Impairment at work, whether from alcohol, marijuana or opioid use, is “a major roadblock to workplace safety, and the effects are more common than you think,” the National Safety Council says.

Workers might be facing a number of issues during the COVID-19 crisis that can have an impact on mental health, including furloughs and layoffs, social isolation, financial hardships and worries, and health concerns for themselves and their families.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Take time this month – and all year round – to promote awareness of worker well-being.

Alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, fatigue and mental distress can all cause impairment in the workplace. “Impairment risks are everyone’s responsibility,” the National Safety Council says.

Menopause, when a woman’s menstrual cycle stops permanently, typically occurs between age 45 and 55. According to the National Institutes of Health, it can last anywhere from seven to 14 years.

Experts say employers need to make workers’ mental health as high of a priority as physical health. A big step in that process: confronting the stigma that often accompanies mental health disorders.

In Episode 44, the S+H team examines the October issue’s feature story on respirable crystalline silica. Also, Suzi Craig, vice president of workplace mental health at Mental Health America, joins the podcast to discuss normalizing conversations and attitudes around mental health in the “Five Questions With …” segment. 

Does your job require you to stand for long periods? Or maybe you spend hours lifting and pushing heavy materials. Perhaps you’re in an office environment and sit at a desk for hours while typing on a computer most of the day. These situations are all considered risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.

Hartford, CT — Thirty-three percent of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic are concerned about their mental health, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by health benefits provider Aetna International.

Tilburg, Netherlands — Employers who take a more tailored approach to supporting workers who return to work after a mental health-related absence “could not only prevent mental health problems from becoming more severe but also help employees achieve a more sustainable return,” according to a new research report from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

San Francisco — Slightly more than 70% of employers expect their workers to want a hybrid model when their physical workplace reopens, but only 55% plan to offer that option, according to the results of a recent survey.

San Francisco — Around half of workers say their employer isn’t doing enough to address the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by Total Brain, a mental health and brain performance platform provider.

Atlanta — Almost three-quarters of U.S. employees are concerned about workplace safety standards and cleanliness as a protection against COVID-19, according to the results of a recent survey.

Los Angeles — A recent survey of people who worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that nearly three-quarters experienced new mental health issues, while 65% developed new physical issues.

Boston — Employees who use illicit substances have increased absenteeism – a “compelling argument” for employers to promote employee treatment programs, results of a recent Boston University study show.

Cologne, Germany — Workers who engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors and encourage their colleagues to do the same can help create a more healthful workplace, results of recent study show.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on whether renovation, repair and painting activities in public and commercial buildings create lead-based health hazards.

Washington — In response to multiple stakeholder requests, OSHA has extended until Oct. 28 the comment period on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.

A new and improved R.A.C.E (Rescue, Alert, Confine, and Extinguish) Station is now available. It offers a variety of product options, such as an interactive emergency smartphone, pull station, electric cut-off, strobe light and annunciator, and a digital fire extinguisher stand. Each prop uses Bluetooth 5 technology to communicate between each other for up to 150 meters. The station can be used with a variety of LION training tools.

Safety Toolbox Trainer is a one-stop solution for busy safety trainers who need to keep up with their management and compliance obligations on the go.

When used properly, instruments and monitors can provide workers with critical safety information, such as indoor air quality or if a confined space has a toxic level of gas.

The Product Focus this month is on instruments and monitors.

When a COVID-19 case occurs in the workplace, the local health department may ask an employer for help. Health departments are responsible for leading case investigations, contact tracing and outbreak investigations.

Why does the high-visibility standard have FR requirements?

Is the “one size smaller” rule for women’s personal protective equipment adequate?

Can I use earbud-type devices as hearing protection in industrial settings?

How has personal protective equipment evolved when it comes to safety footwear designed for indoor and manufacturing environments?

Aurora, CO — “Lack of recognition as frontline workers” adds emotional strain to the physical demands, staffing obstacles and COVID-19 concerns of workers who clean and sanitize health care facilities and equipment, results of a recent University of Colorado study suggest.

Rockville, MD — A new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality outlines ways that emergency medical service and 911 workers can be exposed to infectious pathogens and offers recommendations for infection prevention and control.

Washington — Health care workers are reporting burnout and poor mental health at levels higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Washington — NIOSH is encouraging health care industry employers to craft mental health-related communications in a way that helps reduce the stigma around seeking support.

Workers who consider gas detectors and monitors “just another tool” are making a mistake, according to industry experts.

Rockville, MD — Mental health is “just as important for your safety as that harness or anything else that you’re wearing,” Mechanical Contractors Association of America member Ricky Reams says in a new video.

Washington — Preventing harassment in the construction industry is the focus of a new guidance document from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

New York — The Building Trades Employers’ Association is calling on local, state and federal leaders to adopt reforms aimed at enhancing mental health awareness in the construction industry.

Silver Spring, MD — Nearly 1 out of 5 construction workers report having anxiety or depression, and the overwhelming majority of them haven’t sought expert help, a new report shows.

New York — Emphasizing that failure to follow construction codes and project-specific requirements can put both people and property at risk, the New York City Department of Buildings is reminding contractors about 17 procedures they need to follow during excavation and trench work.

How do I incorporate industrial hygiene into my facility’s safety management program?

Download this white paper from Thermomega to learn about the most-cited violations to OSHA, ANSI and ASSE regulations on showers and eyewash stations. Keep your facility compliant and your workers protected.

What’s the difference between active and passive secondary containment? Does my container require secondary containment?

What is micro-content, and how can it keep workers safe?

When it comes to the legal use of marijuana, how do we balance safety and worker rights?

What are the top ways to engage employees and contractors during safety training?

What’s needed for effective spill response in a loading dock area?

How do I go about aligning to a safety management system standard such as ISO 45001? What do I need to do?

What data points are most important for safety programs and how can organizations track them?

Do fall clearance requirements vary depending on where the user chooses to tie-off overhead or on foot?

By taking basic precautions, workers can safely mix, handle and finish concrete without incident.

With a smooth leather upper, cushioned Skechers Memory Foam footbed and non-slip rubber traction sole, the Relaxed Fit Eldred SR casual lace-up sneaker is EH Safe rated (ASTM F2413-05).

Tumwater, WA — A new webpage offers resources for fostering mental wellness in the workplace and supporting workers who have a diagnosed mental illness.