Promoting Safety, Wellness, and Awareness in the Workplace: A Focus on May’s Key Initiatives

As we move into May, it’s an ideal time to reflect on a series of important safety and wellness awareness campaigns—some just wrapping up, and others just beginning. At Tangram Insurance Services, we are committed to helping our insureds stay proactive when it comes to creating safer, healthier, and more prepared workplaces. Whether it’s reducing risks on the road, addressing electrical hazards, supporting older employees, or prioritizing mental health, these campaigns serve as timely reminders to re-evaluate and strengthen your organization’s approach to safety and well-being.

Staying Focused: Distracted Driving Awareness Doesn’t End in April

While April officially marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the message extends far beyond the calendar. Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of preventable vehicle accidents—and in industries where employees operate vehicles or machinery, these risks can quickly turn into serious claims and injuries.

Encourage your workforce to commit to safer driving habits, including:

• Putting away mobile devices before the vehicle is in motion
• Avoiding eating or multitasking behind the wheel
• Planning routes ahead of time to minimize distractions
• Pulling over safely if a call or message requires immediate attention

For businesses with commercial fleets or employees driving on the job, this is also a great time to revisit internal safety policies, reinforce training around defensive driving, and explore the benefits of dash cameras, telematics, and GPS monitoring—tools that can promote awareness, accountability, and peace of mind.

Preventing Electrical Hazards: Observing National Electrical Safety Month

May is National Electrical Safety Month, a critical campaign to raise awareness around electrical hazards, particularly in high-risk environments like construction, manufacturing, and facilities maintenance.

Simple practices can have a big impact:

• Inspect cords, outlets, and tools regularly for damage or wear
• Follow lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures to ensure safety during maintenance
• Avoid overloading circuits and never use compromised equipment
• Report issues promptly, and make sure employees know the proper channels

Regardless of the work environment—whether it’s an office, a warehouse, or a job site—electrical safety is essential to minimizing the risk of fires, shocks, and downtime.

Celebrating Contributions: Older Americans Month

May also celebrates Older Americans Month, recognizing the value that older adults bring to the workplace. This is a great time to ensure your workplace fosters inclusion, supports safety, and makes accommodations that promote longevity and engagement.

Consider the following:

• Ergonomic adjustments to reduce strain and injury
• Clear walkways, proper lighting, and nonslip flooring to prevent falls
• Inclusive training methods that suit different learning styles and experience levels
• Mentorship opportunities that leverage the knowledge of seasoned employees

An age-diverse workforce is a strong one—and investing in the safety and wellness of older workers helps everyone succeed.

Supporting the Whole Employee: Mental Health Awareness Month

Finally, May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, reminding us that mental well-being is just as vital as physical safety. In today’s fast-paced work environments, employers must take an active role in promoting a culture where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to speak up.

Key strategies include:

• Promoting Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and wellness resources
• Encouraging breaks, manageable workloads, and work-life balance
• Fostering open communication and reducing stigma around mental health
• Training supervisors to recognize early signs of stress, burnout, or anxiety

Creating psychologically safe workplaces not only benefits employee health but also improves productivity, retention, and morale.

How Tangram Can Help

At Tangram Insurance Services, we understand that every organization is unique—and so are their safety and wellness needs. Whether you’re looking to host training on one of these topics, enhance your loss control programs, or provide additional support to your clients, our team is here to help.

We partner with a trusted network of vendors to provide virtual and on-site training, custom resources, and actionable guidance. From distracted driving and electrical safety to mental health and wellness initiatives, we’re ready to support your goals.

To learn more or explore how we can tailor a solution for your team, please reach out to Tangram Insurance Services today.

Let’s continue working together to build safer, healthier, and more resilient workplaces—this month and every month.