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May 6-12, 2007 is the 11th annual North American Occupational Safety
and Health Week (NAOSH), a public awareness campaign to raise
awareness among employers, employees, the general public about
the importance of preventing injury and illness in the
workplace.
A joint venture between the United States,
Canada and Mexico, NAOSH features a range of activities
throughout the continent. In the U.S., the federal Department
of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
is collaborating with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
to promote NAOSH, particularly among the transportation
industry. But employers and unions representing all
industries are encouraged to participate, and the
ASSE Web site provides guidance on how they can do so,
listing specific ideas for workplaces, educational institutions
and community leaders. A special
NAOSH Web site also offers ideas on how to participate, as
well as the opportunity to order a range of promotional products
based on this year’s theme of Safety & Health: A Commitment
for Life! Start Today!
One way organizations can demonstrate a
commitment to safety and health is to take steps to ensure their
workplaces are free of the hazards of alcohol and drug abuse
through substance abuse prevention and intervention programs,
commonly called drug-free workplace programs. NAOSH presents an
opportune time to remind employees of their organization’s
drug-free workplace policy and educate them on the importance of
working drug free to their safety and health. The U.S.
Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and
Drug-Free Workplace Web site offers a variety of
training and educational materials to assist in such
efforts. Organizations that do not have a drug-free workplace
policy can use the site’s
Drug-Free Workplace Advisor Program Builder tool to create
one.
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