Ep. 612 2026 National Safety Month: Protecting People, Preventing Risks
May is National Safety Month and its a good reminder that workplace injuries and fatalities can often be prevented. Rancho Mesa Client Coordinator Jadyn Brandt and Client Technology Specialist, Brenda Colby sit down to discuss why this initiative is important today, and what recent statistics reveal about preventable workplace injuries.
Show Notes: Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter
Host: Megan Lockhart
Guest: Brenda Colby
Editor: Megan Lockhart
Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “Breaking News Intro” by nem0production
© Copyright 2026. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Transcript
Megan Lockhart: You’re listening to Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ podcast, where each week we break down complex insurance and safety topics to help your business thrive. I’m your host, Megan Lockhart, and I’m joined by Brenda Colby, Client Technology Specialist with Rancho Mesa, and we’re going to talk about National Safety Week.
So Brenda, welcome to the show.
Brenda Colby: Thanks Megan, happy to be here.
ML: We’re happy to have you. So, National Safety Month has been recognized by the National Safety Council (or NSC) since 1996. Can you tell us why is this initiative still so critical today, and what do recent statistics reveal about preventable workplace injuries?
BC: Yeah, sure. So well National Safety Month is a good reminder that workplace injuries and fatalities can often be prevented. And in 2024, preventable injuries were the third leading cause of death in the United States, with falls and motor vehicle accidents showing some of the highest concentrations among the most frequent and deadly incidents. And the free safety resources available through the NSC during the month of June, can be used to address and prevent these types of incidents.
ML: Yeah, we’ve recorded podcasts in the past about the severity and prevalence of those types of accidents you mentioned, so I’m sure many business owners are aware of the risks they pose to employees.
So, NSC has selected a different safety topic for each week in the month of June. Will you tell us what they are and what supplementary resources are available through Rancho Mesa?
BC: Yeah, absolutely. So, the theme for week one is Moving Safety Forward, and it’s all about improving safety culture using forward-thinking strategies and tools. Through the SafetyOne™ platform, Rancho Mesa provides our clients with the necessary resources to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to addressing jobsite risk, such as conducting job site inspections and observations through our mobile app. And this allows the employee to identify potential safety risks before they become a problem.
Now week 2 is about Staying Safe on the Roads and we know a strong fleet safety program is one of the best ways to protect employees from motor vehicle accidents. We have a library of over 52 driver-specific toolbox talks can be used for weekly driver training. And employees can also use a daily vehicle inspection form via the mobile app, or a QR Code to ensure the vehicle is safe to drive before they get on the road.
Now, the focus of Week 3 is Promoting Holistic Worker Health. And this is a time to focus on mental and emotional health along with safe jobsite practices. Mental health resources are available through the RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal, including Q&As and ways to support employees’ mental health.
And, resources for Week 4 will be aimed at Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls. We have toolbox talks and online training courses addressing slips, trips and falls are available through the SafetyOne™ platform. And ensuring your employees are regularly trained on identifying potential hazards and how to avoid them is key to maintaining a safe working environment.
ML: Okay that’s great, and it sounds like the National Safety Month topics and resources align with a lot of what we’re already doing for our clients. And there are free resources available through the NSC website too, right?
BC: Yeah that’s right.
In addition to the resources offered by Rancho Mesa, the NSC offers free safety tools and resources including:
Campaign Poster & Participant Guides,
Weekly Fact Sheets & 5-Minute Safety Talks,
And weekly Curated Videos, Articles and Research, and more
ML: Okay that’s great! Well Brenda, if listeners have questions about accessing our SafetyOne or HR portal resources that can be used during National Safety Month, how can they get in contact with you?
BC: As always, clients can contact me at bcolby@ranchomesa.com or they can call me directly at (619) 486-6562.
ML: Awesome. Okay, well Brenda, thank you for joining me in StudioOne.
BC: Thanks for having me.
ML: Thanks for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne. If you enjoyed what you heard, please share this episode and subscribe. For more insights like this, visit us at ranchomesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.