PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

In 1998, North Dakota had the lowest seat belt use rate in the nation at 39.9 percent, and with an estimated 47 percent of the traffic fatalities resulting from alcohol involvement. The rural nature of the state presented problems for reaching drivers in a targeted manner with focused messages.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goals and objectives are to:

• establish traffic safety policies and programs in North Dakota businesses to support increased use of seat belts and child safety seats, and reductions in alcohol-impaired driving;

• reach major businesses and organizations around North Dakota to encourage them to implement a safe driving program and participate in the "Do Buckle, Don’t Booze" campaign;

• implement safe work practices, and thereby communicate the message to the employees, as well as their families and friends; and

• save lives and prevent injuries not only at the workplace, but throughout the state of North Dakota.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

Utilizing existing reference materials, a program manual was developed for North Dakota businesses that wanted to establish and operate a work site traffic safety program. This manual provides basic information on policies for seat belt use and impaired driving; ideas for motivating employees to comply with policies; and a list of state and national resources.

Additional activities are listed below.

• Partnering with the North Dakota Safety Council and the North Dakota Workers Compensation Board, to conduct a direct mail campaign targeting the 100 largest employers in the state.

• The Workers Compensation Board added presentations on the Work Site Safety Program at their Risk Management Seminars. Participation in these presentations counted toward qualifying businesses for a workmen’s compensation insurance discount.

• The Safety Council also provided work site training.

• Articles were provided for major business company newsletters. The “Do Buckle, Don’t Booze” newsletter was sent to 670 major businesses, hospitals, colleges, chambers, schools, and churches across the state four times per year.

RESULTS

Responses from the direct mailing and from participants at the Risk Management Seminars have been fantastic, as businesses from around the state requested additional resource materials for conducting programs and providing information to employees. Follow up telephone contacts with businesses resulted in additional requests for more information and materials. Approximately 50 businesses participated in this effort that potentially reached 2,500 employees and their families.

   WINTER 2002