May 3-9, 2009 is the 13^th annual North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), a public awareness campaign designed to raise awareness among employers, employees and the general public about the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community.

NAOSH Week takes a community-based approach to health and safety education.  A joint venture between the United States, Canada and Mexico, NAOSH features a range of activities throughout the continent.  In the U.S., the federal Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is collaborating with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) to promote NAOSH, particularly among the transportation industry.  But employers and unions representing all industries are encouraged to participate, and the ASSE Web site provides guidance on how they can do so, listing specific ideas for workplaces, educational institutions and community leaders.  Additionally, a special NAOSH Web site offers the opportunity to order a range of promotional products based on this year’s theme Safety Means Always Coming Home.  Specific materials offered include a NAOSH Week poster, an event-planning checklist and a resource guide to help individuals and organizations plan their NAOSH Week celebrations.

One way organizations can demonstrate a commitment to safety and health is to take steps to ensure their workplaces are free of the hazards of alcohol and drug abuse through substance abuse prevention and intervention programs, commonly called drug-free workplace programs. NAOSH presents an opportune time to remind employees of their organization’s drug-free workplace policy and educate them on the importance of working drug free to their safety and health.  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Web site offers a variety of training and educational materials to assist in such efforts. Organizations that do not have a drug-free workplace policy can use the site’s Drug-Free Workplace Advisor Program Builder tool to create one.