By: John Heniff, Content Copywriter, Magid ​High temperatures on the job can make people miserable. And whether it’s from hot weather outdoors or high-heat applications indoors, discomfort can quickly escalate from an annoyance to a life-threatening situation. In fact, every day in the United States, 11 workers are seriously injured or die from heat stress, resulting in … Guide To Heat Illness Prevention While On The Job

By: Kevin Gardner No matter what your job is, work comes along with a lot of stress for many people. It can often feel like you don’t have a choice and that feeling stressed out is just how things are. Here are a few tips for managing stress while continuing to perform well on the … 5 Tips for Managing Stress at Work

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more. By: Lisa Desai, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, MindWise Innovations​​ The Importance of Fostering … August Behavioral Health Column

By: Kevin Gardner ​An artificial neural network (ANN) is a data processing paradigm that functions similarly to biological nervous systems. The innovative structure of an artificial neural network’s information processing system is its most important feature. This system comprises a huge number of highly interconnected processing computing pieces that work together to solve problems. Artificial … 7 Ways Neural Networks Can Be an Advantage

By: Kevin Gardner​ Starting your own company may pave the way toward fame and fortune, but that distinction is a prize that must be won. The commercial landscape is incredibly competitive, and small businesses have the deck stacked against them. To even the odds so that you can survive and thrive, you’ll practically need to … How To Be Everywhere at Once (Or at Least Pretend To Be)

By: Mitzi Robinson, President/Founder/Speaker, Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety Presenter 2021 VPPPA Conference Nashville Severely injured meter reader attacked by two Mastiffs! Was never told about the puppies in the yard. This event took place with a meter reader working for a mid-western company. We spoke to the company many times in the past about the need for … The Importance of Dog Bite Prevention Training for Field Employees

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more. By: Lisa Desai, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, MindWise Innovations​​ ​Investing in Employee Wellness … July Behavioral Health Column

A business’s customer relationship management team is the main line of contact customers will use when they need something from a business. CRM employees most often fall under the customer service category. No matter what type of business you run, the CRM team is vital. Below are a few things that any CRM employee can … Tips for Business’s CRM Success

OSHA announced a new Regional Emphasis Program (REP) to identify, reduce, and eliminate hazards associated with exposures to high levels of noise. The program was announced on June 14, 2021, and is for OSHA Region V, which includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. By law, OSHA requires employers to implement a hearing conservation … New OSHA Noise Hazard Program

By: Mitzi Robinson, President/Founder, Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety Presenter 2021 VPPPA Conference Nashville When I complete dog occupational safety training around the country, the employees are usually very concerned about the big dogs they encounter daily, but it’s the little guys that are the most prevalent. Customers/Owners aren’t as concerned with their small dogs really hurting anyone. … Occupational Dog Bite Safety – Small Dogs & Why They Bite

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more.  By: Lisa Desai, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, MindWise Innovations It’s often difficult to … Returning to Work After the Pandemic

By: Megan Scherer OSHA released its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) 29 CFR 1910.502 for COVID-19 on Thursday, June 10. It’s directed at healthcare and healthcare support services and aims to protect workers facing the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19. Not sure if your workplace is covered? OSHA has provided this handy flow chart. If the … OSHA’s COVID Standard is Out and Here’s What You Need to Know

By: Mitzi Robinson, President/Founder, Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety Presenter 2021 VPPPA Conference Nashville According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the country, and nearly 40 percent of all households have at least one dog. Of course, the percentage of households with dogs is higher in suburban and … Occupational Dog Bite Safety

By: ​Bollé Safety ​WHAT IS FOG?Fog is essentially a cloud on ground level. Depending on temperature and level of humidity it may be thicker or thinner, which leads to varying levels of visibility. These specific conditions also determine how quickly or slowly fog forms and dissipates. The thickness of the fog, as well as the speed … The Fog Phenomenon Explained

By: Kevin Gardner ​Do you want to assist your employees unlock their full potential? Well, then show them your genuine care. However, if you are already doing plenty of it, then consider the fact that 31% of employees perceive their bosses as being unappreciative of them. In 2015, a study on the well-being of employees … Are You Making Your Employees a High Priority?

