Barry Bottino

In Episode 9, the Safety+Health team discusses the hazards involved with powered industrial trucks with National Safety Council workplace safety experts JoAnn Dankert and David Consider. Also, the team shares details about contact tracing on the job and why it’s an important thing for employers to do amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to AARP’s 2020 report “Caregiving in the U.S.,” an estimated 53 million adults – more than 1 out of 5 Americans – serve as caregivers to a fellow adult or a child with special needs. Caregiving can involve taking on plenty of responsibility, along with the stress and pressure that comes with it.

In Episode 8, the Safety+Health team discusses the importance of hearing loss prevention efforts in the workplace with Thais Morata, a NIOSH research audiologist. Also, we talk about the safety and health impacts of diversity, equity and inclusion on workers.

In Episode 7, the Safety+Health team welcomes University of South Florida public health professor Marissa Levine to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting the mental health of workers.

Although outdoor workers are most affected by wildfires, workers in commercial buildings and office locations near fires also face risks.

In Episode 6, the Safety+Health team examines soft skills, including what they are, how they differ from other job-related skills and how they can benefit a safety professional’s career. Also, Linda Martin, a recipient of the National Safety Council’s Marion Martin Award, discusses her work as an educator, earning a doctorate and sharing positivity on social media.

In women-dominated industries such as health care, as well as those in which women aren’t well represented, including construction and the trades, female workers are facing unique challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

No matter how they’re defined, soft skills are vital to a safety professional’s career growth and development. “Technical knowledge will only get you so far,” one expert says.

In Episode 5, the Safety+Health editorial team looks at one economist’s research on the impact of OSHA press releases. And safety superstar Abby Ferri talks about teaching during the pandemic, safety and superheroes.

A single OSHA press release about fines levied against a company can have the same effect as 200-plus agency inspections when it comes to future compliance by the offending employer, as well as those nearby in the same industry, a Duke University researcher recently concluded.