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. 
 
April 15, 2021
By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​

Managing Current Events-Related Stress in the Workplace

The last year has presented us with large scale events which have had a dramatic impact on the well-being of all ages in the United States. Opinions and feelings about big topics such as the global pandemic, ongoing national unrest regarding racism, and different thoughts on vaccines and politics are strong and can easily enter the workplace. Differences of opinions might be shared openly, or alternatively show up through tense or uncomfortable nonverbal communication.  For example, politics seem to be impacting work life more prominently in recent years. A survey by research firm Gartner found that 31% of those who talk politics at work say these conversations are “stressful and/or frustrating.” 

April 8, 2021
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 billion. That’s just from physical injuries. Cyber safety and information security are just as important. Having a safe workplace is the best way to increase your team’s efficiency and productivity.

April 1, 2021
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 sluggish, and at times, depressed. However, in our busy lives, it’s possible not to notice the signs until they impact our health.

March 28, 2021
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 up barriers to efficiency without even knowing it. Finally, you may not spend much time considering the aesthetics of your building, but they have a considerable effect on the quality of your team’s work, even if it’s subconscious. Here are some key factors that don’t require much money or effort, but can lead to a safer, healthier, happy staff.

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. 
 
March 18, 2021
By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​
 
March is Women’s History Month, and it is only fitting that we pay respect to the role women play in the workforce, particularly in industries where physical safety is a priority. While women are still a small presence in the construction industry – approximately 9% of the workforce - there are reasons to grow that number. For example, the statistics reported by the Bureau of Labor in 2021 showed a very narrow gender pay gap compared to other professions. Women earn 99.1% of what men make in the field. Additionally, the process of working as a team in building can feel personally and professionally rewarding. 

March 11, 2021
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 or full-face respirators.
 
For everyone out there now donning respirators, we put together a summary of the most important respirator protection information.

March 4, 2021
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 regularly. Unfortunately, what you and many others do not realize is that free public Wi-Fi is not always secure.

February 25, 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 safety, how can you reduce risks of injury and guarantee the safety of your colleagues when faced with this challenge?

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. 
 
February 18, 2021
By: Lisa Desai, MindWise Innovations ​
 
Got iSleep and Safety: The Importance of a Good Night’s Sleep
 
Why is sleep so important?
 
Sleep, or lack of sleep, has a big effect on our physical and mental health. Studies have shown that sleep is connected to eating habits and weight, stress management, mood, irritability, and concentration. Restful sleep allows the body and mind to reset and recharge for the next day.

It’s cold outside!! So, batten down the hatches, but beware of carbon monoxide!

February 11, 2021
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 air. However, most places stay warm by burning products. Most of the time, these items are hydrocarbons such as petroleum-derived products like coal, oil or gas, or in the form of renewable fuels such as wood.