Off-the-job safety training fits every employee, since injuries at home, on the road and during recreation keep people off work just like workplace injuries. It is especially relevant for crews already trained in workplace safety. The 20-minute English program features retired firefighter and paramedic Martin Lesperance speaking to a live audience.

Employers should care about off-the-job injuries because most disabling injuries happen away from work. Those injuries still cause absences, lost productivity and health care costs. An injured employee is just as unavailable whether the ladder fall happened at the plant or at home on a Saturday.

Off-the-job injuries often come from falls from ladders and roofs, motor vehicle crashes, yard and power tool mishaps, and overexertion during weekend projects. Many happen during tasks people rarely do, like gutter cleaning, where they skip the precautions they would use at work without thinking.

Workers can bring workplace safety habits home by doing a quick risk check before chores. Use safety glasses, gloves and hearing protection for yard and shop work. Set ladders up properly and drive without distractions. Sharing those habits with family members spreads the benefit beyond the job.

The weekend warrior mindset in safety is following every rule at work, then taking big risks at home. Examples include climbing a wobbly ladder, skipping eye protection with a string trimmer, or rushing a project. Applying the same risk assessment used at work prevents many of these injuries.