Workplace Safety Strategies: How to Keep Employees Safe During National Safety Month
Jun 4, 2025
Workplace Safety Strategies for National Safety Month
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2023. OSHA fines are also on the rise, with increased scrutiny on companies failing to meet evolving safety standards, highlighting various safety concerns. For employers, this isn’t just a compliance issue it’s a major cost and culture issue.
June marks National Safety Month by the National Safety Council (NSC), making now the perfect time to re-evaluate your safety protocols and ensure your teams are protected. With evolving work environments and new safety risks in 2025, staying proactive is key to employee wellbeing and your company’s reputation.
In this blog, we’ll cover the most pressing workplace safety tips for employers, along with some essential workplace safety tips, the best practices for keeping your teams safe, and how to leverage National Safety Month to build a culture of safety that lasts year-round.
Top Workplace Safety Strategies and Tips
1. Provide Regular Safety Training
One-size-fits-all training isn’t effective. Tailor your safety programs to your workforce’s roles. For example, warehouse workers need equipment handling training, while remote employees benefit from digital ergonomics education.
Why it matters: 60% of workplace injuries occur within a worker’s first year on the job.
Free Webinar Alert: First 30 Days and Beyond: Injury Prevention Through Safety Onboarding: Register today
What you can do:
Integrate safety into onboarding: Make sure every new hire temporary or permanent receives job-specific safety training before starting their duties.
Offer ongoing refreshers: Host monthly or quarterly safety briefings to cover high-risk tasks, seasonal hazards, or recent near-miss incidents.
Utilize interactive formats: Use videos, hands-on demonstrations, quizzes, and real-life case studies to engage all learning styles.
Track participation and compliance: Use HR systems or training software to document who’s been trained, on what topics, and when retraining is due.
Involve supervisors: Managers should reinforce training in the field with regular safety talks and quick pre-shift safety huddles.
Customize training by role and risk level: Office workers don’t need the same training as forklift operators. Tailor content so it’s relevant.
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2. Encourage Reporting of Unsafe Conditions
Many workplace accidents are preventable but only if hazards are reported and addressed in time. Create a “see something, say something” culture where employees can report hazards anonymously and without fear of retaliation.
What you can do:
Foster a “no-blame” safety culture: Make it clear that reporting hazards is encouraged and never punished.
Make reporting easy and accessible: Offer multiple ways to report unsafe conditions, including anonymous online forms, mobile apps, or QR-code check-in stations.
Train your team: During onboarding and regular training, educate employees on how and why to report safety issues. Reinforce that everyone is responsible for keeping the workplace safe.
Act on feedback quickly: Follow up on all reports, document the resolution, and publicly (but respectfully) acknowledge the fix. This builds trust and reinforces accountability.
Involve frontline staff in inspections: Let employees lead or participate in regular safety audits so they feel empowered and engaged in workplace safety.
3. Require Proper Use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense between workers and serious injury. Despite its importance, improper or inconsistent PPE use remains a leading cause of preventable workplace accidents. According to OSHA, 70% of hand injuries could have been avoided if proper gloves were worn, and nearly 90% of eye injuries occur when workers are not wearing appropriate eye protection.
What you can do:
Provide task-specific PPE for each role and ensure it meets OSHA standards.
Offer hands-on PPE training during onboarding and regular refreshers.
Monitor compliance and correct improper use immediately.
Replace worn or damaged PPE promptly worn-out gear is just as risky as no gear.
Make PPE accessibility easy and store it near workstations and ensure proper sizing is always available.
4. Maintain Equipment and Machinery
Machinery-related incidents account for over 13,000 serious injuries in U.S. workplaces each year, many of which are preventable through routine maintenance and proper training.
What you can do:
Establish a preventive maintenance schedule: Regularly inspect and service equipment based on manufacturer guidelines or usage intervals—not just when issues arise.
Train equipment operators thoroughly: Only allow certified or authorized personnel to operate, inspect, or repair machinery.
Document all maintenance activities: Keep detailed logs of inspections, repairs, part replacements, and service dates. Use a digital tracking tool if available.
Lockout/Tagout procedures: Implement and enforce lockout/tagout protocols to prevent accidental machine startups during maintenance.
Replace worn or faulty parts promptly: Don’t delay repairs—ignoring small issues can lead to major accidents or downtime.
Encourage employees to report mechanical concerns: Create an open channel for operators to report strange sounds, leaks, or performance changes immediately.
Keep manuals and instructions accessible: Make sure operational guides and safety data sheets (SDS) are easy to find near each piece of equipment.
5. Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls are the second leading cause of nonfatal workplace injuries, resulting in thousands of missed workdays and costly workers’ comp claims.
What you can do:
Keep walkways clear of clutter, cords, or spills.
