Related topics: •  Job Stress

Each year when Labor Day rolls around, most people turn to the really important matters at hand: Where did the summer go? And will Monday's barbecue be my last till next June? Long gone are thoughts about the true meaning of this day to honor the nation's workers.

If you're like most people, you spend at least one-third of your life at work. Your office, factory, or retail store may very well be a safe and cozy place. But then again, you might spend so much time at work that you're used to the tangle of computer wires under your rug, or the buckets of paint thinner in the back room.

With the nation's eyes upon its workers, it's a good time for both employers and employees to evaluate the safety of their workplaces. Each year, more than 5 million Americans working in private industry became ill or are injured on the job, and more than 5,700 are killed, federal statistics show.

"All that's required for an employer and employee to make a safety and health assessment is some common sense and an understanding of how you fit into your workplace," says Dr. Melissa Bean, an osteopathic physician and associate medical director for National Healthcare Resources, Inc. of Creve Coeur, Missouri. "Small changes can result in significant improvements. Something as simple as repositioning your computer monitor or adjusting your chair can prevent ergonomic problems from developing, and [workers can] avoid painful and costly medical conditions."

The key, says Bean, is that your solutions must be "specific and doable."

To that end, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) in Arlington Heights, Illinois, has devised its own Labor Day Checklist. This collection of articles provides tips for controlling a number of workplace health concerns, including cancer, infectious diseases, and obesity. Its "Tips to a Safe and Healthy Workplace" checklist gives both employers and employees in smaller organizations a thumbnail sketch of how they're doing on the safety front. It asks people to rate their work environments on basic elements like freedom from cigarette smoke, use of protective equipment, and availability of programs for substance abuse and emotional problems.

ACOEM, an international medical society of 5,000 occupational and environmental medicine physicians, aims toward practical, affordable solutions to prevent illness and injury.

For employers, the key to reducing deaths and injuries can be as simple as making sure they follow federal guidelines for safety in the workplace. They can go the extra mile by holding annual employee health fairs sponsored by a local hospital and the American Cancer Society or Red Cross. Employers may even want to sponsor after-work exercise and nutrition classes.

But employees aren't off the hook in this equation: They're encouraged to attend the safety classes offered by their businesses, to always use recommended protective equipment and -- perhaps most difficult -- to live a lifestyle that's generally conducive to good health. Poor sleep habits, overindulgence in alcohol or food, drug abuse, and lack of exercise can all contribute to lost productivity and accidents.

The US Department of Labor lists highway accidents, homicides, falls, and being struck by an object as the leading causes of fatal occupational injuries. The highest fatality rates occurred in the fishing, logging, aircraft, and iron and steel industries.

Many organizations and government services choose to focus more on the hazards of a three-day weekend such as Labor Day rather than the ongoing dangers of the workplace. Here's their advice: drive safely, use your seat belts, drink alcohol responsibly, and don't let your burgers sit too long in the sun. And by all means have that last barbecue.

Further Resources

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

847/818-1800, ext. 380

http://www.acoem.org

ACOEM Labor Day Checklist:

http://www.acoem.org/LaborDayChecklist.aspx

References

First published August 30, 2000
Last updated August 15, 2007
Copyright © 2000 Consumer Health Interactive

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