When you ask the average person what comes to mind when they think of workplace safety, you’ll often hear answers like hard hats, machine guards, and hazard signs. But what about grief, stress, or fatigue awareness? These feelings, too, affect our ability to work safely—and can’t be ignored. As we wrap up National Safety Month, we turn to a vital but often overlooked aspect of workplace safety: wellbeing.

Wellness in the Workplace

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing defines wellbeing as “building safe workplaces that are also engines for health and wellness—places that show workers they matter, that their work matters, and that they have the support necessary to be safe and flourish.”

Wellbeing goes beyond physical safety. It means supporting the whole person—mentally, emotionally, socially, and financially. Watch the National Safety Council’s Workplace Wellbeing: Prioritizing Safety for the Whole Worker video.

How Wellbeing Impacts Safety

When workers feel valued, supported, and equipped to manage stress, they’re more focused, engaged, and productive. When wellbeing is neglected, issues like burnout, absenteeism, and turnover rise—putting both individuals and organizations at greater risk.

According to the National Safety Council, more than half of employers report that impairment—whether from fatigue, stress, substance use, or other factors—directly reduces workplace safety. Wellbeing-related risks can take many forms, including:

• Fatigue: Linked to 13 percent of workplace injuries
• Mental distress: Moderate to severe distress increases the risk of workplace incidents
• Substance misuse: Alcohol and other drugs raise the likelihood of errors and injuries
• Overdose: Now accounts for 10 percent of workplace fatalities
• Workplace violence: Assault is the fourth leading cause of workplace deaths
• Psychological safety: When employees feel safe speaking up, they’re less likely to be injured

Whether direct or indirect, these risks all affect a worker’s ability to stay safe on and off the job.

Signs Your Workplace Supports Employee Wellbeing

A workplace that prioritizes wellbeing doesn’t just talk the talk—it builds a culture that supports it every day. Here are a few signs of that commitment:

• Open, stigma-free communication around mental health
• Access to mental health resources and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
• Training for supervisors to recognize and support employees in distress
• Encouragement of work-life balance and healthy boundaries
• Flexible scheduling where possible
• Wellness initiatives such as mental health days, challenges, or mindfulness programs

A Safer Future Starts with Support

Wellbeing isn’t an optional benefit, it’s a foundation of a safe, resilient, and productive workforce. And while not every organization has a large budget for new programs, even small, consistent actions can make a lasting impact on employee happiness and performance.

As National Safety Month comes to a close, let’s commit to building workplaces that care for the whole person. Because when people feel supported, they thrive—and when people thrive, safety follows.