1. Insights

Safe & Sound Week: A Time To Reevaluate Workplace Safety Practices

Key Takeaways

1. Opportunity to move reassess 
Safe & Sound Week is an opportunity for employers to move beyond recognition and reassess whether their workplace safety practices are keeping pace with day-to-day operations.

2. Focus safety reviews on training, communication and engagement 
Effective safety reviews should focus on job-specific training, clear expectations, worker participation and supervisor support for employees who raise concerns.

3. Temporary workers require equal attention
Temporary and contract workers need the same clear safety communication, PPE guidance and inclusion in safety conversations as full-time employees.

4. Partner with a staffing agency
Staffing partners can help strengthen safety by clarifying training requirements, supporting pre-assignment awareness and maintaining open communication about safety concerns.

 
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Each August, OSHA’s Safe & Sound Week gives employers an opportunity to recognize their commitment to workplace safety and health. The nationwide event encourages organizations to reflect on the steps they have taken to keep workers safe, identify opportunities for improvement and strengthen the programs that help prevent incidents before they happen.
 
For employers, this week should be more than a moment of recognition. It is a practical time to ask whether your current safety practices are keeping pace with the realities of your operation. Safety programs can become routine over time. Training may be completed, signage may be posted and policies may be documented, but that does not always mean workers are consistently prepared, protected or empowered to speak up.
 
This annual observance is a reminder to take a fresh look at how work is being performed and determine where stronger communication, clearer expectations or better support may be needed to ensure worker safety. 
On an airport runway, two workers stand in front of a small truck and review information on a clipboard. The man on the left wears a yellow safety vest, long-sleeve blue shirt, grey pants and white shoes. The woman on the right wears a yellow safety jacket, grey pants and white shoes.

Start by Asking the Right Safety Questions

A meaningful safety review starts with honest questions. 
• Are workers receiving training that reflects the specific tasks, tools, equipment and hazards they encounter each day? 
• Are safety expectations communicated clearly before work begins and reinforced throughout the assignment? 
• Are workers included in safety meetings, toolbox talks, hazard reporting and incident follow-up? 
• Do supervisors know how to support workers who raise concerns?

These questions are especially important in environments that rely on a blended workforce. Temporary and contract workers may be new to your facility, unfamiliar with site-specific procedures or moving quickly into roles where productivity demands are high. Even experienced workers need clear guidance on the hazards, processes and expectations unique to your workplace.

Reviewing your safety practices can help uncover gaps that may not be obvious during day-to-day operations. A review might reveal that onboarding needs to be more job-specific, that personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are not being communicated consistently or that temporary workers are not always included in the same safety conversations as full-time employees. Identifying those gaps is a sign that your organization is committed to continuous improvement.

How Staffing Partners Can Help Strengthen Safety

When temporary or contract labor is part of your workforce, safety is a shared responsibility. OSHA’s Temporary Worker Initiative emphasizes the importance of collaboration between staffing agencies and host employers so workers receive the resources needed to perform their jobs safely. Safe & Sound Week is an ideal time to bring your staffing partner into that conversation and review approaches to safety training and how incidents are communicated. 

A strong staffing partner can clarify roles, work environments, PPE and training requirements before assignments begin, then maintain open communication to help identify concerns early. At Aerotek, we reinforce that support with pre-assignment safety awareness training, communication between representatives and client supervisors and a safety hotline contractors can use when they have a safety concern or question.

Turn Safe & Sound Week Into Action

Employers do not need to overhaul their entire safety program in seven days to make Safe & Sound Week meaningful. Start with focused, achievable actions like:
• Reviewing one high-risk job or work area. 
• Refreshing job-specific training materials.
• Confirming PPE expectations for temporary workers. 

Small steps can create momentum. They also send an important message that safety is not limited to compliance or annual training. It is an ongoing commitment that depends on leadership, worker participation and a willingness to find and fix hazards before injuries occur.

Safe & Sound Week is a reminder that safer workplaces are built through consistent action. Use the week to look closely at your safety practices, strengthen the partnership between your organization and your staffing provider and commit to protecting every worker who contributes to your success.

OSHA’s Safe & Sound Week is held from August 10–16, 2026. Learn how to start or strengthen a health and safety program by exploring Safe & Sound Week here.

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