OccHealthSci September 2024 Newsletter

The latest news, updates, and events from OccHealthSci

Featured Event

Working Well--a new webinar series from OccHealthSci

The Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences invites you to join us for the launch of Working Well, a webinar series that highlights unique and shared challenges impacting workers across industries. 

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Webinar

Registration is free and open to all

Too hot to work: How to protect workers from extreme heat and poor air quality 

Heat and air pollution tax human health in distinct ways and how we protect workers during heat and air pollution events are also distinct. In this session, participants will explore what science tells us about the synergistic effects of extreme heat and poor air quality and how to prevent exposure to these hazards effectively. Get your tickets here

Professional Development

Total Worker Health® Alliance Courses

Total Worker Health® for Safety Committees 

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

In-person at the Southern Oregon Occupational Safety & Health Conference

Ashland, OR Learn more and register to attend

Total Worker Health® for Safety Committees, en EspañolTuesday, November 5, 2024In-person at the Fourth Annual Conference on Occupational Safety and Health and Your Rights in the WorkplaceLearn more and register to attend 

Safety committees play a crucial role in the identification and management of different workplace hazards. This session helps you broaden your understanding of all types of hazards, including psychosocial and organizational hazards, which are not always easy to recognize. Participants will learn about the  Total Worker Health® (TWH) approach, a concept coined and supported by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Participants are also able to relate how current workplace programs and policies might (or might not) fit into the TWH approach and how this comprehensive approach can be used by safety committees to advance health, safety, and well-being at work more effectively.

OccHealthSci Training Programs

Workplace Mental Health Support Training for Managers 

The Workplace Mental Health Support Training for Managers is a unique training course, designed specifically for leaders and has proven to deliver measurable results that have a lasting impact on employee mental health within organizations like yours. 

From now until Dec. 31, 2024, OccHealthSci is offering the training at reduced rates: 

• Public/Non-Profit Organizations residing in Oregon: Free - usually $100/seat

• Public/Non-Profit Organizations outside of Oregon: $50/seat - usually $100

• Commercial Organizations: $75/seat - usually $150 

Additionally, the price for larger organizations with their own learning management system is now $25,000. This option allows you access to the complete training for unlimited use for up to 5 years.  Email supportiveworkplaces@ohsu.edu for more information.

OccHealthSci Sponsored Programs

Oregon Healthy Workforce Center

The Oregon Healthy Workforce Center congratulates Professor Emily Huang and her research team. Professor Huang received the Valerie Palmer Global Health Neurology Diversity Research Award and the Third World Medical Research Foundation Supplemental Research Diversity Award. The awards recognize and will support Professor Huang’s work with colleagues in Malaysia.  

Learn more about the Oregon Health Workforce Center, including interventions to improve worker health and other resources, current and past research projects, and other resources.

Occupational Public Health Program/OR-FAC

The Oregon Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (OR-FACE) Program recently published a whiteboard animation video explaining OR-FACE's hazard alerts. These hazard alerts use real-life case abstracts to highlight repeating workplace hazards. Hazard alerts also provide safety tips on how to address the hazard to prevent future injuries or fatalities.  

The OR-FACE Program also updated its incident maps to reflect fatalities through 2022. The incident maps include workplace fatalities that have occurred in Oregon since 2003. There are three incident maps: incidents categorized by event, industry, and occupation. In addition to updating the incident maps, the incident abstracts have also been updated to reflect fatalities through 2022.  

Learn more about OR-FACE (Oregon Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program), including our fatality investigations and toolbox talks, by visiting our website. To download and receive new publications including investigative reports and other OR-FACE publications, please join our mailing list.

OccHealthSci Research

Stay up to date on the latest basic, clinical, and applied research at OccHealthSci, and learn about our partnerships and community engagement at the Oregon and the Workplace blog. 

From the blog: Ambulatory blood pressure—how many measurements are needed? 

OccHealthSci researchers Leandro Brito, Sean Rice, Saurabh Thosar and colleagues recently completed a study that contradicted currently held recommendations regarding how many blood pressure measurements are needed to calculate average blood pressure and blood pressure dipping overnight for clinical purposes. Learn more about the study and results.

From the blog: The supplement Gotu Kola may enhance neuronal growth and combat age-related deficits 

OccHealthSci Professor Doris Kretzschmar and colleagues studying the popular supplement Gotu Kola show that the compounds within the plant enhance processes involved in neuronal health. The findings from this study suggest that Gotu Kola may offer a natural solution to support brain health and resilience against age-related challenges. Learn more about the study. 

Recently published: Supportive-leadership training to improve social connection 

OccHealthSci professor Leslie Hammer and colleagues examined the impact of a trial to enhance social connections among service members in high-risk occupational settings. The study highlights the critical role of supportive leadership in fostering a positive work environment and mitigating feelings of loneliness and isolation. Results indicated that the training significantly improved social connections and overall well-being, suggesting that organizations can benefit from implementing supportive leadership practices to enhance employee mental health and workplace dynamics. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing social connections as a key component of organizational health. Read the full study.

Events

• October 15-17: Southern Oregon Occupational Health & Safety Conference (OccHealthSci presenting) 

• October 15: Working Well Webinar Series: Too hot to work: How to protect workers from extreme heat and poor air quality 

• October 16: Colorado Health Links: Ageism: The multigenerational Workplace (OccHealthSci presenting) 

• October 16: OccHealthSci Seminar Series with Ariel Williamson, Ph.D. 

• November 5: Safety, Health, and Your Rights at Work Conference, en Españno (OccHealthSci presenting) 

• November 5-7: Global Healthy Workplace Awards & Summit (OccHealthSci presenting)