Fork it Over: Valentine’s Day Safety

For many, an evening out is the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. A date night might involve dinner, a glass of wine or a favorite cocktail. Some of your employees likely will request the day off. Others might take time off for the observation of President’s Day to enjoy a three-day weekend.

Alcohol-impaired driving crashes tend to spike on weekends and long weekends. Crashes, whether they occur on or off the job, can impact productivity and result in higher insurance premiums. In fact, 85% of medically consulted injuries suffered by U.S. workers in 2020 occurred off the job, according to research from the National Safety Council.

Encourage your coworkers to have fun and be safe. Start with these reminders:

• Print and display this safety poster: Don’t Drive Impaired
• Share our February Traffic Tabloid piece: Road Safety is Dear to My Heart – So are You!
• Have some fun with driving courses:Get started on our Training Center page here
• Watch during a team meeting or share this video on your intranet: Impairment also can be caused by medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs

This is the time of year when inclement weather can make travel treacherous, too, particularly if the roads are covered with freezing rain or light snow, a phenomenon not all that unusual in certain parts of Texas. One way to prepare for sloppy conditions: Play this one-minute video.

Nobody wants to end an evening out in the emergency room. Safety is personal. Safety affects everyone. Your mission is to keep people safe at work, and what happens at work affects every other aspect of life. The trickle-down effect makes all the difference.