Total Worker Health Exclusive

Connecticut corrections unions take charge of workplace culture and well-being

By Alicia Dugan¹, PhD, Matthew Brennan², MPH, and Martin Cherniack³, MD, MPH, Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW), University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT

For 12 years, the University of Connecticut has worked with the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) in the Health Improvement Through Employee Control (HITEC) research program. The goal of this action research study is to learn how to improve the health of corrections personnel through integrated health protection and promotion interventions. HITEC is the most prominent Total Worker Health^® (TWH) study of corrections personnel in the United States. Correctional officers are at high risk of life-threatening injuries and illness. In HITEC I and II, CPH-NEW investigators studied physical and mental health of public sector correctional officers. We documented a steady progression of chronic disease risk factors within the first five years of employment, leading to obesity/overweight, hypertension, physical inactivity, high levels of depression, and poor sleep and nutritional habits. Using these findings as ground work, the HITEC II study tested new types of participatory interventions to explore how correctional facilities can promote better musculoskeletal fitness, weight management, and safety for officers. In the current (third) study phase, HITEC-3, correctional officers’ administration and labor unions are co-leading the TWH program toward future independence and sustainability.

DOC and its Unions, Key Research Partners

HITEC utilizes CPH-NEW’s Intervention Design and Analysis Scorecard (IDEAS) tool, a 7-step process to design customized interventions that support workplace safety, health, and well-being. The IDEAS tool guides worker teams to draw from their own needs and perspectives, and to call on internal and external experts, during the design process. Separate design teams for correctional officers and supervisors develop and propose solutions to specific health and safety problems. DOC facility- and agency-level administrators provide project governance, intervention review, and resource allocation. Union engagement is central to the success of HITEC. All DOC local unions, including the three for correctional officers and one for correctional supervisors, have sponsored design teams at system-wide and facility-specific levels. Correctional staff members facilitate their own design teams, with university researchers acting as advisors. The DOC allocates work time and cross-coverage for correctional officers so that they can participate in design team meetings and specialized trainings.

Focus on Mental Health

All four DOC design teams are actively developing interventions to improve correctional officers’ mental health, a top priority for the DOC system. Each design team has coordinated with clinical experts to increase peer proficiency in recognizing signs, symptoms, and causes of mental health difficulties, as well as resources for treatment. The supervisors’ design team is developing prevention-focused training to increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and provide treatment resources. The officers’ design teams are developing policies and procedures to reduce work-related stressors and trauma that may arise following critical incidents and are seeking ways to improve interpersonal relationships in a harsh work climate. As one local correctional officer remarked, “Working on the front lines of the state correctional system is dangerous, stressful work. The occupational hazards to our mental and physical health, including lower life expectancy, require innovative and comprehensive solutions. We appreciate the interest that NIOSH and University of Connecticut Health Center staff have shown in the health of corrections personnel. We look forward to working with all the stakeholders in this process to develop and implement interventions that improve [the] overall health of correctional staff.”

These initiatives promise to be both long-term and sophisticated. Although final outcomes cannot yet be predicted, the HITEC research team is documenting critical process and health changes, and the DOC workforce is taking on the most critical challenges in American corrections.

Learn more about CPH-NEW TWH research and resources for correctional officers

¹Alicia Dugan is Faculty Advisor for the Connecticut Correctional Supervisor Design Team.
²Matthew Brennan is the HITEC Projector Manager, CPH-NEW University of Connecticut Coordinator.
³Martin Cherniack is Co-Director of CPH-NEW and Principal Investigator of HITEC.

Promising Practices for Total Worker Health

Healthy Parks, Healthy Communities, Healthy Nation: The National Park Service

Chia-Chia Chang, MPH, MBA, NIOSH Office for Total Worker Health

From the lowest point in the United States to the highest point, from remote islands to the nation’s capital, the National Park Service (NPS) has over 400 park areas and regional and program offices, employing more than 22,000 permanent and seasonal workers. To reduce on-the-job injuries and fatalities and to ensure employee satisfaction, the NPS has released the Safety, Health, and Wellness Strategy, which follows the Total Worker Health^® approach of embedding worker well-being into the organizational culture. The Strategy is accompanied by an implementation plan with a robust web-based e-Tool that allows for self-assessment by each park or office to track progress. The development and implementation of NPS’s final Safety, Health, and Wellness Strategy serve as promising practices in applying some of the Defining Elements of the Fundamentals of TWH.

