Join the Safety Break for Oregon on May 14

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has announced that businesses throughout the state will recognize the importance of workplace safety during the first "Safety Break for Oregon" on Wednesday May 14, 2003.

Events will focus on recognizing the value of safety in the workplace, honor safety achievements and demonstrate a commitment to keeping workplaces safe. Businesses throughout the state will decide what events may work best for them. Ideas for marking the 'Safety Break for Oregon' include talking with co-workers about safety during work breaks, sponsoring a lunch to honor safety achievements, hosting family day picnics and working with local schools to teach students about workplace safety.

The 'Safety Break for Oregon' has been designed by safety professionals from business organizations and organized labor that advise Oregon OSHA on policy issues, including representatives from the construction industry, forest products industry, high technology manufacturers, organized labor, public sector services and skilled trades.

An "Event Outreach Kit" is available on the Oregon OSHA Web site, www.orosha.org, to help employers and workers think about ways they may host an event. The kit is also full of ideas to help employers, workers and community members get started with planning an event, and mobilize other community members to raise awareness about the importance of workplace safety.

A coordinated approached to safety and health in the workplace by business, labor and government has enabled Oregon to enjoy twelve consecutive years of declining workplace injury and illness rates, which translates into a direct savings of 7.5 billion dollars to Oregon employers in workers' compensation costs during those twelve years.

For more information about the Safety Break for Oregon, go to the Oregon OSHA Web site, www.orosha.org, or call (503) 947-7428.