June 2010

Labor Department Kicks Off Safety Awareness Month with Free Workplace Seminars for Missouri Employers

June is National Safety Awareness Month. In an effort to raise awareness about safety at work, the Missouri Labor Department kicked off a safety awareness campaign by offering free workplace safety seminars to Missouri employers. Workplace trends show that individual productivity is up. Therefore, the burden of these additional tasks has increased the risk of an often unseen workplace hazard: stress.

“We are seeing an increase in stress-related job separation issues,” says Department Director Larry Rebman. “We want Missouri employers to understand the Labor Department is a resource at their disposal.”

The Labor Department wants employers and their workers to know that this “resource” comes in the form of the Department’s workplace stress seminar, which is provided at no cost. The seminar helps employers learn techniques and programs that they can apply on the job, and train their supervisors and managers. Then hopefully, Missouri workplaces will incorporate stress management into their company’s safety programs in the future.

“All industries and employers need to be constantly striving for improvement in safety, even the employers with the best safety records. We all need to stay ahead of workplace safety issues,” emphasized Rebman.

The seminars will cover stress management, as well as preventing workplace harassment, and combating negativity in the workplace. This seminar is part of the Labor Department’s effort to get employers to rethink what workplace safety means. An overwhelming number of Missourians work in office settings. This type of work setting may not be considered high-hazard, however, it can be equally dangerous if employers and employees do not incorporate ways to reduce stress and feel comfortable in their daily routine.

Here's how you can get involved:

• Register as a partner online or call 573-751-1469
• See businesses who have already registered as partners
• See our tips on how to improve safety in your workplace
• Get information about how to enroll in no-cost workplace safety training and other    workplace training opportunities.
• Attend Department FREE safety seminars throughout the state highlighting the importance of stress management and preventing harassment in the workplace

E-mail amy.susan@labor.mo.gov or call 573-751-1469 to reserve a spot!

For more information about how to incorporate safety in your place of business, how to sign up for the other FREE seminars being conducted throughout the state, or how to sign up as a safety partner, visit www.labor.mo.gov/SAFE.