Durbin: Senate Recognizes Importance of Occupational Health and Safety

Press Release

Durbin: Senate Recognizes Importance of Occupational Health and Safety

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the passage of his legislation commending both the occupational safety and health practitioners and the businesses that foster a strong safety culture. The legislation also declares the week of May 4 - May 10, 2008 as "North American Occupational Safety and Health Week" and May 7, 2008 as "Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Day".

"Every year more than 4.4 million people are injured on the job," said Durbin. "This week we commend the industries, organizations, community leaders, employers and employees who recognize that ‘safety is good business' by promoting a strong safety culture and incorporating health and safety into their business strategies."

It is imperative that employers, employees and the general public are aware of the importance of preventing illness and injury in the workplace - wherever that workplace may be such as on the road, in the air, the store, the classroom, the plant or the office. Transportation crashes continue to be the number one cause of on-the-job deaths. In 2005 alone, there were 6,159,000 transportation accidents resulting in 43,433 deaths, 2,700,000 injuries and an estimated $230.6 billion in tangible costs.

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