Public safety – Work, Stress, and Health

Using workers’ compensation systems to improve workplace safety and health

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies (CWCS) is to maximize the use of workers’ compensation (WC) claims data and systems to improve workplace safety and health through partnerships. This poster presentation will describe recent and ongoing CWCS surveillance and research studies to achieve several key goals (see https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/workercomp/cwcs/publications.html).

The Effects of Chronic Thought Suppression on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptom Severity in Firefighters

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

Firefighter recruits through their first three years of service completed surveys measuring levels of thought suppression, PTSD symptoms, and exposure to potentially traumatic events. A secondary data analysis was conducted, and structural equation modeling revealed that, when controlling for trauma exposure, trait thought suppression correlated significantly with PTSD symptom severity. These results emphasize the importance of considering an individual’s tendency towards thought suppression as a complicating factor of firefighter PTSD severity.

Stigma and sources of help-seeking for mental health challenges among firefighters

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The purpose of the current study was to investigate how stigma related to sources of help-seeking among firefighters. Over 2,000 firefighters across the United States and Canada completed an anonymous online survey including questions about stigma regarding mental health care and sources of help-seeking. Firefighters who reported stigma would prevent them from using behavioral health services were less likely to report that they would seek help from Department or Union EAP/MAP services, coworkers, and officers.

NIOSH Chronic Disease Prevention Program: Expanding Partnerships to Prevent Occupational Disease

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

This presentation provides information on the mission and function of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health?s (NIOSH?s) Cancer, Reproductive, Cardiovascular and Other Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CRC). The poster will describe current research priorities related to reducing and preventing occupational chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, renal diseases, and neurological diseases as well as adverse reproductive outcomes. Collaboration with researchers, labor unions, professional and trade associations, and others is critical to the CRC and this poster will help to promote partnerships external to NIOSH.

Robotics Safety and Health Research at the NIOSH Center for Occupational Robotics Research

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

Extensive research has been conducted by NIOSH and others on the safety of robots since they were first introduced to workplaces more than 40 years ago. However, this research focused on traditional robots that were isolated from human workers using guards, cages, or other controls. As robots have become more advanced, interactions with humans have become more common, and new ways of assessing and controlling the hazards associated with a robotic workplace are needed. The Center for Occupational Robotics Research (CORR) was established in 2017 as a virtual center within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to work in partnership with other federal agencies, academic researchers, employers, and others to conduct research and disseminate guidance on the safety and health concerns of working around robots.

Wearable sensors: benefits and challenges for safety, stress, and health in the workplace

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

Emanuele Cauda, PhD, NIOSH; John Snawder, PhD, NIOSH; Pramod Kulkarni, PhD, NIOSH Wearable sensor technologies (wearables) are a topic of great interest for the NIOSH Center for Direct Reading and Sensor Technologies (CDRST). The CDRST is one of the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)Core and Specialty Programs. Wearables are used in several applications …

Impact and Evaluation of a Correctional Supervisors’ Design Team (DT) Intervention on Healthy Eating

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

A Design Team from the Connecticut Correctional Supervisors? Council collaborating with research staff from UConn Health utilized the Healthy Workplace Participatory Process to develop a Healthy Eating intervention for their workforce. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the training occurred virtually and pre- and post-surveys, created by the team were used to measure the efficacy of the training. Results showed that the training helped raise awareness of unhealthy eating behaviors. Finding can help play a role in future interventions in corrections.

Comparing facility-based and multi-site Design Team functions: effectiveness and program content

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The purpose of this presentation is to compare the effectiveness of two participatory design teams of frontline correctional employees; a facility based team vs a multi-site based team. Both design teams, were trained and utilized the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program to implement health, safety and well-being interventions for their workforce. The teams will be compared through researcher process surveys and notes, and pre-post surveys of the workforce developed by each team to measure the effectiveness of their interventions.

Changes in Job Demands and Resources for Fire-Based First Responders due to COVID-19

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. fire service personnel have reported increased physical and mental demands. The purpose of this study is to dive deeper into the experiences of the US fire service and examine these demands and identify resources to mitigate imbalance. Semi-structured interviews with fifteen US fire departments illuminated additional job demands and potential resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although preliminary findings indicate more discussion surrounding resources compared to demands, further analysis is needed to identify key themes in the data.