October Safety Observances to Celebrate This Spooky Season

It’s that spooky time of year again! So pick up your candy, practice your zombie impressions, and… cover your ears? Yup, not only is October Halloween month, but it is also home to some of the best safety observances – including National Protect Your Hearing Month. Following monthly safety observances can help you stay on top of all the workplace safety-relevant topics while keeping employee attitudes interested and engaged. Here’s our roundup of all the topics you won’t want to miss this October:

October 2025 Safety Observances

National Substance Abuse Prevention Month

Substance Abuse Prevention Month centers around tackling the worldwide issue of substance abuse. Established in 2011, it also focuses on celebrating those who have overcome substance abuse issues and remembering those who were unable to do so.

Find more general resources here

Addiction awareness is especially necessary in certain industries. According to a 2015 study, 14.3% of full-time construction workers reported addiction to alcohol or other substances. Learn more about industry-specific best practices here >>

Check out an interview on addressing substance abuse with ABC’s Greg Sizemore >>

National Protect Your Hearing Month

National Protect Your Hearing Month gives us an opportunity to revisit occupational hearing hazards. During this month, we are encouraged to review the safety measures in our own workplaces surrounding hearing protection.

According to the CDC, all industries have hearing risks.

Wearing the correct PPE can make a great impact on limiting the risk of hearing damage. If you would like to become an expert on the subject, check out a sample of our training on PPE and Hearing Conservation.

National Fire Protection Week

October 5-11, 2025

National Fire Protection Week surrounds the topics involved in all things fire safety related. It is celebrated each year on the week of October 9th to commemorate the Chicago fire of 1871, and is the perfect opportunity to review workplace fire hazards and safety procedures.

Make sure your employees are fully trained in fire prevention.

Some of the most important facets of fire safety include maintaining up-to-date fire protection in the workplace. Here’s an overview of what OSHA requires.

Halloween

October 31, 2025

And finally, what we’ve all been waiting for… Halloween! Here at KPA, we love to celebrate the holiday but also recognize the importance of practicing supernatural safety during these times. While it’s not quite an OSHA requirement, in our experience, it has proven most effective to wear a string of garlic around your neck to keep the vampires away. We also recommend never directly inviting a stranger into your house, and if all else fails, a salt circle will usually do the trick.

Here’s how to banish the 5 Monsters in Your Safety Closet >

Build a stronger safety culture month by month. The 2025 Safety Observances Guide is designed to be your comprehensive companion for planning and executing meaningful safety initiatives throughout the year.

Download eBook >

Safety Meeting Topics for October

Keep your safety meetings, toolbox talks, or safety trainings relevant to your workforce’s needs in October. Here are some suggestions for topics to cover. Check out some of the safety meeting outline topics we offer:

Preventing Hearing Loss
Why hearing loss can be dangerous on the job and what steps you can take to prevent this injury.

Fire Prevention Week
Fire Prevention Week is observed every year to remind people of the importance of fire prevention.

Substance Abuse
Reasons not to get involved with substance abuse, the different levels of substance abuse, and resources for getting help.

Online Training Topics for October

Digging through KPA’s comprehensive training catalog, here are some topics that reinforce October’s safety observances.

Construction Safety: Noise and Hearing Protection

This training gives an overview of noise and different types of hearing protection to use on a construction site. It also includes the effects of hazardous noise, employer controls, and how to properly wear hearing protection.

Fire Safety Customizable Training

Fire poses a serious threat to employees and resulting injuries can be significant. In this lesson, understand the chemical composition of fire, the elements required for fire to exist, classifications of fire and fire extinguishers, safe work practices, and the importance of emergency preparedness and evacuation planning.

Substance Abuse

In any high-risk industry, substance abuse and work do not mix. KPA’s Substance Abuse training highlights the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain and imparts the importance of speaking up if you know someone who is struggling with substance abuse.

Explore the full training catalog >>

If you haven’t already, now’s the time to start implementing safety observances into your safety plans.

This is the perfect opportunity to level up your knowledge and take action to keep yourself and those around you safe. When we all prioritize safety, we create a culture that benefits everyone. So let’s make the most of this month and take advantage of the amazing resources available to us!

Need help? Check out the Compliance Calendar as a great way to keep on top of all your important dates >