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more. ​By: Nicole Scherr, MindWise Innovations Your life is rooted in the digital world, and … MindWise Staff Picks: Favorite Mental Health Digital Resources

By: Bollé Safety Our modern world is flooded with artificial light. We over illuminate our homes and workplaces, bright streetlights and signage line our roads, and now the glowing screens of our mobile devices follow us everywhere we go. The development of artificial light allowed us to work longer, sleep later, and facilitates our 24hr entertainment culture. … All You Need to Know About Blue Light

By: Rocio Espinoza Whether you’re a freelancer, business owner, or direct employee, working from home is a fantastic way to avoid some common office headaches. You won’t have to sit in traffic every day, and there’s no more water cooler gossip and office drama to contend with. But working from home also presents unique challenges, especially if it’s … Easy Tips to Help you Stay Productive While Working from Home

By: Kevin Gardner Conflict is universal. How we handle our inevitable disputes with other people is often what determines our own success in life. Workplace environments in particular can be social pressure-cookers that put our capacity for critical thinking to the test. Here are six practical strategies for dealing with conflicts that emerge at work. … Simple and Effective Ways to End Company Conflicts

By: Makenzie Plusnick​​In 2017, the National Association of Women in Construction-OSHA Alliance Committee conducted “The 2017 Survey by the NAWIC-OSHA Alliance Committee on Harassment in the Workplace.” It found that the number of women who indicated they had never experienced bullying, sexual harassment or sexism was higher than expected; however, in the detailed section, we … Uncovering the Risks and Challenges Facing Women in Construction

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more.  By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​ Managing Current Events-Related Stress in the Workplace The … April Behavioral Health Column

By: Kevin Gardner Whether you are working in an office, a retail environment, or a warehouse, workplace safety is incredibly important. Not only is the health and wellbeing of your employees at stake but the business itself could be at risk from workplace hazards. It is estimated that in 2019 workplace injuries cost almost $171 … 5 Essential Tips to Make Your Workplace Safer

By: Ashley Lipman A person needs enough sleep to maintain optimal health. That’s what studies say. Medical experts claim that proper rest patterns can improve our memory and mood and help us learn better. A healthy slumber can also strengthen our immune system. You’ll know if you aren’t sleeping well. Your energy is lower, you’ll feel … Healthy Sleep: What Is It and Are You Getting It?

By: Kevin Gardner​Your employees’ productivity relies more heavily on their environment than you probably realize. It may seem obvious that a safe work area is essential, but many simple hazards are easily overlooked, even with the best of intentions. You need to make sure your office space is efficient, but you may accidentally be setting … Simple Office Changes for Healthy and Productive Staffs

By: Kevin Gardner Today, you can find free Wi-Fi connections from several public locations. You can connect in the airport, at the mall, in restaurants and coffee shops, at the library, and more. Each day, these public networks are accessed by millions of people. In fact, three out of four people claim to use these public networks … Tips to Keep Your Information Safe and Private While on Public Wi-Fi

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more.  By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​ March is Women’s History Month, and it is only … March Behavioral Health Column

By: Emily Milford, CSP, and Megan Scherer Respirators became the hottest workplace accessory of 2020. And for good reason. They are designed to protect workers from potential workplace hazards, including COVID-19. Over the last 12 months, droves of general industry and healthcare workers got medically cleared and fit tested for N95 respirators and elastomeric half-face … What You Need to Know about Respirators in 2021

By: TuMeke Ergonomics Burden:There are many obstacles when building a sustainable and successful safety program. If you’re like most safety professionals, you probably find yourself bogged down by manual processes that make incident and response reporting a tedious task. This often leads to limited reporting and upper management deprioritizing safety initiatives. As a champion of … Computer Vision Tools for Ergonomics

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly article addressing issues and questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your concerns about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues, and more.  By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​ Got iSleep and Safety: The Importance of a … February Behavioral Health Column

It’s cold outside!! So, batten down the hatches, but beware of carbon monoxide! By: Brenda Wiederkehr, CSC It’s wintertime, and particularly in the north, we close the windows and doors, creating a microenvironment to warm up and stay comfortable. Some people heat with electricity, which runs the risk of further drying the already dry winter … Carbon Monoxide Safety

By: Kevin Gardner It’s easy for germs to spread when cold and flu season arrives at your door. Given the small and confined spaces of most offices, they make the perfect place for individuals to pass along the cold and flu. If you’re looking for ways to keep your office healthy but aren’t sure what … How To Keep Your Office Safe From Illness This Winter

Today’s employees are working in a very high-tech world. In addition, businesses have been forced to switch to remote work, or require new in-office restrictions, due to the current climate surrounding the pandemic. The combination of high-tech jobs, remote work, or in-office restrictions can lead to digital overload, making employees feel physically and mentally drained by … Why Employees Should Use Digital Devices in Moderation

