Gap has developed between worker and home safety, Hersman says

Atlanta – An emphasis on workplace safety must carry over into people’s homes and communities.

That was the message from National Safety Council President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman, speaking during a media briefing at the NSC Congress & Expo.

Hersman cited statistics from the 2015 edition of the NSC chart book “Injury Facts” showing that unintentional injury-related deaths overtook strokes as the fourth-leading cause of death in the nation. Unintentional injury-related deaths remained the No. 1 cause of death for people 1-42 years old.

The majority of unintentional deaths and injuries took place at home rather than the workplace. “That’s a great testament to all of the people that are here today because they have worked really hard to drive down that workplace fatality rate,” Hersman said.

Yet more needs to be done to help transfer safe workplace behaviors into safe home behaviors, Hersman said.