Developing a Strategy and Implementation Plan with Leadership Commitment

The NPS Safety, Health, and Wellness Strategy was developed with support from and regular communications with the NPS National Leadership Council (NLC), which reports directly to the NPS Deputy Director. The Safety Leadership Council, an off-shoot of the NLC, worked with the Office of Risk Management under the direction of the NPS Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection. The Associate Director oversaw the development of the Strategy and its implementation, with the input and participation of representatives from the leadership teams of the NPS’s seven regions.

The NPS’s strategic framework includes a vision, foundation, and goals. The vision is “Creating a sustainable culture of safety, health, and wellness: Protecting and empowering our employees into our second century.” This vision is built upon a foundation of four key capabilities: accountability, effective communication, sustained capacity, and a consistent, Service-wide Safety, Health, and Wellness Management System. Connecting the foundation to the vision are four strategic goals, which align with elements of the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust model. To achieve the goals and translate them into measureable actions, the NPS designed a systematic implementation plan of action items organized by performance tiers (baseline, intermediate, and leading). It tracks the action items through self-assessments completed by an electronic Safety, Health, and Wellness Tool (the e-Tool).

Promoting Worker Engagement and Protecting Worker Privacy

The NPS began drafting the framework for its Strategy in 2013. It invited all workers across NPS to participate in focus group conversations to provide input, and over 150 workers volunteered to be trained as facilitators. The final Strategy, released in 2015, incorporates feedback from more than 2,000 workers from all regions and across all levels, expertise stages, and job duties. Input received from workers highlighted the importance of incorporating wellness into the safety and health strategy, identifying measurable goals, and having the tools needed to achieve the goals. NPS addressed these concerns by having an integrated strategy, identifying action items and performance tiers, and developing the e-Tool for self-assessment.

A scenic vista from Zion National Park in Utah.

The action items in the e-Tool are written as “end statements,” allowing each park or office the flexibility to identify individual approaches to achieving each outcome. This approach fits the de-centralized structure of the NPS, respecting the various cultures of each park or office. Furthermore, the self-assessments are intended to be collaborative, collective efforts—stimulating conversations and decision-making within teams—rather than being completed by a single person (such as a safety manager). In fact, the self-assessment conversations may be more enlightening and meaningful than completion of the action items.

As a way to protect confidentiality and privacy of workers and track progress, the NPS has administered a Safety, Health, and Wellness Survey. The Survey was first administered in 2015 when the Strategy was released, and it will be repeated twice over the next five years to track impact of the Strategy. Along with the e-Tool, the Survey is a way to measure implementation and effectiveness of the Strategy.

An additional means of worker engagement is the Implementation Support Team. This team, comprising 10 to 12 workers from each regions, provides peer-to-peer support to the field, reports trends and challenges to the regional and national offices, and answers questions about the Strategy and its implementation.

Next Steps

The NPS continues to look for ways to advance worker safety, health, and well-being. In answer to a need identified by data from multiple sources, it is broadening the definition of safety to include psychological safety, which will include suicide prevention, respectful work environments, emotional and mental well-being, and diversity and inclusion. Work conflict and civility are important issues related to worker well-being. The Safety Leadership Council will once again pull together field staff and top leadership across the regions. We applaud the NPS for this expanded purview and look forward to seeing the outcomes of a physically and psychologically safer and healthier NPS workforce.

NIOSH Responds to the Opioid Crisis: Vital Information for Workers and Employers

Editor’s note: In this and future issues, TWH in Action! will highlight the latest research, resources, and news around the opioids crisis and work. You may learn more about opioids and work by visiting the NIOSH Opioids Topic Page. If you or someone you know needs assistance with mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English or Spanish, please contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

The NIOSH Framework for addressing the opioids crisis among workers.

Understanding the Epidemic among U.S. Workers

95% – In 2017, 95% of the 70,067 U.S. drug overdose deaths occurred among the working age population, persons aged 15 to 64 years. How many were employed at the time of their death is unknown.

~4% – According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUSH), just over 4% of respondents aged 18 years or older reported illicit opioid use in the past year. An estimated two-thirds of these self-reported illicit opioid users were employed full- or part-time.

25% – The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that overdose deaths at work from non-medical use of drugs or alcohol increased by at least 25% annually between 2013 and 2017. The 272 workplace overdose deaths reported in 2017 accounted for about 5% of occupational injury deaths that year, as compared to just under 2% in 2013. How many of these deaths were caused by opioids specifically is unknown.

