We are proud to announce Janelle Matuszak has earned her Certified Occupational Safety Specialist certification from the Alliance Safety Council marking a significant milestone in her professional journey and reinforcing our commitment to our safety practice.
The Certified Occupational Safety Specialist certification is awarded to individuals who demonstrate in-depth knowledge of safety protocols, risk management, regulatory compliance, and proactive hazard prevention across a wide range of industries and the skills necessary to recognize, control and prevent safety hazards in the work place.
Congratulations to Janelle!
Workplace Safety and Mental Health
Workplace safety and prevention of injuries has traditionally focused on measures including proper training, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), compliance with occupational safety regulations, and maintenance of hazard-free workspaces. While these elements remain vital, there should also be a focus on mental health and its role in maintaining a safe work environment. OSHA’s General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. This could include workplace stress and mental health hazards. Mental health challenges include clinical mental health disorders, stress and substance use disorders.
Employers are increasingly recognizing that a safe workplace must also be mentally and emotionally supportive. This shift acknowledges that stress, anxiety, burnout, and other mental health challenges can be damaging and often lead to physical injuries due to inattentiveness, impaired focus, judgment and reaction time. The World Health Organization estimates for every dollar U.S. employers spend treating common mental health issues, they receive a return of $4 in improved health and productivity
OSHA recognizes mental health as an important component of workplace safety and promotes mental health awareness by urging employers to change the stigma of mental health by prioritizing it as part of their workplace culture, having conversations about it and knowing how to support workers who say they need assistance.
OSHA recommends 4 key steps for employers:
- Be aware and acknowledge employees may have mental health challenges.
- Identify factors making it harder for employees to get their jobs done and make adjustments if possible.
- Show empathy! Create a safe and trustworthy space and acknowledge the stress employees may be under.
- Provide access to coping and resiliency resources or other supportive networks and services. Allowing remote work, flexible hours, or workload adjustments can greatly reduce stress and improve overall job satisfaction and performance.
By recognizing the link between physical safety and mental health, and by fostering a culture that values both, companies can pave the way for a healthier, more engaged, and more effective workforce.