NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE, MAY 7, 2002

For Immediate Release					
May 7, 2002							
Contact: Joe Larkin
630-775-2303

National Safety Council Offers Free Safety Course for Small Businesses in Locations Across the U.S.

Itasca, IL -- Beginning on May 16 and extending through September, the National Safety Council (NSC) and its Chapters across the country are presenting Basics of Safety Performance, a free one-hour course for small businesses. The course was developed by NSC in cooperation with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and funded by a Susan B. Harwood Grant.

In 2000, 5,018 people died from unintentional injuries on the job and nearly four million workers suffered disabling injuries.  NSC President Alan C. McMillan said, *The National Safety Council is pleased to provide small business owners and their employees with the tools to recognize, evaluate, and control or eliminate hazards that can lead to death or injury in the workplace.* 

Basics of Safety Performance will help employers and their employees reduce the number and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses, reduce worker compensation costs, and improve employee morale. Course participants will gain practical knowledge, skills, and access to valuable safety resources. 

The National Safety Council, founded in 1913, was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953.  Among its objectives and purposes is *to organize, establish, and conduct programs for the education of all persons in safety methods and procedures.*  With 37,500 member organizations and 50 local and regional chapters across the country, the National Safety Council is the nation*s leading health and safety organization.  

For a schedule of locations and dates and to register, visit the National Safety Council*s website at <http://www.nsc.org/osh/smbiz.htm>.

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