~15 days – Workers with a current substance use disorder miss an average of ~15 days of work per year, and the subset with a pain medication use disorder miss about twice as many days.  This is in contrast to an average of almost 11 days for most employees and almost 10 days for workers in recovery from a substance use disorder.

Find these and other data here

NIOSH Center of Excellence for TWH Study Characterizing the Relationship between Work and Opioid Use

The Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW) has conducted a qualitative study to explore the relation between work and opioid use. To further explore that relationship and to learn about opportunities for and barriers to prevention, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has used some of its CDC Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Grant to fund CPH-NEW’s effort to understand the issues behind the statistics. The study used interviews to gather key informants’ perspectives on the workers compensation system, access to Employee Assistance Programs, the practice of “working hurt,” and employer drug testing. Download and read a report of findings, with recommendations for policy, education, and future research, on the CPH-NEW Related Research website.

Updates from the NIOSH Office for Total Worker Health

Robert McLellan, MD, MPH, is the latest recipient of the TWH Founder’s Award, given for “exceptional leadership, scholarship, and steadfastness in advancing the NIOSH Total Worker Health^® Program.”

Latest Recipient of the NIOSH Total Worker Health Founder’s Award

Join us in congratulating Dr. Robert McLellan of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center as a recipient in the Total Worker Health Founder’s Award. The Total Worker Health Founder’s Award recognizes individuals with outstanding contributions in advancing the safety, health and well-being of workers and who played critical roles in advancing the mission of the NIOSH Total Worker Health program.

Under Dr. McLellan’s leadership, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center was named as one of the first NIOSH TWH Affiliates. The Affiliates program provides recognition for organizations that are committed to an integrated approach to worker safety, health, and well-being. As an Affiliate, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center was one of the supportive co-presenters for both of the International Symposia to Advance Total Worker Health^®, and Dr. McLellan served on the Scientific Planning Panel for the first International Symposium to Advance TWH. Dr. McLellan provided invaluable insights to other employers, sharing with other Affiliates and organizations the experiences and promising practices of Dartmouth-Hitchcock. His innovative strategies for putting the TWH approach into practice are some of the best examples of integrated solutions for advancing worker well-being. Over the past decade, he has served an invaluable resource, providing practical experience in implementing a TWH approach in his own organization and with others. We are grateful for his generosity of time and his leadership in the field.

Save the Date: NIOSH Total Worker Health Webinar Series

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 2, 2019 for a webinar on “Applying Dissemination and Implementation Science to Total Worker Health Research and Practice: What we need to know” brought to you by the NIOSH Office for Total Worker Health and the NIOSH Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health. Featured speakers include Dr. Ross Brownson, Dr. Tom Cunningham, and Dr. Pamela Tinc. Stay tuned for more details for this webinar.

Updates from the NIOSH Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health

Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW)
Laura Punnett, ScD, presented “Working conditions in healthcare correlate with patient safety” at a November 28 meeting in Washington, DC, of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Clinician Well-being. Read about the expert meeting in this coverage by MedScape Medical News.

CPH-NEW News and Views Emerging Topics Brief: Protecting workers from heat: A Total Worker Health® challenge.
Worker deaths from heat exposure are different from those in the general population. In this News and Views brief, researchers describe the multiple complex work, personal health, and socioeconomic risk factors and strategies for preventing work-related heat illnesses and deaths.

CPH-NEW News and Views Emerging Topics Brief: Facilitating early return-to-work after musculoskeletal conditions: A system-level pilot intervention program (RETAIN) in Connecticut.
Work disability represents an enormous and growing burden to workers, employers, insurers, and health care and disability systems. This News and Views brief describes the elements of a Connecticut-based pilot intervention to improve long-term Return-to-Work/Stay-At-Work outcomes for workers with emerging musculoskeletal concerns.

Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest (HWCMW)
The HWCMW has a number of upcoming conference presentations and events. Look for them in this issue’s section on Conferences, Training, and Events in Support of TWH.

Oregon Healthy Workforce Center (OHWC)
The OHWC will host its Spring Symposium, Workplace Aggression: Best Practices to Prevent, Identify, and Safely Mitigate Aggressive Behavior and Violence. The day-long event, taking place on June 7, 2019, in Portland, Oregon, will address the issue of heightened exposure to aggression, especially among employees in healthcare, social services, education, and isolated work roles. An agenda and link to registration will soon be available on the website. Recordings of talks and handouts are now available for the center’s 2018 fall symposium, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response for the Workplace: From Awareness to Action.

