Who this toolkit is for

The Injury and Illness Prevention Toolkit is designed for mission‑driven organizations of all sizes, including:

• Houses of worship.
• Nonprofits and community organizations.
• Camps, retreat centers and outdoor ministries.
• Schools and educational facilities.
• Sports and recreational organizations.

Whether your organization has a formal safety program in place or is just beginning to address injury and illness risks, the toolkit offers flexible resources that can be adapted to your operations, facilities and staffing model.

Why injury and illness prevention matters

Injuries and illnesses affect more than just the individual involved. They can lead to:

• Disrupted programs and services.
• Increased workers’ compensation claims and costs.
• Lost productivity and staff burnout.
• Reputational and operational challenges.

Proactive prevention efforts help organizations:

• Identify hazards before incidents occur.
• Promote safer work and program environments.
• Encourage shared responsibility for safety.
• Reduce the likelihood and severity of injuries and illnesses.

Prevention is most effective when it’s ongoing, visible and supported by leadership.

What’s included in the Injury and Illness Prevention Toolkit

The Injury and Illness Prevention Toolkit includes practical resources that help organizations identify common risks, evaluate current practices and take meaningful steps to reduce injuries and illnesses. The tools are designed to work together as part of an ongoing prevention approach.

10 Essentials for Preventing Injury and Illness

This foundational resource outlines 10 core areas organizations should address to support safer environments for employees, volunteers and participants. The essentials provide guidance to help organizations:

• Recognize common injury and illness risks.
• Promote safe behaviors and work practices.
• Clarify leadership and staff responsibilities.
• Support prevention through training, communication and documentation.

The 10 essentials offer a practical framework for building or strengthening injury and illness prevention efforts.

Injury and Illness Prevention Assessment

The assessment helps organizations evaluate their current injury and illness prevention practices through a series of focused questions. It is designed to help organizations:

• Identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Review policies, procedures and safety practices.
• Prioritize next steps based on risk exposure and operations.

The assessment supports thoughtful review and planning and can be revisited as programs, facilities or staffing change.

How can organizations use the Injury and Illness Prevention Toolkit?

Organizations may use the toolkit to:

• Review and strengthen current safety practices.
• Support leadership discussions around injury prevention.
• Enhance onboarding and staff training efforts.
• Reinforce a culture of shared responsibility for safety.

The toolkit is flexible and can be used incrementally — whether your organization is addressing a specific concern or building a broader prevention program.

Prevention is an ongoing process

Injury and illness prevention is not a one‑time initiative. As facilities, programs and staffing evolve, risks can change. Regular review, communication and training help organizations adapt and maintain safer environments over time.

When combined with thoughtful prevention practices, workers’ compensation and liability coverage can play a supporting role in helping organizations respond and recover when incidents occur.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is this toolkit only for organizations with employees?

No. The toolkit is relevant for organizations with employees, volunteers or program participants and can be adapted to different staffing and operational structures.

2. Does this toolkit replace required safety training or compliance programs?

No. The toolkit is designed to complement — not replace — required training, policies or regulatory obligations.

3. How often should prevention practices be reviewed?

Prevention efforts should be reviewed regularly and updated when operations change, new hazards are identified or incidents occur.

Why download the Injury and Illness Prevention Toolkit?

By downloading the full toolkit, organizations can:

• Access practical, prevention‑focused resources.
• Identify and address common injury and illness risks.
• Strengthen safety awareness and accountability.
• Support safer, more resilient operations.

Clear, usable tools can help make injury and illness prevention more approachable — and more effective.