Install slip-resistant mats in high-traffic or wet areas.
Clean up spills immediately and use “wet floor” signage as needed.
Ensure proper lighting in all work areas, especially around steps or uneven flooring.
Require appropriate footwear based on work conditions.
6. Promote Ergonomic Work Practices
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for 30% of all workplace injuries, especially in jobs that require repetitive motion, heavy lifting, or poor posture.
What you can do:
Provide ergonomic chairs, adjustable desks, and supportive tools.
Train employees on safe lifting techniques and posture practices.
Rotate tasks to reduce repetitive strain.
Encourage micro-breaks and stretching throughout the day.
Conduct regular ergonomic assessments, especially in warehouse and office environments.
7. Address Fatigue & Mental Health
Fatigue impairs judgment, reaction time, and focus. In fact, fatigued workers are 70% more likely to be involved in an accident.
What you can do:
Monitor overtime and limit excessive consecutive shifts.
Encourage breaks during long or intense tasks.
Promote open conversations around stress, burnout, and mental health.
Provide access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or mental wellness resources.
Normalize using PTO and sick days for recovery and rest.
8. Use Proper Signage and Labels
Workplaces that use clear, OSHA-compliant signage report up to 80% fewer accidents in high-risk areas.
What you can do:
Post clear signs around hazardous areas, chemicals, PPE zones, and emergency exits.
Use color-coded labels and floor markings to designate safe paths and danger zones.
Keep signs visible, up to date, and in multiple languages if needed.
Ensure employees are trained to understand what the signs mean and how to respond.
9. Prepare for Emergencies
Only 45% of employees say they’ve participated in any emergency drill at work—leaving the majority unprepared when disaster strikes.
What you can do:
Develop and communicate a clear Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
Conduct regular drills for fire, weather emergencies, and workplace violence.
Ensure all exits are marked and accessible.
Designate safety captains or response teams and post contact info clearly.
Review and refresh plans annually or after major events.
10. Foster a Safety-First Culture
Companies that prioritize safety as a core value experience 40% fewer injuries and higher employee morale.
What you can do:
Lead by example—management should actively model safe behavior.
Recognize and reward employees who demonstrate safety awareness.
Incorporate safety into daily stand-ups, signage, and review meetings.
Provide ongoing feedback and support on safety initiatives.
Empower employees to stop work if they identify a safety risk.
Measure and Improve Safety Performance with Data
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Many employers take a reactive approach to workplace safety, only addressing issues after an incident. Proactively tracking safety metrics can help you prevent accidents, reduce costs, and foster accountability across teams.
Companies that use safety performance data to drive decision-making see up to a 40% reduction in workplace incidents and faster resolution of hazards.
What you can do:
Track leading and lagging indicators:
Leading indicators: Near-misses, safety training attendance, PPE compliance, inspection frequency.
Lagging indicators: Recordable injuries, lost-time incidents, OSHA citations.
Use software or HCM tools to manage reporting and audits:
Centralize your safety data to easily identify trends, high-risk areas, or departments needing improvement.
Set clear safety KPIs (Key Performance Indicators):
Examples include “% of employees trained,” “# of near misses reported,” or “response time to hazard reports.”
Share reports with leadership and frontline supervisors:
Make safety data part of your routine team or leadership meetings to drive accountability.
Recognize improvement:
Celebrate safety milestones (e.g., 100 days injury-free) to build momentum and show employees their efforts are making an impact.
Leveraging National Safety Month to Drive Change
National Safety Month is your chance to reset and reinforce your safety culture. Here’s how to make it count:
1. Run Weekly Safety Themes
Keep engagement high with weekly focuses such as ergonomics & office safety, equipment & PPE, mental health & burnout, and emergency preparedness. Also include safety quizzes, daily tips, short webinars, and employee recognition.
Check out our Monthly Safety Topics here
2. Audit & Update Your Safety Practices
Use this time to review OSHA compliance, refresh outdated policies, evaluate training effectiveness, and involve supervisors in walkthroughs or hazard reviews.
3. Recognize Safety Wins
Spotlight employees and teams to share real safety success stories, celebrate milestones (e.g., injury-free days), and offer small rewards for training, reporting, and engagement.
How HireLevel Supports Safer Workplaces
At HireLevel, we don’t just help you find the right people we help you create the right environment. Whether you’re managing a growing workforce or navigating compliance risks, we offer:
✅ Pre-trained talent ready for safety-focused environments
✅ Onboarding programs that include job-specific safety procedures
✅ Workforce management tools to track training, compliance, and performance
✅ Payroll and HR solutions that simplify documentation and reporting
Get a safer, smarter workforce partner with HireLevel today.
Blog Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
National Safety Council (NSC), 2024
Occupational Health & Safety Magazine