The Active Workplace Study at OHWC is currently recruiting call centers to participate in a randomized, controlled intervention that targets sedentary behavior in the workplace. The study’s goal is to improve the health, safety, and well-being of workers in sedentary jobs. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact the research team at activestudy@ohsu.edu.

The center’s podcast What’s Work Got to Do With It? has new episodes on topics including epigenetics, sitting, and sleep. Focused on shining light on the public health relevance of workplace issues, the podcasts feature conversations with scientists, practitioners, and employers exploring Total Worker Health issues. Recordings and transcripts are available online.

News from NIOSH TWH Affiliates and Partners

Center for Social Epidemiology

The Center has launched its new website, healthywork.org, which is the home of the Healthy Work Campaign (HWC). The HWC is a public health campaign focused on raising awareness in the United States about the health impacts of work stress on working people. In addition, the HWC emphasizes the positive actions stakeholders (both individuals and organizations) throughout the nation can take to advance #healthywork.

Mt. Sinai Health System

Mt. Sinai recently launched a new Occupational Health and Safety Mobile App, a valuable resource to support worker health and promote safe workplaces. Employers, managers, and employees can learn about a variety of occupational health and safety topics across industries, including physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic hazards; personal protective equipment; and occupation-specific preventive measures. This resource was developed by the Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. For more information, please visit: www.mountsinai.org/selikoffapp. Download the app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

St. Louis Business Health Coalition

As a part of the newly launched Defeat Diabetes STL campaign, the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition (BHC) is pleased to host a community forum to discuss the latest science and innovations in diabetes and prediabetes management. In addition to featuring leading researchers in the field, this conversation will highlight opportunities for employers, health care providers, and community organizations to align strategies to prevent, better manage, and even reverse diabetes. The forum will take place Wednesday, April 10, in St. Louis. Registration details can be found in this issue’s Events section.

New Publications and Resources

From CDC and NIOSH

Exploring Individual and Organizational Stress-reducing Interventions across Industries
This new NIOSH Science Blog presents research from Washington University in St. Louis on workplace interventions to help working adults reduce stress, exploring approaches from individual to organizational levels. The project describes stress interventions delivered in the workplace and reports the health effects of implementation.

Promoting Worker Well-Being through Maternal and Child Health: Breastfeeding Accommodations in the Workplace
As one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. labor force, the contributions of working mothers are vital to a strong economy. Yet working mothers can also struggle to balance their career and work demands with reproductive plans and caregiving. This new NIOSH Science Blog explores ways that organizations can providing the work-related support to sustain an employee’s decision to breastfeed using Total Worker Health approaches.

Total Worker Health^® 2014–2018: The Novel Approach to Worker Safety, Health, and Well-being Evolves
In a special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on TWH, this article discusses highlights of the TWH program between the years 2014 and 2018, discusses those of its partners and stakeholders, and outlines future directions. The article emphasizes the evolution of TWH, how the program has matured, and the program’s focus for the years to come.

Ten New Publications and Resources from NIOSH Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health

Harvard Studies a Total Worker Health^® Intervention on Commercial Construction Sites
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Center for Work, Health, and Well-being researchers evaluated the efficacy of an integrated, cluster randomized controlled TWH intervention, called All the Right Moves, which targets the conditions of work and workers’ health behaviors through an ergonomics program combined with a worksite-based health promotion intervention for Health Week. Results indicate reductions in incidences of pain and injury, as well as significant improvement in ergonomic practices.

Annual Report from the University of Colorado Center for Health, Work & Environment
With stunning photo visuals and intriguing graphics, the annual report from the University of Colorado’s Center for Health, Work & Environment outlines the Center’s 2018 activities and impacts.

New England Correction Workers’ Burnout and Outcomes: A Bayesian Network Approach
CPH-NEW researchers used a Bayesian network analysis to evaluate potential interrelations among various psychosocial and behavioral variables in correction workers. The identified model revealed that work-related exhaustion may serve as a primary driver of occupational stress and impaired workability and limits these workers’ ability to get regular physical exercise. The researchers also noted interrelations with depressed mood, lack of work engagement, and poor work-family balance.

Coworker Health Awareness Training: An Evaluation
OHWC researchers evaluated the Coworker Health Awareness Training (CHAT), which is complementary to the Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) available for leaders. Results showed that participation in CHAT was associated with increases in knowledge, self‐efficacy, mental health promotion, and willingness to use resources.

