NETS LAUNCHES ‘DRIVE SAFELY’ RIBBON AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF
NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK
Washington, D.C. - In support of the 2005 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week on May 1-7, sponsored by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) and its coalition of corporate and government partners have launched a national ribbon campaign to raise awareness about the leading cause of on-the-job deaths—motor vehicle crashes.
With one quarter of all workplace fatalities the result of a motor vehicle crash, these incidents are the leading cause of death on the job. Work-related traffic crashes do not just involve professional drivers, but are the leading cause of death for workers in clerical and professional specialty jobs, and the leading cause of occupational death for executives, sales workers, and technicians. They involve employees who drive company owned-vehicles, as well as those employees who use their personal vehicle for work-related purposes.
NETS is encouraging the nation’s employers to help spread a life-saving message by distributing “Drive Safely” awareness ribbons at their place of business during NAOSH week and during the 2005 Drive Safely Work Week campaign on October 3-7. This year’s campaign urges drivers when they get behind the wheel to “Be ready. Be set. Be focused.” Drive Safely Work Week campaign materials will be available to download at www.trafficsafety.org on June 1 st.
The NETS traffic safety awareness ribbons serve as silent reminders to those who have lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes and to remind all motorists to “Drive Safely” to prevent further roadway crashes. The ribbons are teal in color and are inscribed in black with a simple message to motorists: “Drive Safely.” They are available as car magnets and lapel pins.
Each year during NAOSH Week, ASSE and its partners—including NETS—work to educate the public about leading workplace safety and health issues. NETS will join ASSE at its national kick-off event for NAOSH Week on May 2 nd at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) headquarters in Washington, D.C. Both organizations are OSHA Alliance members, and provide employers with access to information and training resources, as well as share best practices and technical knowledge regarding workplace safety.
NETS is an employer-led, public/private partnership dedicated to improving the safety and health of employees, their families, and members of the communities in which they live and work, by reducing the number of traffic crashes that occur on and off the job. NETS provides employers of all sizes with effective programs, policies, best practices, and employer-led activities related to traffic safety, thereby helping organizations to reduce the cost of doing business. Information on NETS is available from the organization’s web site at www.trafficsafety.org
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