We are currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. This initiative represents one of the great alliances for the improvement of health and safety in the workplace. It is founded on the principle that good business and trade cannot occur without excellent safety performance and the prevention of injuries and illnesses.

Over the next few days, you may be one of the many who attend NAOSH-associated conferences and symposiums across Mexico, the United States of America, and Canada. There, you will undoubtedly hear from respected health and safety professionals. We encourage you to take in as much as you can. Continuous improvement is the key to protecting ourselves and each other.

And while we give a big thumbs up to anyone who participates in NAOSH Week events, we challenge everyone to take the next step. Let’s apply what we learn and bring those advancements to our workplaces.

Everyone should make a pledge to identify one way, going forward from NAOSH Week, to improve safety performance in their workplace. So that by next year’s NAOSH Week, we will all be able to say that our Safety Culture is better and more robust than it was before.

Whatever you do, please do not use NAOSH Week as an opportunity to pat yourself on the back. The moment we stop adapting and evolving or Safety Culture is the moment the potential for incidents begin to gain ground on us. Stay self-critical throughout the discussions and sessions you attend. Don’t dismiss anything as something you already do very well. Listen intently and try to pick up new information that can further strengthen what you already have in place. Always be looking to exploit the resources at your disposal to elevate and enhance your Safety Culture.

While listening to the various keynotes, think on the beliefs, attitudes and practices that are founded at your workplace. Does your workforce exemplify that they want to go to work, do their job well and get home safe? Are they proactive regarding health and safety? Do they do what’s right, under the right circumstances, for the right reasons? We all have a part to play in ensuring these values are upheld to the highest standard.

Come out of NAOSH Week with a renewed spirit toward continuous improvement. Get excited about the prospects that are out there waiting for you to capitalize on.

Ensure that your training program is strong. Providing training is a simple, positive and effective way to stimulate improvement and growth in your workforce. Elevating your workforce’s understanding and expertise is a sure way to strengthen your Safety Culture.

Take the pledge with us, to dedicate ourselves to improving occupational health and safety so we can protect the well-being of everyone in the workplace. Let’s push our Safety Culture to a whole new level.