VPPPA has partnered with the experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more.  By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​ Kicking off the New Year Right The new year … January Behavioral Health Column

Healthcare Refrigerators & FreezersCold storage units play a pivotal role in the testing, distribution, and application of temperature-sensitive materials. These include pharmaceuticals, biological samples, medication, and vaccines. In the wake of an unprecedented global pandemic, healthcare facilities anticipate the evolving need for purpose-built refrigerators and freezers. Numerous states are already scrambling to secure viable and efficient storage … Healthcare Refrigerators & Freezers

By: Kevin Gardner A business plan is a document without a final version. It is constantly evolving as new opportunities open up, and as strategies change. If a business plan was always the same, your business wouldn’t have a chance to adapt to changes in technology, changes in the economy, and changes in consumer demand. … How Your Business Plan Can Improve Productivity and Workplace Culture

Pharmacies have come a long way with the use of technology. From keeping better track of the medications being prescribed to patients, to called-in prescriptions, to safely identifying the medications, modern technology has helped this industry make huge strides. As with any type of company that sends or receives personal information over the internet, many … Technology Helps Patients and Pharmacists Alike

VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more.  By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​ Question: This holiday season I’m having an especially hard time focusing … December Behavioral Health Q&A Column

By: Kevin Gardner  Technology is inherently linked to employee health and happiness, not just improving productivity. Here are five ways technology can improve employee productivity and happiness in the workplace.1. Improved SecurityCybersecurity can be a source of stress at any organization. If a breach occurs, there can be a high-pressure scramble to address and fix … How Technology Can Improve Productivity and Make Employees Happier

By: Kevin Gardner ​ By nature, large enterprises have many interlocking parts and a wide scope, so it’s important to find easy ways to increase efficiency without causing confusion. Here are some ways to improve employee efficiency.​1. Constructive Feedback and Training for Employees Constructive feedback and criticism are important aspects of employee growth and training. If you offer … Ways To Improve Employee Efficiency at a Large Enterprise

Originally featured in the Autumn 2020 issue of the Leader magazine. By Sabrina N. Williams, Ph.D.Columbia Southern UniversityIn the wake of the COVID-19 global health pandemic, telecommuting has become the “new normal” for many in the American workforce. As states and local municipalities continue to implement stay-at-home and safer-at-home orders, telecommuting remains an integral part of many … Employers Beware: Ergonomic Challenges of Telecommuting During COVID-19

Article originally published here. ​By: John Dreyer Optometrist Bsc(Hons), MCOPTOM, DipCLP What is blue light?  Blue light is a perfectly normal and natural spectrum of light that is found in sunlight. Light ranges from 400 to 700 billionths of a meter (nanometer, nm) 400nm being violet to 700nm being red. When combined the individual spectrums of light creates “white light” or sunlight.Sunlight consists … Contact Lenses and Blue Light

By: Kevin Gardner  Owning a piece of real estate is a source of pride. However, that source of pride goes hand-in-hand with some challenges. Pieces of property can break, leak, wear-out and overheat. The pressure of maintaining your property increases if you rent out your home. A critical piece of machinery in your property is … How to Tell That Your Business Property’s Water Heater Needs to be Replaced

This blog was originally posted here. Do you sometimes find it hard to sleep at night? Chances are that blue light is affecting your body’s biological clock and disrupting your sleep patterns. This is a reality for many people if you consider that an average modern human being spends almost 5,000 hours staring at screens that emit blue … How Blue Light Affects Your Eyes

Nearly 9 million people in the United States have contracted the coronavirus. It seems like now, more than ever, Americans are concerned with their health and the health of their neighbors. The information regarding testing and the treatment of this virus is updated on a regular basis. This means that the previous treatments used for this virus may … Cost of COVID-19 Testing and Treatment: 3 Things to Be Aware of

Modern technology continues to reshape and evolve the way we conduct business. In both business-to-business and business-to-customer companies, the workplace continues to shift, taking advantage of mobile tech, cloud computing and the Internet to meet industry demands. These advances in technology not only help streamline costs and scale operations, but they also help offices adapt … A Look at Five Apps and Technologies That Improve the Way We Work

VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more. By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​ 1. My family and I have different feelings on social … November Behavioral Health Q&A

