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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:  Amy Susan 573-751-1518
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 3, 2010

Labor Dept Offers FREE Workplace Safety Seminars to Missouri Employers
Dept. Partners with the Labor Mgt. Council of Greater KC to Kick Off Safety Awareness Month

Kansas City, Mo-- In an effort to raise awareness about Safety Awareness Month in June, the Missouri Labor Department is offering free workplace safety seminars to Missouri employers. Missouri businesses are working harder than ever; employers and workers have to do more with less.  While this means that individual productivity is up, 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 department’s workplace stress seminar will help employers learn techniques and programs that they can bring back with them, and train their supervisors and managers.  Then Missouri workplaces can incorporate stress management into their company’s safety programs in the future.

"Safety is critical for management because it keeps workers on the job and improves their quality of life. People assume that construction industries and other high hazard industries are the only ones with safety concerns, but that's not the case," said Bob Jacobi, Executive Director of the Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City. "Our members are always looking for ways to improve our workplace environments and the Department's training is a great way to accomplish that goal.”

“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. 

The following Kansas City employer safety partners attended today's free safety seminar: Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City, Mark One Electric Company, PBA Health, Zahner, McCownGordon Construction, and Strategic Workplace Solutions, Inc.  For more information about how to incorporate safety in your place of business, how to sign up for the other FREE seminars begin conducted throughout the state, or how to sign up as a safety partner, visit www.labor.mo.gov/SAFE.

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