Q. What is the mission and vision of the National Safety Council?
A. The National Safety Council, Nebraska is a non-governmental, 501(C)(3) non-profit organization based in Nebraska. The mission of the National Safety Council, Nebraska is to be Nebraska’s leading organization providing education and advocacy to reduce injuries and save lives. Because accidental injuries and deaths – whether from a car crash, fall, poisoning, choking, fire, drowning or suffocation are preventable, the Council’s safety education programs are designed to reduce the risk of injury by increasing awareness of how, when, where and to whom accidents occur, and by introducing behaviors proven to reduce injuries.
The National Safety Council (NSC) is a nonprofit, non-governmental, public service organization that promotes safety and health. Founded in 1913 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the NSC's mission is to educate, protect, and influence society to adopt safety practices that prevent and mitigate human suffering and economic losses at work in our homes and communities and on our roads and highways. The National Safety Council, Nebraska has been a chapter of NSC since 1935.
Q. How long has the Council served Nebraska?
A. Milestones for the Council:
- 1924: The Omaha Safety Council was incorporated
- 1935: The Omaha Safety Council became accredited by the National Safety Council and has received national accreditation annually since that time
- 1984: National Safety Council, Nebraska starts offering defensive driving for traffic ticket dismissal
- 1987: Name was changed to the Safety and Health Council of Greater Omaha
- 1999: Moved into its headquarters building at 11620 M Circle and started offering Driver Education
- 2003: Name was changed to the National Safety Council, Greater Omaha Chapter
- 2011: Name was changed to the National Safety Council, Nebraska with responsibilities to serve all of Nebraska as the only National Safety Council Chapter in Nebraska
- 2014: Recognized as a AAA approve Driving School
- 2016: President's Chapter Award by the National Safety Council
- 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021: Honor Chapter Award by the National Safety Council
Q. How large is the National Safety Council, Nebraska?
A. Today, the Council is led by a 21 member volunteer board of directors, 17 full and part time program and administrative staff and approximately 50 part time instructors. The Council trains nearly 20,000 people per year on safety related topics.
Q. Is it necessary to be a member of the Council to participate in their programs and events?
A. No it is not necessary to be a member to participate. Members, however, receive additional benefits and reduced training fees.
Q. Does the National Safety Council, Nebraska team up with any other organizations to promote safety?
A. The Council often partners with other non-profit organizations, governmental entities, and businesses to promote safety.
Q. How do you differ from OSHA - the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?
A. As a non-governmental non-profit we provide training and consulting in OSHA standards and other workplace safety standards
OSHA is governmental, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. They provide enforcement of OSHA standards.
Q. Where does the National Safety Council, Nebraska receive its funding?
A. Program revenue is the primary source funding for the Council. The Council provides safety training and consulting in all venues. Other areas of funding include membership, sales of program materials, conferences, and contributions. All revenue goes back into the community through safety programs that support Safe Living, Safe Driving and Safe Working.
Q. What is the primary safety focus?
A. Safe Living, Safe Driving and Safe Working are the primary focus of the Council.
Strategic business units focus on areas such as conferences, workplace safety and membership which are primarily for businesses.
The community unit provides a focus on safety belt usage, distracted driving prevention, and other home safety needs.
Our driving and behavior division focuses on the public at large through defensive driving programs, behind-the- wheel driver education, behavior enrichment courses, and motorcycle safety training.
Q. What kind of safety items are sold by the National Safety Council, Nebraska?
A. We offer a wide variety of publications and training materials for home, community, and business safety. The Council offers OSHA compliance training materialss from JJ Keller, CLMI, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) from Philips and Zoll.
Q. What is an AED and should we have one?
A. Statistics show that about 300,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest every year in the U.S. OSHA estimates that approximately 10,000 cardiac arrests occur at work annually. That is why more automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are being installed in the workplace. They are already being used in airports, shopping malls, convention centers, theme parks and businesses all across America. The AED is a medical device designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of cardiac arrest. The shock attempts to restore the heart rhythm to normal.