By: Jessica L. Richardson, CSP, CIT, Professional and Organizational Advancement Manager, BCSPClinton Wolfley, CSP, CHST, STSC, Safety Systems and Services Manager, UCOR-AECOMJ.A. Rodriguez, CSP, ASP, SGE, VPPPA Chairperson This piece was originally published in the Winter 2020 issue of VPPPA’s quarterly magazine, The Leader VPPPA OverviewThe Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association, Inc. (VPPPA) – The … VPPPA Best Practices: A Case Study of Safety Leadership at Every Level

​In the world of construction, budgets and schedules are suggestions, not plans, or so the frustrating conventional wisdom goes. A 2018 study found that 35% of time that workers spend onsite ends up wasted on waiting for customers or managers to arrive or answer questions, hunting down misplaced materials, and other unproductive tasks, even though … 3 High-Tech Ways for Construction Managers To Increase Worker Productivity

By: Jeff Zhou, CEO at Fig Loans COVID-19 has changed the way organizations think about remote work and employee experience strategies. According to Gartner, 48% of employees will likely work remote part time after COVID-19. This unprecedented shift towards a hybrid onsite / remote work model has already created new challenges for employees from a social connectivity perspective. While … Employer Perspective: Approaching a Mental Health and Motivation Conversation With Your Employer

VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more. By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations  “Hey, How’s it going?”  It’s a question we probably ask … Behavioral Health Column – October 2020

By: Kevin Gardner  It’s never been a more important time to pay attention to the well-being of your employees. Changes in working conditions, social unrest, and making adjustments to daily rhythms all have an effect on wellness and productivity. Your workers will be much more effective if they are healthy in mind as well as … 5 Ways to Boost the Wellness and Productivity of Your Employees

By: Kevin Gardner  Every seven seconds, a workplace accident takes place in the United States. These accidents can cause long-term injuries and in some cases death. If you are a business owner, you know how hard it can be to get back to normal following a workplace accident.One of the main goals you should have as a … Focus on Safety: How to Reduce the Number of Workplace Accidents

Mesothelioma Awareness Day is recognized on the 26th of September every year to help spread awareness about this lesser known cancer and its only known cause, asbestos exposure. This year marks the 17th anniversary of this day, and is an important time to shed light on how exposure to asbestos can lead to life-lasting health … Mesothelioma Awareness Day (MAD): The Lingering Effects of Asbestos

Infographic and article contributed by Ben Gomez Visit: https://www.mobilehealth.net/respirator-fit-test-infographic/ to download the infographic and learn more.  If you work in the nursing, manufacturing, construction or other industries commonly affected by airborne hazards, you’re probably familiar with the respirator fit test.Simply put, a respirator fit test is a test that will show if a tight-fitting respirator can be worn … Quantitative vs. Qualitative Respirator Fit Test

In times of a global pandemic, it is difficult for residential and commercial property owners to know exactly what to do to keep their buildings and landscape safe and healthy. Each property owner should have a plan in place which covers some basics such as landscaping, contracted services and common areas as well as cleaning … Property Maintenance and COVID Concerns

67% of employees use their personal devices at work, and with an increasing number of people working remotely, this number is sure to rise. When we think of a business’ health and safety practices, we often think of things employers can do to protect the physical health of staff, but in an increasingly online world, it’s vital … Online Safety For Employees: The Obvious Details That Could Prove Hazardous If Overlooked

COVID-19 was announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. With this global health crisis announcement, it became pretty clear that the coronavirus was going to affect the societies and economies of the world like never before. The United Nation’s Framework for the Immediate Socio-Economic Response clearly warned how the pandemic’s impact … Lessons Learned from the Pandemic

By: Lisa Desai Welcome to the newest edition of the Behavioral Health Q&A Column! VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more. We will … Behavioral Health Q&A – August 2020

As our bodies and organs get older, they undergo a number of changes, which can impact our daily life and overall wellbeing. Aging is classified by the gradual decline of cellular function and structural changes that occur in the organ systems, including the kidneys, and as we get older, it becomes more and more important … How Aging Impacts Your Kidney Health

World Lung Cancer Day is August 1st, and is a time to recognize the importance of lung health. As the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, early detection and prevention around lung related diseases can be beneficial for timely treatment and support. Of the 200,000+ new lung cancer cases each year, as … Respiratory Health Hazards On the Job: Asbestos Awareness

By Jessica Larson, SolopreneurJournal.com​​Although working from home used to seem like a dream for many, a quarantine that requires people to be stuck at home for months on end might seem more like a nightmare. No matter how much you love being at home (or love your work), staying in the same setting for days at … Quarantine and Mental Health: How Remote Workers Can Avoid Burnout

