[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 547 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 547

Designating the week of May 4 through May 10, 2008, as ``North American 
       Occupational Safety and Health Week'' and May 7, 2008, as 
         ``Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 1, 2008

   Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Obama) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the week of May 4 through May 10, 2008, as ``North American 
       Occupational Safety and Health Week'' and May 7, 2008, as 
         ``Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Day''.

Whereas every year more than 5,700 people die from job-related injuries and 
        4,400,000 more incur occupational injuries and illnesses in the United 
        States;
Whereas transportation crashes continue to be the number 1 cause of on-the-job 
        deaths, and overall, in 2005, there were 6,159,000 transportation 
        accidents resulting in 43,433 deaths, 2,700,000 injuries, and an 
        estimated $230,600,000,000 in tangible costs;
Whereas businesses spend $170,000,000,000 a year on costs associated with 
        occupational injuries and illnesses;
Whereas 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 classroom, the store, the plant, or the office;
Whereas each year the families, friends, and co-workers of victims of on-the-job 
        accidents suffer intangible losses and grief, especially when proper 
        safety measures could have prevented worker injury or death;
Whereas everyday millions of people go to and return home from work safely due, 
        in part, to the efforts of occupational safety, health, and 
        environmental practitioners who work day in and day out identifying 
        hazards and implementing safety and health advances across industries 
        and workplaces, aimed at eliminating workplace fatalities, injuries, and 
        illnesses;
Whereas our society has long recognized that a safe and healthy workplace 
        positively impacts employee morale, health, and productivity;
Whereas the purpose of the North American Occupational Safety and Health Week 
        (NAOSH) is to raise awareness among employees, employers, and the 
        general public of the benefits of investing in occupational safety and 
        health;
Whereas the more than 32,000 members of the American Society of Safety 
        Engineers, along with the more than 150,000 combined members of the 
        American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, the American Heart 
        Association, and the National Association of Homebuilders, will be 
        mobilizing to encourage safe practices, and increase the quality of life 
        for employees and employers;
Whereas the theme of NAOSH Week 2008 is ``safety is good business'', 
        highlighting that businesses operate more efficiently and are more 
        respected when they use effective safety and health management systems; 
        and
Whereas, on May 7, 2008, occupational safety and health professionals will be 
        recognized during the 3rd annual Occupational Safety and Health 
        Professionals Day for the work they do to keep people safe at work: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of May 4 through 10, 2008, as 
        ``North American Occupational Safety and Health Week'';
            (2) designates May 7, 2008, as ``Occupational Safety and 
        Health Professionals Day'';
            (3) commends occupational safety, health, and environmental 
        practitioners for their ongoing commitment to protecting 
        people, property, and the environment;
            (4) commends those businesses that encourage a strong 
        safety culture and incorporate occupational safety and health 
        into their business strategies;
            (5) encourages all industries, organizations, community 
        leaders, employers, and employees to join with the American 
        Society of Safety Engineers to support activities aimed at 
        increasing awareness of the importance of preventing illness, 
        injury, and death in the workplace, during the week of May 4 
        through May 10, 2008, and throughout the year; and
            (6) urges all people of the United States to continue to 
        act responsibly and to be safe at work so that the millions of 
        people who go to work return home safely every day to their 
        families and friends.
                                 <all>