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NSC Statement on Biden Administration’s Workplace Vaccine Requirement
The National Safety Council is hopeful in response to the Biden Administration’s six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy to combat the pandemic – specifically, the Council supports the plan’s approach to workplace vaccine requirements to increase uptake among the unvaccinated. NSC has advocated for the use of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure worker safety and wellbeing. Given that workplaces have great influence on workers’ decisions, employer requirements will increase uptake to save lives. A recent survey conducted by NSC found when employers required vaccines, there was a 35% increase in workers who got the shot. Additionally, NSC previously called on OSHA to protect workers from COVID-19 and is encouraged by the new…
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National Safety Council Calls On Employers to Lead Vaccine Promotion and Uptake
Today, the National Safety Council (NSC), the nation’s leading nonprofit workplace safety advocate, said it is time for employers to lead U.S. vaccination efforts, understanding this is the best route to a safe, collaborative and productive work environment, free from masks and social distancing. NSC plans to discuss this advice and other employer guidance for returning remote workers safely to in-person workplaces as part of the Navigating Safer Workplace Returns Town Hall, hosted in conjunction with the Health Action Alliance, scheduled for 12 p.m. ET. NSC President and CEO Lorraine Martin said that, while vaccines bring great benefits to the workforce, employers now have more complexity in planning a safe…
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NSC Survey: Parents Less Likely to be Distracted by Technology when Driving with Children
Parents rank texts, phone calls and children in the backseat as the top three driving distractions, according to a new survey released today from the National Safety Council (NSC) and the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA) Emergency Responder Safety Institute. While backseat passengers certainly demand extra attention, the survey encouragingly found parents are less likely to be distracted by technology when driving with their children in the car. In the survey of 1,000 drivers ages 25 years and older who drive with children, nearly two-thirds of respondents admitted to regularly or occasionally programming a navigation system while driving alone; that risky behavior dropped 20% when children were present in…
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Dr. Amy Harper Reappointed to National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
The National Safety Council is proud to announce that Dr. Amy Harper, senior director of workplace training & consulting services, has been reappointed to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH). The 12-member committee advises, consults with and makes recommendations to the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services on matters relating to occupational safety and health. “I am honored to continue serving on a committee that directs the national dialog on worker safety and health,” said Dr. Harper. “The increased spotlight on workplace safety in recent months makes this appointment an even greater opportunity to make a difference. The Council appreciates the chance…
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National Safety Council Statement on Pete Buttigieg’s Confirmation as Secretary of Transportation
The National Safety Council congratulates Pete Buttigieg on his confirmation as Department of Transportation Secretary. As motor vehicle deaths continue to climb, it is vital to have leadership that understands proven prevention strategies and embraces promising innovation and technology. Secretary Buttigieg will provide that leadership, and he will bring important perspective to the role because of his mayoral experience. NSC strongly urges Secretary Buttigieg to commit to eliminating preventable roadway deaths by 2050. As one of hundreds of organizations signed on to a letter urging the administration to make this commitment, we stand ready to assist in every way. Our country faces many difficult challenges, and ending roadway deaths is…
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National Safety Council Statement on New OSHA COVID-19 Guidance
The National Safety Council (NSC) applauds the U.S. Department of Labor for issuing new OSHA guidance today to help employers mitigate risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19. For nearly a year, NSC has been urging the federal government to provide employers with a roadmap for handling the pandemic. We are grateful to see this support come through, and we are reassured it will be updated as developments in science, best practices and standards warrant. Employers and their workforces have been grappling with the worst workplace safety issue in a generation. In response, NSC created SAFER: Safe Actions for Employee Returns last April and has been offering businesses with much-needed guidance,…
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National Safety Council Estimates 485 Fatalities May Occur On Roadways During Thanksgiving Holiday Period
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disturbing traffic safety trends this year, and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period may not be an exception. The National Safety Council estimates that as many as 485 people may be killed on the roads during the four-day Thanksgiving Holiday period and another 55,300 may be seriously injured in crashes. The estimate is the highest the Council has issued for the Thanksgiving holiday period since 2008. If it holds, it would be the highest number of fatalities the U.S. has experienced for a Thanksgiving holiday period in just as long. NSC monthly analysis has shown that the roads have become deadlier despite less traffic. While…
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National Safety Council Moves its Flagship Event – NSC Congress & Expo – Virtual
Amid continuing concerns about COVID-19, the National Safety Council will host its annual flagship conference, NSC Congress & Expo, as a fully virtual event in March 2021. Rescheduled dates will be finalized in the coming weeks. The NSC Congress & Expo was originally slated for Indianapolis this October, then rescheduled and moved to Houston for March 2021. It has been held annually since 1912; 2020 will mark just the second time that NSC has not held an in-person Congress & Expo. The event was postponed in 1945 as the country recovered from World War II and travel restrictions remained in place. “Our stakeholders all expect an excellent experience and most…
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Ten Universal Actions Every Employer Must Take to Help Ensure a Safer Reopening
Reopening businesses and returning employees to traditional work environments post-quarantine will be the most nuanced and complex actions American employers will undertake in the coming months. To help them prioritize safety during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Safety Council – based on recommendations from the SAFER task force – identified the 10 universal actions every employer must consider before reopening, and released a series of playbooks with in-depth recommendations for doing so safely. SAFER – a group of experts from companies of all sizes, leading safety organizations, nonprofits, government agencies and public health organizations – is the first national task force focused on worker safety. The 10 universal…