By: Lisa Desai  Welcome to the newest edition of the Behavioral Health Q&A Column! VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more. We … July 2020 Behavioral Health Q&A Column

By: Amara Lang, junior account manager, FEI Workforce Resilience​The COVID-19 crisis has wreaked havoc on our world, our country, our workplaces, communities and ourselves. So far countless people have lost their lives and millions have lost their jobs and cannot pay their rent, mortgage or other bills. There’s no sugar coating it: Many of us are suffering.The United States has … Finding Gratitude in Uncertain Times

​By: Kevin GardnerJuly 2, 2020 By now, you’ve heard the importance of being eco-friendly. Making changes like going paperless, recycling, and reducing energy consumption are essential for reducing your carbon footprint. Individuals and businesses alike should be striving to make more sustainable, green choices.​While eco-friendliness is essential for a healthier environment, going green does have … 3 Ways an Eco-Friendly Office Boosts Productivity

On February 26–27, 2020, VPPPA members gathered on Capitol Hill to educate members of Congress about the importance of workplace safety and health. The VPP Act (S.904) grants VPP its own line item in OSHA’s budget. VPP is a small program with a big impact. Currently, the programs are funded through “Compliance Assistance—Federal,” alongside other … An Interview with Senator Mike Enzi

By: Kevin Gardner  Businesses the world over are undergoing a technological revolution. There are a number of relatively new technologies that are only now really taking root in the world of commerce, and these new developments are proving to be more effective and more efficient than traditional tech. Below is an introduction to recent hardware … 3 Ways That Technology is Revolutionizing Business

By: Lisa Desai, MindWise InnovationsJune 18, 2020  Welcome to the newest edition of the Behavioral Health Q&A Column! VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family … Behavioral Health Q & A Column – June 2020 Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month

By: Aric Asplund, International Enviro Guard The heavy equipment used to build our communities and the machines that drive manufacturing at high rates of speed are also the leading causes of workplace injury. In the construction industry, caught-in between or compressed by equipment accounted for 5.5 percent of the worker fatalities in 2018.  Per OSHA, workers who operate and maintain … Why Machine Guards are Essential

By: Jeson Pitt D & F Liquidators Hayward, CA  Numerous electrical systems and electrical products are prone to arc flash hazards. By individually analyzing these systems and labeling the arc flash boundary, you can increase worker and workplace safety tremendously along with reducing shock hazards and arc flash injuries. Arc Flash Hazard Study and Analysis Short Circuit Calculations: Data … Conducting an Arc Flash Risk Assessment

By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations​Welcome to the newest edition of the Behavioral Health Q&A Column! VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more. … Behavioral Health Q & A Column – May 2020 Resilience through Relationships in COVID19

By Ann Lloyd, Student Savings Guide During the early days of the coronavirus quarantine, when we were just beginning to learn about the virus and its impact, often it seemed the criteria governing best practices for health and safety were changing by the hour. Now, after almost 60 days of social distancing and precautions, we’re getting … Staying Safe and Healthy Under COVID-19 Quarantine

Over 3.5 million Americans are diagnosed on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and these individuals currently remain one of the most valuable yet untapped workforces out there. Yet, many of those with autism continue to experience difficulties either joining or thriving in the workforce. Approximately 85 percent of graduates with autism are unemployed, according to recent … Key HR Policies For Creating A Safer Workplace For Employees with ASD

By: Jackie Edwards Across America, workplace allergies — in particular occupational asthma — accounts for approximately 10% of all asthma cases, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Symptoms can be mild where employees are uncomfortable and may need to use an inhaler more often or they can be severe where going to … Identifying and Eliminating Allergies in the Office

The odors in your workplace can sometimes be unpleasant. From the smell of unusual lunches to the scent of an overcrowded meeting room, there are many scents that can be an irritant. Then there are the more serious smells, like industrial cleaner, chemicals, paints and waste. These odors can actually cause some serious health issues … Why It Matters: Combatting Workplace Odors

​Christopher J. Colburn, MEng, CSP, CHMM, Grad IOSH While the information regarding the exact mode of transmission of the 2019 novel Coronavirus Disease is limited, there are cases that demonstrate that the virus can be transferred as the result of virus-laden aerosolized droplet traveling through Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. IntroductionFrom January 26 … ​Controlling novel COVID-19 Transference through Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems

