North Dakota Work Site Safety Program Manual -- Page 7

Sample Press Release

Insert your company name and contact information into italicized areas. Send to your local newspaper, television and radio stations.

For Immediate Release: Insert date

Contact: Work Site Safety Program Coordinator
             Address
             Telephone number

City; Date ~ Traffic crashes are the leading cause of employee death in the work place. In 2004, North Dakota lost one hundred individuals in traffic crashes. Startling, but true, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all Americans ages 15 to 34, and in North Dakota, a majority of the fatalities are unbuckled males. This is why (Company name) requires all employees to wear their safety belts and to never drive distracted or impaired.

As a participant in the North Dakota Work Site Safety (NDWSS) Program, (Company name) joins businesses statewide in a proactive effort to increase safety belt usage and eliminate distracted and impaired driving. North Dakota continues to rank among the lowest in the nation for safety belt usage and among the highest in percentage of alcohol-related fatalities.

The consequences of distracted and impaired driving and the lack of safety belt usage pose both economic and emotional burdens. When a worker is injured on-the-job in a highway crash, it costs the employer an average of $43,000.00 in medical care, legal expense, property damage and lost productivity. Crash injuries also drive up the cost of benefits such as private health and disability insurance and Social Security. Participating in the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program saves money, and most importantly, lives.

Program information: The North Dakota Work Site Safety program, developed by the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Drivers License and Traffic Safety Division, offers information on implementing work site safety awareness campaigns, as well as sample safety belt, distracted and impaired driving policies. For a free program manual or more information, contact the program coordinators via telephone, 701-225-4677, 701-328-2601, or visit us online at www.ndworksite.org.

SAMPLE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSAs)

Use the following as public service announcements. Send to local radio/television stations.

30 Seconds:
"Program Participation Announcement"

This is (Name) with (Company name), in (City, State), and I am proud to announce our participation in the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program. Did you know that traffic crashes are the number one cause of employee death in the work place? Encouraging your employees to drive safely saves money, and most importantly, lives. Join us and implement a work site safety program in your business, today! This message brought to you by the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program and this station.

30 Seconds:
"Policies"

In 2004, over 100 people died in traffic crashes on North Dakota roadways, many of them unbuckled, and nearly one half of the crashes were alcohol-related. That is why (Company name) has implemented safety belt, distracted driving and impaired driving policies. (Company name) asks the entire community to lead by example, wear a safety belt and never drive distracted or impaired. Together, we can save lives! This message brought to you by the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program and this station.

15 Seconds:
"Program Participation"

Whether you are driving for work, or just to and from work, traffic safety should be a priority for everyone. This is (Name) with (Company name), in (City, State), and we are proud participants in the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program. Sign up today and keep your employees and their families safe! This message brought to you by the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program and this station.

15 Seconds:
"Impaired Driving"

Impaired driving can lead to lost driving privileges, jeopardize your employment, raise insurance costs and cause injury or death. This is (Name) with (Company name), in (City, State), encouraging everyone to wear a safety belt and never drive distracted or impaired. This message brought to you by the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program and this station.

15 Seconds:
"Safety Belt Usage"

In fatal crashes, 75 percent of occupants totally ejected are killed. Help save lives by joining the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program and implement a mandatory safety belt use policy. This is (Name) with (Company name) encouraging everyone to always wear a safety belt. This message brought to you by the North Dakota Work Site Safety Program and this station.

SAMPLE DAILY E-MAIL MESSAGES

Give yourself a chance. Wear your safety belt. Never drive distracted or impaired!

If not for yourself, do it for them. Wear your safety belt. Never drive distracted or impaired!

Life is full of choices, make good ones. Wear your safety belt. Never drive distracted or impaired!

Set a good example. Wear your safety belt. Never drive distracted or impaired!

It can happen to you. Wear your safety belt. Never drive distracted or impaired!