Digital Human Modeling in the Occupational Safety and Health Process: An Application in Manufacturing
Researchers at the Iowa-based HWCMW examined the feasibility of using digital human modeling software to reduce workplace injuries in manufacturing, by identifying physical hazards and evaluating potential engineering solutions.

From Research-to-Practice: An Adaptation and Dissemination of the COMPASS Program for Home Care Workers
Researchers from OHWC adapted the COMPASS (COMmunity of Practice And Safety Support) program for the Oregon Home Care Commission’s training system, for statewide dissemination. Results from the piloted adaptation indicate that workers like the program, find the content useful, and intend to make changes based on their learning.

Identifying Safety Peer Leaders with Social Network Analysis
OHWC researchers explored social network analysis, similar to peer-to-peer nominations, of advocates for safe patient-handling. Patient care workers nominated as many peers as they would consider to be sources of safe patient-handling advice. Results demonstrate that workers identified as peer leaders through social network analysis outperformed those identified by supervisors as peer leaders.

Nursing Home Employee and Resident Satisfaction and Resident Care Outcomes
Researchers at CPH-NEW investigated the association between nursing home employees’ job satisfaction and residents’ satisfaction with care and medical outcomes. Results indicate that job satisfaction is associated with lower rates of resident injuries and higher resident satisfaction with care.

Pilot Study of Impact of a Pedal Desk on Postprandial Responses in Sedentary Workers
CPH-NEW researchers evaluated the effects of light-intensity physical activity at a pedal desk, compared with use of a standard desk, in a pilot study on postprandial metabolic responses and work skills. The findings indicate that use of the pedal desk resulted in lower post-meal insulin concentrations, without an overall negative impact on work skills. These results suggest the pedal desk could help meet public and occupational health goals in sedentary work environments.

Signs of Struggle (SOS): The Development and Validation of a Behavioural Mental Health Checklist for the Workplace
OHWC researchers created a 20-item Signs of Struggle checklist to help managers recognize changes in employees’ work behavior that might indicate they are struggling at work. Results showed that manager-rated signs of struggle correlated with participant-reported strain at work.

From Other Sources

Building a Culture of Health and Well-being at Merck
This article shares the efforts and experience of a large global employer as it builds on existing corporate wellness and safety programs to develop a culture of health and well-being.

The “Total Worker Health” Concept: A Case Study in a Rural Workplace
Researchers from NIOSH TWH Affiliate Western Kentucky University conducted a case study to identify barriers to integration of health protection and health promotion in rural workplaces. Tailored interventions addressed the identified barriers. Results indicate that the largest hindrance to organizational support was time.

Conferences, Webinars, and Trainings in Support of NIOSH Total Worker Health

March

6^th—Dr. Glorian Sorensen of the Harvard Center will present “Innovations in Worker Safety, Health, and Well-being: Applications from Total Worker Health,” in collaboration with the Michigan Wellness Council, at 12:00 pm Eastern time. Register to attend.

7^th—NIOSH, along with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association, will host an all-day session on Workplace Health Research at the 2019 EIP Lifestyle Conference, in Houston, Texas. Register to attend.

28^th—Dr. Glorian Sorensen of the Harvard Center will present “Measuring Best Practices for Workplace Safety, Health, and Well-Being,” as part of the Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute webinar series, at 2:00 pm Eastern time. Register to attend.

28^th—Dr. Chosewood will speak on the latest TWH research and practice strategies for the Risk Authority’s Palmetto Health Trust Symposium in Columbia, South Carolina on Thursday March 28 1-2pm

28^th to 29^th—HWCMW will co-sponsor the Heartland Center ERC’s Occupational Health Symposium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This year’s symposium will focus on Total Worker Health topics, including healthy work design for individuals with disabilities.

April

4^th to 7^th—Shelly Campo, PhD, and Lisa Jaegers, PhD, OTR/L, of HWCMW, will present “(WISIS) Total Worker Health^®: A Population Health and Workplace Resource for You & Your Organizations” at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

9^th—Dr. Deborah McLellan of the Harvard Center will present “Weaving Employee Health, Safety, and Well-Being into the Fabric of Your Organization,” as part of the Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute webinar series, at 2:00 pm Eastern time. Register to attend.

10^th—Dr. Jessica Williams of the Harvard Center will be presenting “Measuring best practices in worker safety, health and wellbeing” at AAOHN’s 2019 National Conference, in Jacksonville, Florida.

