Every August, OSHA Holds Safe and Sound Week. The nationwide campaign recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs. It also offers information and ideas on how to keep the workforce safe. OSHA provides employers and workers with many helpful resources and encourages participation in a series of challenges.

Get involved

“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of worker deaths and reported injuries in the United States has decreased by more than 60 percent in the past four decades since the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act was passed. However, every year, more than 5,000 workers are killed on the job (a rate of 14 per day), and more than 3.6 million suffer a serious job-related injury or illness,” OSHA’s Safe and Sound website states.

These incidents affect victims, their families and their employers. Besides creating a safer and healthier job site, implementation of safety and health programs can reduce costs and enhance competitiveness. This is due to the effect programs have on preventing workplace injuries and illnesses; improving compliance with laws and regulations; lowering costs, including reductions in workers’ compensation premiums; engaging workers; enhancing social responsibility goals; and increasing productivity and amplifying overall business operations.

This year’s event, running from Aug. 11–17, 2025, is endorsed by the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association Inc., American Society of Safety Professionals, National Safety Council and Center for Construction Research and Training. The campaign’s goal is for everyone to be in the safety mindset all year. In conjunction with the event, OSHA provides resources, references and examples of safety program development. The agency also encourages stakeholders to embrace safety and health with a series of challenges.

Challenges this year

OSHA provides safety program development resources, including a Safe and Sound proclamation toolkit, a document on recognition programs, a workplace safety and health quiz, a trifold brochure and a webinar on effective programs. Challenges presented have three core elements: management leadership, worker participation, and find and fix hazards.

There are five management leadership challenges. The Take 3 in 30 Challenge consists of taking three safety actions each day for 30 days and sharing progress. OSHA offers suggested actions, or employers can come up with their own. The Lead With Safety Challenge calls for management to find and address one safety hazard.

The Champion Safety Challenge encourages leaders to recognize workers’ safety actions. This shows how important worker safety is on work sites.

The Hazard Huddle Challenge calls on management and leadership to have open dialog with workers to discuss hazards they may encounter. The information gathered can be used to perform a job hazard analysis, reduce risks and make work sites safer.

When emergency scenarios occur, workers must know when to evacuate or stay and wait for further guidance. During these situations, preparation and communication are critical. The Crisis Communication Challenge helps evaluate and enhance crisis communication skills.

Worker participation challenges include Speak Up for Safety, Safety is Our Right and Response-Ready Workplace.

Find and Fix Hazards challenges include Check on Safety, Eyes on Safety, Halt a Hazard and Safety Shuffle.

OSHA offers coins for participating in and completing Safe and Sound challenges. There is also an online clickable interactive map that indicates which other organizations are participating in a particular activity. Participants can share their progress or experiences on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtWork.

OSHA encourages small start-ups, established businesses or those looking to bolster existing safety and health programs to participate in Safe and Sound activities and dive into the corresponding resources.

OSHA offers its step-by-step guide to safety and health programs. These tools include core elements, case studies, best practices, worksheets and more. OSHA has a set of recommended practices providing a step-by-step guide to implementing a safety and health program. These resources provide opportunities to protect workers and enhance the electrical industry.

occupational safety and health administration