☕“Wolf of Wall Street” Changing Workplace Mental Health

Good morning! "The way to be safe is never to be secure.”

- Benjamin Franklin

THIS WEEK’S TIPS

This week’s safety upgrades:

• 3 New Changes Expected for Healthcare

• NIOSH: ‘Prevention through Design Toolkit

• “Wolf of Wall Street” Changing Workplace Mental Health

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This Weeks Professional Development Tip

• Level Up Your Career With These 7 Professional Development Tips

SAFETY KNIGHTS COMMUNITY
Your Ergo Summit.

This is for YOU—the ones who can’t make it to an in-person conference but are serious about tackling ergonomic injuries head-on.

Over the course of a week, we’re diving into everything Ergo from prevention to recovery, with something for everyone—no matter your budget. And because we know you’re busy, we’ve got you covered. Every talk will be recorded and sent straight to everyone who registers to attend. No one should have to take time off work for a virtual conference. Oh, and did I mention? It’s 100% FREE.

Learn more here: https://www.ergosummit.com/

OSHA
OSHA Tightens Safety Reins on Meat & Poultry Processing.

On Oct. 15, OSHA updated its inspection guidelines for the meat and poultry processing industry, expanding coverage to the entire sector under NAICS code 3116. This update replaces the 2015 guidance, which focused solely on poultry processing.

Workers in this industry face serious risks, with injury rates twice the national average and occupational illnesses six times higher. The rate of carpal tunnel syndrome is especially concerning, at more than seven times the average. Key hazards include exposure to dangerous machinery, hazardous chemicals, high noise levels, and slippery floors.

To better protect workers—especially those with limited English proficiency and the rising number of children working in the industry—OSHA’s new guidelines ensure inspections during second and third shifts, include contractors and temporary staff, and require training in languages workers understand. The program focuses on sanitation operations, ergonomics, personal protective equipment, and machinery safety, aiming to significantly reduce injuries and illnesses.

OSHA GAMES
Gamify Your Trainings.

Hope you at least brought doughnuts and coffee...

But if we could make a recommendation - why not make training a little more fun? Give them something exciting to engage with. We're talking Gamification here people. Imagine turning your training into an engaging game of Family Feud or Jeopardy. Now you can!

Check it out Here: https://oshagames.com/

HEALTHCARE
Three Major Rule Changes in the Works for Healthcare.

OSHA is preparing three significant rulemakings for the healthcare sector that could reshape compliance standards. By the end of the year, OSHA is expected to finalize a permanent COVID-19 healthcare standard and introduce two proposed regulations addressing infectious diseases and workplace violence prevention in healthcare and social assistance settings.

1. Permanent COVID-19 Standard: OSHA previously issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 in healthcare workplaces in 2021. The upcoming permanent standard, expected by December, will likely include some provisions from the ETS, such as enhanced infection control protocols. While hospitals have raised concerns about the complexity and redundancy of a permanent standard—given existing rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—OSHA aims to establish a consistent framework to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 risks.

2. Infectious Disease Rule: OSHA is also working on a rule targeting infectious diseases in healthcare and other high-risk environments, such as correctional facilities and homeless shelters. This proposal, anticipated by December, would cover a range of infectious threats, including tuberculosis (TB), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and emerging diseases like pandemic influenza and COVID-19. OSHA has been working on this rule since 2010 and aims to enhance protections against various contagious diseases in the workplace.

3. Workplace Violence Prevention: Healthcare workers face significant risks of workplace violence, and OSHA has been enforcing these cases using its General Duty Clause. However, a proposed rule could formalize violence prevention standards across the healthcare industry. This rule would provide specific guidelines for healthcare and social assistance settings, focusing on management commitment, hazard analysis, and employee training. OSHA’s efforts follow voluntary guidelines issued in 2015, but the new rule would set mandatory requirements to prevent workplace violence.

These new regulations, if enacted, will likely bring significant changes to healthcare employers’ compliance responsibilities, aiming to address critical safety concerns and improve overall worker protection.

MENTAL HEALTH
From Wall Street to Wellness: How Dilan Gomih is Redefining Mental Health in the Workplace.

Dilan Gomih, the founder of Dilagence, is dedicated to transforming how mental health benefits are utilized in the workplace. Despite over 90% of American workers valuing employer-sponsored mental health benefits, less than a third actually use them. Gomih identifies this gap as a missed opportunity for employers and works to bridge it by designing wellness programs that are not only beneficial but also practical and easy for employees to use.

Gomih’s background is diverse and unique. She started her career on Wall Street after earning her undergraduate degree from Yale. While working at Bank of America, her passion for health and fitness grew as she began teaching spin classes. This led her to leave corporate finance and pursue graduate studies at Harvard Business School, where she became Chief Wellness Officer for the Student Association. Her own experiences with the high-pressure corporate world helped shape her understanding of the link between mental and physical wellness, which now informs her work at Dilagence.

At Dilagence, Gomih helps companies design wellness programs tailored to their employees’ actual needs. She stresses that the key to increasing engagement with these programs is simplifying how they are accessed and used. For example, it’s not enough to provide a free meditation app or fitness class discounts—employees need to understand how to integrate these benefits into their workday without added stress. Gomih works with organizations to make mental health resources part of the work routine, rather than something extra that employees need to figure out on their own. She believes that reducing the mental energy required to use these benefits will naturally increase their utilization.

Gomih’s approach is rooted in practical strategies for improving mental wellness and productivity. Some of her key recommendations include:

1. Reclaiming Childhood Lessons: In her work for Harvard, Gomih emphasizes the value of childhood activities like active movement during recess, which helps the brain reset. She also advocates for unstructured, device-free time to spark creativity and fearlessness in decision-making, as seen in children.

2. Integrating Movement into the Workday: Rather than focusing on rigid exercise goals, Gomih encourages employees to find natural opportunities for movement throughout the day. For example, instead of holding a meeting in an office, she suggests taking a walk outdoors with a colleague. This not only adds movement but fosters human connections, which are vital for team dynamics.

3. Starting the Day with Intention: She advises clients to begin their day mindfully, setting personal intentions before engaging with work emails or social media. This approach helps ensure that the day's tasks align with the individual’s mental framework, making them more productive and focused.

Gomih’s work with clients like Google, Thrive Market, and Harvard Business School shows that small, actionable changes can significantly impact employee mental health and productivity. Her mission is to ensure that wellness programs are designed in a way that employees want to use them, helping companies see a return on their investment in mental wellness initiatives. By simplifying access and focusing on the “how” rather than the “what,” she aims to create a healthier, more productive workplace environment.

3motionAI
Your Ergo Solution.

Overexertion is costing companies $12.49 BILLION each year and feeding into a much larger problem! That’s why we’ve partnered with 3motionAI to enhance workplace safety with their Risk Flashlight solution. Together, we’re empowering EHS professionals to tackle these costly problems at the root, building a safer, more equitable workplace.

Steps to Take:

1. Learn more about 3motionAI: Read, here

2. Show company leadership how you can protect the bottom line.

3. Earn the respect you deserve by making a real impact.

NEWS
Your Virtual Water Cooler

• CSX Ordered to Reinstate, Pay Whistleblowers

• Which regions worldwide are hardest hit by workplace carcinogens?

• Health and Safety: Amazon Fails to Deliver

• New California law requires naloxone in workplace first aid kits

• New from NIOSH: ‘Prevention through Design Toolkit for the Construction Industry’

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