OccHealthSci February 2025 Newsletter
- Shaun McGillis
- Feb 5
- 4 min read
The latest news, updates, and events from OccHealthSci
Working Well webinar series
Overtime pay for agricultural workers: Policy to practice
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
The Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences invites you to join us for the next episode of the Working Well webinar series on Tuesday, February 18, at noon for a discussion on the topic of Oregon’s new overtime pay law for agricultural workers.
Topics to be discussed include:
How is “agricultural worker” defined by the state?
How does the state define a “workweek?”
What do we know about how the law is working half-way through its implementation?
In what ways has the law supported the health, safety and well-being of Oregon’s agricultural workforce?
Professional development
Total Worker Health® Alliance courses
Total Worker Health® 101 – The basics
Thursday, March 6
8:30 a.m. – Noon
In-person at the GOSH Conference
Portland, OR
This introductory course for the Oregon Total Worker Health® (TWH) Alliance curriculum is available to attendees of the 2025 Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Conference (GOSH). Participants will learn to:
Define terms and concepts essential to TWH
Identify the five defining elements of TWH
Discuss how organizations can effectively implement TWH
Develop next steps applicable to participant’s organization
Total Worker Health® Workplace Solutions
Thursday, March 6
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
In-person at the GOSH Conference
Portland, OR
The aim of this course, available to attendees of the GOSH conference, is to help participants examine effective and feasible practices and TWH solutions. Attendees should have a basic knowledge of TWH concepts (see TWH 101 above). In this session, examples of TWH policies, practices and procedures are shared and discussed.
University of Washington & OSHA Training Institute
Total Worker Health® workplace solutions
March 31 – May 5, 2025
Virtual course
This course is a part of the University of Washington Occupational Safety and Health Continuing Education Total Worker Health® Certificate program. Course content will include an examination of the Total Worker Health® (TWH) five elements and concepts, an introduction to occupational health psychology and its relevance to safety and TWH, and a discussion of resources and strategies for integrating safety and occupational health into organizations. Interactive activities include large and small breakout group discussion, problem solving based on attendees’ organizational experience, homework and recap on published articles.
OccHealthSci Sponsored Programs
Oregon Healthy Workforce Center
The Oregon Healthy Workforce Center is looking forward to seeing you in March at the 2025 Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Conference (GOSH) on March 3-6. Drop by our exhibition table to get the latest news and updates from the Center. Additionally, check out sessions presented by experts from the Center and our parent organization, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences. This year our presentations include:
The Respectful Workplace Initiative: cultivating civility and psychological safety in construction – Presented by Erin Flynn, Ph.D. and Danielle Horgan M.P.H. – This session introduces participants to the Respectful Workplace Initiative, a multipronged effort to transform construction jobsite culture in Oregon. Monday, March 3, 3:00 – 4:40 p.m.
Organizational approaches to promoting and supporting workplace mental health – Presented by Leslie Hammer, Ph.D. – This session explores the critical role of managers in supporting workers’ mental health and responding to signs of mental health issues. Tuesday, March 4, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Developing and validating a Respectful Workplace Climate Scale with constructions workers as exemplar: a Total Worker Health® approach – Presented by Emily Huang, Ph.D. – This presentation details the development and validation of a reliable, multidimensional Respectful Workplace Climate (RWC) scale specifically designed for the construction industry. Tuesday, March 4, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m.
Why we sleep and the consequences of when we don’t! – Presented by Andrew McHill, Ph.D. – This talk focuses on several reasons why we need to sleep, common daily activities that unknowingly (or knowingly) disrupt our sleep, and the consequences to both your personal and professional life when you don’t get enough sleep. Tuesday, March 4, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Inclusive workplace design principles: What safety professionals need to know – Presented by Katia Costa Black, Ph.D. – Inclusive design and human factors/ergonomics are complementary approaches that safety professionals need to be aware of if they wish to boost their safety program and create more inclusive environments. Wednesday, March 5, 2:15 – 4:30 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you at GOSH!
Occupational Public Health & OR-FACE Programs
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, Blog and Events
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.
Research briefs
OccHealthSci researchers Brad Wipfli, Sara Wild, Steven Shea, and Saurabh Thosar and colleagues recently published “Effectiveness and durability of a workplace sedentary behavior intervention based on the Total Worker Health® approach” in the journal Behavioral Sciences. The article details a study that examined a multi-component program aimed at reducing sedentary behavior in the workplace and was tailored for call-center employees. The findings show a positive impact on reducing sedentary behavior among workers, promoting better health and well-being. This research provides valuable insights for organizations looking to enhance employee health in sedentary occupations.
OccHealthSci researchers Caren Weinhouse, Samatha Carrothers, Nicole Pelletier and Emma Weeks recently published “An epigenetic memory at the CYP1A gene in cancer-resistant, pollution-adapted killifish” in the journal Scientific Reports. The researchers studied a species of killifish, Fundulus heterolitus, that has adapted to environments containing harmful chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). According to the researchers, these killifish have adapted a kind of “epigenetic memory” at a specific gene known as CYP1A, which helps them cope with the toxic effects of PAHs. The research is important as PAHs are a significant public health problem for humans that will likely worsen with a warming climate and increased large-scale wildfires.
Comments