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| Workplace Safety and Health |
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Off-The-Job Safety
It's easy to think of home as a safe haven. Yet nine of 10 fatalities and more than two-thirds of disabling injuries to workers occur off the job, according to the U.S. National Safety Council.
Worldwide, injuries account for more than 5 million deaths globally, says the World Health Organization. Those figures are dwarfed, WHO says, by the number of people who survive injuries only to suffer life-long disability or health problems.
Without the safety meetings and posters that keep safety in mind at work, employees at home might not be aware of common dangers. That's why John Deere unit safety meetings often include off-the-job safety messages, such as the proper use of ladders, how to handle flammable liquids, or proper welding procedures.
Safety tips may be tied to holidays—how to hang Christmas lights and decorations safely, for instance—or seasonal weather threats, like where to seek shelter during a tornado. Employees also are encouraged to borrow equipment such as safety glasses and hearing protection to use at home whenever they're doing something that might put them at a safety risk.
In addition, many units host safety and health fairs, stressing issues ranging from hunting safety to cholesterol screening and awareness.
Whether they occur on or off the job, injuries cost employers. The National Safety Council estimates that off-the-job injuries and fatalities cost U.S. businesses almost $224 billion annually in lost productivity.
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