bicycle Safety and the Far Hand Reach
• An NSC Classic: Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara: Wear a Seat Belt Video

According to the NSC 2023, this signifies the second consecutive decline in deaths. Deaths fell by 3 percent in 2023, following a 2 percent decrease in 2022. Between 2019 and 2021, deaths rose by 20 percent. In 2023, 44,762 individuals died in motor vehicle crashes compared to 46,027 in 2022 and 46,980 in 2021.

Week Four – Well-being. This week, we are emphasizing mental and physical health as essential safety elements.

The underlying causes of injuries might not be immediately visible, but adopting a comprehensive approach to workplace safety – focusing on well-being factors such as fatigue, psychological safety, substance use and mental health – can provide valuable insights. This week, there are two webinars: “Annual Workplace Safety Summit: Innovation to Application” and “Impact of Cannabis on Workplace,” and this week’s videos include:

• Workplace Wellbeing: Prioritizing Safety for the Whole Worker
• Safety is Personal – Dr. Kenji Saito
• Safety is Personal – Mary Bono
• Can you spot an opioid overdose?
• Opioid Overdose Response Program Implementation: Koppers Inc.

According to the NSC, workplace unintentional overdose deaths involving drugs or alcohol have risen by over 600 percent since 2011. Overdose deaths reached 512 in 2023, accounting for 9.7 percent of all occupational injury deaths that year. Increases have been noted across all employee demographics, industries, and occupations.

The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) offers a variety of resources to educate propane marketers on different topics. These programs can be accessed online for free through PERC’s Learning Center at training.propane.com/ or downloaded from PERC’s resource catalog at propane.com/resource-catalog.

I hope you find these resources helpful for observing National Safety Month and supporting safety and education concepts that you can apply in all aspects of your life, not just in the workplace.

Randy Warner is product safety manager for Cavagna North America. He can be reached at randywarner@us.cavagnagroup.com.

NOTE: The opinions and viewpoints expressed herein are solely the author’s and should in no way be interpreted as those of LP Gas magazine or any of its staff members.

Featured image: BojanMirkovic/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images

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