While safety remains our top priority 365 days a year, National Safety Month in June is the perfect time to spotlight the importance of it – at work, on the road, and in our daily lives. Each week this month focuses on a different theme to help organizations and individuals strengthen their safety efforts. We’re also sharing some safety statistics to help stay informed and aware.
2025 Weekly Themes to Watch
Each week in June typically focuses on a specific safety topic:
- Week 1 (June 1–7): Continuous Improvement
Focuses on enhancing safety policies and practices. To act on this, conduct audits, encourage hazard reporting, and set measurable safety goals. Continuous learning and adapting helps prevent future incidents.
- Week 2 (June 8–14): Employee Engagement
Empowered employees are safer employees. To enhance engagement, involve teams in safety decisions, form committees or promote pre-existing ones (like D&Z’s Safety Council), recognize safe behavior, and foster open feedback to build a stronger safety culture.
- Week 3 (June 15–21): Roadway Safety
Promotes safe driving habits. To implement this, encourage seatbelt use, eliminate distractions, maintain vehicles, and offer defensive driving tips — especially for those who drive for work.
- Week 4 (June 22–30): Wellbeing
Support mental and physical health. To achieve this, share wellness resources, encourage hydration and movement (like D&Z's 2025 Walking Challenge – happening now), and help employees manage stress to stay focused and safe on the job.
Safety Statistics
The following statistics highlight the critical importance of safety awareness in both everyday life and the workplace, revealing alarming trends in preventable injuries, occupational hazards, and the impact of stress and fatigue on health and safety.
- Preventable injury-related deaths reached 227,212 in 2022, the highest number on record.
- Unintentional injuries are the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19.
- In 2022, there were 5,486 fatal work injuries, a 5.7% increase from 2021.
- The most common causes of workplace fatalities are:
- Transportation incidents
- Falls, slips, and trips
- Exposure to harmful substances
- Over 60% of construction accidents occur within an employee’s first year of work.
- Construction workers are six to seven times more likely to die of an overdose than workers in other professions.
- Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death by 45% for drivers and front-seat passengers.
- 83% of U.S. workers report experiencing work-related stress, and over half say it's negatively impacting their physical health.
- Fatigue contributes to 13% of workplace injuries.
- Sleep deprivation is comparable to alcohol impairment in its effect on alertness and reaction time.
*Sources: NSC, CDC, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and American Institute of Stress.
At Day & Zimmermann, we know that safety is not a one-time initiative – it’s an ongoing commitment. Prioritizing safety within our organization means reducing risks, protecting lives, and fostering a culture where safety and well-being are a shared priority. Small actions today can prevent serious incidents tomorrow.