By: Lisa Desai, MindWise InnovationsApril 16, 2020  Welcome to the newest edition of the Behavioral Health Q&A Column! VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family … Behavioral Health Q & A Column – April 2020

By: Jackie Edwards The United States spends around 3.5 trillion a year on healthcare expenses, which clearly demonstrates the importance of health insurance for workers. A Clutch survey showed that over half of all people surveyed believe that health coverage is a fundamental component of job satisfaction and security for workers. Younger generations may value other considerations (think: … The importance of workplace health insurance to keep a workforce covered

March 26, 2020 By: Jackie Edwards​OSHA has begun paying closer attention to worker safety with nonprofit organizations in the last few years, awarding nearly $11 million to help high-risk workers. Safety standards have begun to shift to having heavier regulations more akin to for-profit companies, helping to protect those in the employ of nonprofits. As some adopt new … Setting Examples & Safety Standards As A Nonprofit

By: Grace Irby  I don’t remember hearing much about people successfully working from home when I was younger, but now there are a variety of jobs that can be done from virtually anywhere, allowing work outside of the traditional office to become commonplace. With busy lifestyles, family and other concerns, people are becoming more interested … Safety Lessons for the Home Office or Telecommuting Worker

By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations Welcome to the first Behavioral Health Q&A Column! VPPPA has partnered with experts at MindWise Innovations to present a monthly Q&A article addressing questions that members might be hesitant to ask about. These columns will address your questions about mental health, substance abuse, brain injuries, family issues and more. Stay tuned … Behavioral Health Q & A Column – March 2020

By: Kevin Gardener Building a successful business today requires you to have a website. Many small companies put together some surprisingly impressive websites. However, keeping it secure can be challenging. Plenty of startups and small businesses’ websites are exposed to threats from hackers. Fortunately, there are a few best practices that anyone can apply to keep … 6 Ways Employees Can Be Safe Online

By: Patrick Young  When it comes to achieving professional goals, the traditional workplace can present some barriers to people with disabilities. But while it’s true that employees with disabilities may have to deal with some obstacles that others don’t, nowadays, technology is leveling the playing field in the labor market.For people with disabilities, it’s easier … Disability in the Workplace: How Technology Can Help You Get Ahead

By: Alice Mansley  We tend to spend most of our time at work – so our surroundings have never been more important in supporting our wellbeing. Creating the right atmosphere for employees will help with productivity, and workplace design can reduce stress levels. The modern office environment has gone through many transformations as times have changed. … Is Your Office Design Affecting Your Employees’ Health?

By TJ Scimone I imagine you’ve given your fair share of workplace hand-safety talks throughout your career, whether informal talks or as part of your official workplace safety and health program, presented in a formal safety meeting.Have you ever watched your audience to see how—or even if—they’re actually receiving the information you’re sharing? Do you … Hand-Delivering Your Hand-Safety Message

By: Marina Mirkina  IntroductionOccupational health and safety is essentially everyone’s responsibility, in part because it takes both employees and employers working together to make sure that everyone in the workplace is safe and healthy. Depending on your particular industry, it is easy to determine which risks are more likely at your place of business and … How Do Occupational Health and Safety Affect a Company?

While storms like Hurricane Michael might not be the norm, we can usually expect at least a few major storms during the Atlantic Hurricane season each year. And it’s not just hurricanes that we have to prepare for: Tornados, earthquakes and blizzards are just some of the natural disasters that can strike at any time. … How Businesses Keep Workers Safe During Natural Disasters

By: Jeson Pitt  Electricity is one of the main causes of accidents in any plant. There could be a high possibility for accidents like electric shocks, electrocution, etc., to occur. Therefore, you must have an airtight electrical safety program implemented in the plant. It will keep the employees safe and the equipment from getting damaged. … How to Make an Electrical Safety Program for Your Plant

By: Jeson Pitt, D & F Liquidators Hayward, CA   Electricity is one of the leading causes of accidents in plants. An electrical safety program will keep employees safe and equipment from getting damaged. Below are six ways you can design an effective electrical safety program. Study and Implement OSHA StandardsThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) places great … How to Make an Electrical Safety Program for Your Plant

By: Will Zettler, OSHA’s Directorate of Standards and Guidance​The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule of Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems) became effective January 17, 2017, revising and updating general industry standards that address slip, trip, and fall hazards, as well as other walking-working surface hazards that cause injuries and fatalities to workers. The … OSHA’s Walking-Working Surfaces Rule Update