10^th—The St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition will host a community forum to discuss the latest science and innovations in diabetes and prediabetes management. The forum will be held at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm in St. Louis, Missouri. Register to attend.

24^th to 26^th—Chia-Chia Chang, MBA, MPH, will present A Total Worker Health Framework for Worker Well-Being at the Federation of Occupational Health Nurses within the European Union’s International Congress in Budapest, Hungary.

26^th—In collaboration with The Heartland Center Education Research Center, Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, and University of Iowa Injury Prevention Center, the HWCMW will co-host the 4^th Annual Occupational Health and Safety Student Research Conference in Iowa City, Iowa.

28^th to May 1^st—Dr. Chosewood will lead a panel featuring TWH Affiliates and private sector partners at the ACOEM’s Annual Occupational Health Conference in Anaheim, California. Chosewood will be joined in the panel by occupational safety and health professionals who are following TWH principles from SAIF, Chevron, and UCLA.

29^th—Chia-Chia Chang, MBA, MPH, will present Designing Healthy Businesses: Organizing Strategies for Sustainability and Performance at the Risk Management Society Conference, in Boston, Massachusetts.

May

18^th—Chia-Chia Chang, MBA, MPH, Constance Franklin, MPA, James Grosch, PhD, MBA, and Juliann Scholl, PhD, MA, will present a workshop titled Total Worker Health: Maximizing Well-Being Throughout Your Working Life at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

22^nd to 24^th— Sara Tamers, PhD, MPH and Dr. Chosewood will co-present on well-being measures and improvement strategies at the Wellbeing and Work Conference in Paris, France.

June

4^th to 7^th—Dr. Susan Peters of the Harvard Center will make three presentations at the Work Disability Prevention and Integration Conference in Odense, Denmark: (1) The Relationship Between Working Conditions and Return-to-work Following Work-related Injury in a Cohort of Patient Care Workers; (2) Subgroups of At-Risk Workers with Chronic Physical Health Conditions: From the MANAGE AT WORK Randomized Controlled Trial; and (3) Worker-centered Approaches for Developing an Integrated Organizational Intervention to Improve Low Wage Worker Health, Safety, and Well-being.

9^th to 12^th—Heather Vanover, Director of Workplace Services at the Nebraska Safety Council, will be representing the HWCMW as she presents Total Worker Health topics at Safety 2019, the American Society of Safety Professionals’ annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

28^th—Dr. Glorian Sorensen of the Harvard Center will present “Measuring Best Practices for Workplace Safety, Health, and Well-Being,” as part of the Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute webinar series, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time.

SAVE THE DATES

Save the Date: NIOSH Total Worker Health Webinar Series

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 2, 2019 for a webinar titled Applying Dissemination and Implementation Science to Total Worker Health Research and Practice: What we need to know brought to you by the NIOSH Office for TWH and the NIOSH Centers of Excellence for TWH. Featured speakers include Dr. Ross Brownson, Dr. Tom Cunningham, and Dr. Pamela Tinc. Stay tuned for more details for this webinar.

July 8–10

The International Labour Organization’s 6^th Annual Regulating for Decent Work Conference will take place in Geneva, Switzerland.

August 1

The 2019 National Symposium on Corrections Worker Health will take place in Boston, Massachusetts. The Symposium will bring together correctional leaders, industry practitioners, labor representatives, and researchers to discuss solutions and collaboration possibilities to improve correctional worker health and well-being. Visit the CPH-NEW Corrections Officer Health Resource page for information about prior national symposia events and registration for 2019.

September 4–7

The Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP) Annual Conference will take place in Baltimore, Maryland.

November 6–9

The 13^th International Conference on Occupational Stress and Health, “Work, Stress and Health 2019: What Does the Future Hold?” will be held at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown. Preconference workshops and opening events are planned for November 6. This conference is organized by the American Psychological Association, NIOSH, and the Society for Occupational Health Psychology.

Contributors

Editorial Board

L. Casey Chosewood, MD, MPH, Executive Editor

CDR Heidi Hudson, MPH, Editor-in-Chief

Reid Richards, Managing Editor

Seleen Collins, Copy Editor

Tonya White, NIOSH Web Developer

Steve Leonard, NIOSH Web Publisher

Please send your comments and suggestions to us at twh@cdc.gov.

This newsletter is published quarterly via email by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Total Worker Health^® Program to inform members of the public health community as well as interested members of the general public of program-related news, new publications, and updates on existing activities and initiatives.