April Safety Observances: Tips and Resources for a Safe Month

Every day, at least 8 people are killed in an accident caused by distracted driving; that’s almost 3,000 deaths per year. To bring awareness to the dangers of being preoccupied at the wheel, April is designated as Distracted Driver Awareness month. While this observance is important in every workplace, it is especially relevant in spaces such as car dealerships and trucking companies.

Read up on some safe driving tips for dealers.

If you want an even more in-depth review of safe driving practices, try this KPA Distracted  Driving training.

The negative impacts of prolonged stress are extremely underestimated, especially in professional spaces. Not only can stress impact a person’s emotional health, but it can also have physical impacts, like increased blood pressure which puts you at higher risk for heart attacks or strokes. This month, we recommend checking in on those around you, and just try to be a little kinder to your coworkers. You never know what somebody is going through, and a warmth might be exactly what your cranky coworker Kyle needs.

Find resources for crisis and immediate response.

Sometimes, an immediate hotline doesn’t feel like it will give us the mental help we need. This is why warmlines can be so important; they allow us to speak with someone anonymously about our mental health without the urgency of a crisis line.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, where we are encouraged to bring our attention to the dangers of alcohol abuse. It also pairs effectively with stress awareness month, as studies show that stress can be a main cause of alcoholism. We recommend looking into the risks associated with alcoholism, as well as checking in with coworkers and family members to make sure they feel supported.

Substance abuse is especially common in certain industries. The construction industry reports the second highest amount of substance abuse issues, with one study finding 16.5% of full-time construction workers drinking heavily in the previous month. Read our article about preventing substance abuse in construction.

And find employee resources from the DHS.

Another grim yet very important April Observance, Workplace Violence Awareness Month, raises awareness of its severity. We recommend using this month to set in place a workplace violence protocol, as well looking into preventative measures that could be implemented into your community. Workplace violence can be scary as well as serious. Acting sooner rather than later can help prevent smaller issues from ever reaching this point.

Learn the ins and outs of workplace violence.

KPA also offers a workplace violence training course, which aims to educate employees on how to prevent workplace violence and how to respond during an active shooting.

Did you know that April Fools Day has been celebrated for over 1,000 years? It was first observed by an English Lord who wanted to play a trick on his wife and quickly spread throughout the country and eventually the world. Now, it is officially celebrated in 72 countries, with 13 of those countries opting to take the day off to pay respect to the jokesters of the world.

Also, all of that is bogus I just made it up. Happy April Fools Day!

National Work Zone Awareness Week brings our attention to the importance of following safety protocol in work zones. In 2021, almost 1,000 work zone fatalities were recorded. This observance allows us to review work zone expectations and implement plans to avoid as many work zone incidents as possible.

Find more information on National Work Zone Awareness Week.

Every year, the world comes together on April 22 to celebrate the planet that over 8 billion of us call home. Officially celebrated for the first time in 1970, Earth Day gives us a chance to show thanks for our beautiful, fragile planet, as well as reflect on the ways we can help protect it from harm. This year’s theme is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, aims to help you make smart energy choices for your family and demand rapid renewable energy deployment from your governments, industries, and businesses.

KPA offers sustainability software to align your organization’s goals with planet-safe practices.

We celebrate worker’s memorial day each year to hold remembrance for those lost due to workplace incidents. This day allows us to mourn those who have been lost in their industries and serves as a reminder of why following protocol is so important.

Take a look at the Worker’s Memorial Wall.