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General Safety Issues

NORTH AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK MAY 2-8

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NAOSH Week occurs every year during the first full week of May and is aimed at raising awareness about occupational safety, health and the environment and safety, health and engineering  professions.  The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) joined with the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) and partners in Mexico to promote awareness in North America during NAOSH Week. This is one tool the almost 100-year-old ASSE and its 32,000 SH&E members use throughout the year to promote occupational safety, aimed at preventing injuries and illnesses. Several organizations representing thousands of businesses have partnered with ASSE and CSSE to support NAOSH Week, including U.S. federal agencies such as the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

NAOSH Week began in 1997.  Canada originally began observing Occupational Safety and Health Week in 1986.  During the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) talks in 1997, the representative from Canada suggested that Mexico and the United States become involved in a similar endeavor.  Hence, this continent-wide event got its start.

Monday, May 3rd, NAOSH week was launched in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in Canada, and in Washington D.C.  Businesses are encouraged to participate in all types of contests to promote safety and wellness.  Some companies even have personal protective equipment “fashion shows!”  Poster contests involving employees’ children, and other fun events get everyone involved.  Persons who are interested in becoming health or safety professionals are able to find out more about becoming involved in those occupations.  There are all types of affairs that involve communities and businesses.

NAOSH Week Logo

NAOSH

Three hands forming an equilateral triangle portrays the three participating nations – Canada, the United States and Mexico – and symbolizes joint venture, cooperation and the commitment to the common goals shared by all occupational health and safety partners. The three sides stand for partnership of the three countries in this joint occupational health and safety venture, as well as all tripartite partnerships between business, labor and governments. The connected hands illustrate assistance and cooperation on many levels – from interpersonal relationships in the workplace to international exchange.

Let’s get behind this annual observance and continue to work hard to prevent injuries all year long.

Source: NAOSH.org
Canadian Society of Safety Engineers

General Safety Issues

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 2010

This week, April 18-24, is National Volunteer Week, which is a time to thank one of our nation’s most valuable assets — volunteers — and call the public’s attention to all that they do to improve our communities.

Sponsored nationally by the Points of Light Institute, National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard M. Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Every president since has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week. The theme, “celebrating people in action,” truly captures the meaning behind this signature week — honoring the individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities.

What would small communities do without volunteers?  Persons who work on city councils, hospital boards, and many other types of community boards receive no pay, but do it because they want to serve.  Places of entertainment, such as museums, theatres, art shows and others need volunteers.  When towns hold their annual festivals, they depend on volunteers to ensure success.  In most small towns, volunteer firemen and women are the ones fighting fires. In some cases, they may receive assistance from professional support teams; however, most of the time, these communities rely totally on their volunteer firemen and first responders.

Young people volunteer on summer projects; rather than spending their time going swimming, to the mall, or other fun things, they are swinging a hammer, painting, or performing other tasks, to repair homes for folks that otherwise can’t afford repairs.  Students also volunteer by collecting money for worthwhile causes, or running a race for financial pledges to help on special projects.

Hospital volunteers help their hospital meet budget by doing all types of clerical work at no charge.  They also hold fundraisers in order to buy needed equipment, thereby freeing up the hospital to make other purchases.  An important part of hospital volunteers are Pink Ladies, who serve in the patient areas of hospitals, doing various duties as outlined by volunteer criteria.  Church members can always be counted on to do whatever they can to help out their communities in times of troubles.  And what on earth would we do in times of destruction: fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, if it weren’t for the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and many other groups who wouldn’t be able to fulfill their duties without dedicated volunteers.

If you prefer not to help in a group, there are many ways to give the gift of yourself: reading to someone in a nursing home, running errands, cooking a meal for a family with a sick member, or simply calling an elderly friend to make sure they are o.k.  One can never know what that act of kindness may mean to someone.  Anyone with time to spare should give volunteering a try.

To quote Muhammad Ali: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

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NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

This week, April 19-25, is National Volunteer Week.

National Volunteer Week is a time to thank one of our nation’s most valuable assets — volunteers — and call the public’s attention to all that they do to improve our communities.

Sponsored nationally by the Points of Light Institute, National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard M. Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Every president since has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week. The theme, “celebrating people in action,” truly captures the meaning behind this signature week — honoring the individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities.

What would small communities do without volunteers?  Persons who work on city councils, hospital boards, and many other types of community boards receive no pay, but do it because they want to serve.  Many places of entertainment utilize volunteers, such as museums, theatres, art shows and others.  Most cities have annual festivals or celebrations and depend on volunteers for to ensure their success.

Young students volunteer on summer projects; rather than spending their time going swimming, to the mall, or other fun things, they are swinging a hammer, painting, or performing other duties such as helping repair homes for folks that otherwise can’t afford them.  Students also volunteer in many ways by collecting for worthwhile causes, or running a race for financial pledges to help on special projects.

Lately, there have been many fires in Texas and Oklahoma; news reports revealed that the only ones fighting part of these devastating fires were volunteer firemen and women.  In some cases, there was assistance from professional support teams.  However, most of the time, smaller communities rely on their volunteer firemen and first responders.

Hospital volunteers help their hospital meet budget by doing all types of clerical work at no charge.  They also hold fundraisers in order to buy needed equipment, thereby freeing up the hospital to make other purchases.  Church members are permanent volunteers, doing all they are able to do to help out their communities in times of troubles.  And what on earth would we do in times of destruction: fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, just to name a few, if it weren’t for the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and many other groups that depend on their volunteers to help them provide needed relief?

Whether doing a small thing, such as reading to someone in a nursing home, running errands, or cooking a meal for a family with a sick member, one can never know what that act of kindness means to others.  Anyone who can spare an hour or so any time should give volunteering a try.  The best reward a person can receive is knowing that they have given a part of themselves to make the world a better place.