An initiative aimed to promoting the safety of Nebraska companies, employees and customers was launched earlier this month.

Be Safe Nebraska is a project of the National Safety Council’s Nebraska Chapter in collaboration with the Greater Omaha Chamber, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The initiative asks companies to pledge to adopt best safety practices.

“This collaboration with the Omaha, Lincoln and state of Nebraska chambers will help us share safety resource information to all Nebraska companies allowing them to show their commitment to keeping their employees safe.” said the council chapter’s president and CEO, Eric Koeppe.

Companies that participate in a risk assessment and take the pledge will receive a certificate and material to notify their staff, customers and suppliers. Complete the pledge at besafenebraska.com.

The council will make public the entities taking the pledge at safenebraska.org/wepledge. As of last Wednesday, that includes the City of Omaha, Omaha Public Power District and the chambers.

“It is our hope that companies who pledge to keeping Nebraskans safe during the COVID pandemic will maintain that same level of commitment towards safety moving forward,” Koeppe said in a news release.

Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said that the ability to conduct business safely and the return of consumers’ comfort and willingness to “buy Nebraska” are two key factors that greatly affect the speed of economic recovery.

“The Nebraska Chapter of the National Safety Council has helped push us forward on both needs, giving businesses more comfort in the measures they must take and letting citizens know they can trust those measures,” Slone said.

Greater Omaha Chamber President and CEO David G. Brown said the Be Safe Nebraska program is a first step toward providing transparency and building trust in a post-COVID-19 world.

“Recovery is going to rely on employee and customer safety,” Brown said. “All the relief and stimulus funds in the world won’t matter if people don’t feel confident going back out into their communities.”

Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Birdsall said businesses should adhere to local and federal guidelines.

“We encourage our businesses to take the pledge and help keep Nebraskans safe during the days and weeks to come,” Birdsall said.