How COVID-19 Changed Occupational Health and Safety Protocols Everywhere

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Occupational health and safety protocols are essential for ensuring that workers are safe while performing their duties. These protocols can include safety training, emergency planning, and hazard identification. Employers can help protect their workers from potential injuries or illnesses by following these protocols.

When COVID-19 hit, health and safety experts were forced to revise health and safety procedures for everyone. For this post, Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, talks about how health and safety protocols have changed since January 2020.

A change in protocols

As happens with significant societal change, occupational health and safety protocols were forced to change to account for COVID-19. As a result, work environments are now much safer than they used to be.

The most significant change to health and safety protocols was banning certain dangerous materials. Before COVID-19, several hazardous materials, like asbestos, were not allowed in work environments.

As such, asbestos is now banned from all workplaces under federal law. In addition, many other materials are now considered hazardous to health. It's important to be aware of these changes.

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More regulations were also put into place following COVID-19, especially surrounding manufacturing. For example, welding regularly exposes a worker to fumes and radiation. All welding shops must now have proper ventilation and respiratory equipment for their employees.

Workers benefit from these new health and safety protocols, but where does that leave one if they don't work in a factory? The good news is that many of the rules regarding manufacturing will change lives for the better across societies, explains Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP.

Bookmark this page for more insights on occupational health and safety protocols from Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Maintaining mental health in the work environment

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Martin Lloyd Sanders is an expert in public health and occupational safety. He enjoys bringing to light many issues. He especially tries to focus on the problems that might not be getting enough attention. In this blog, he talks about mental health in the workplace.

An increasingly important part of retaining talent lies in psychological well-being, making it very significant for companies to have a robust and well-established mental health policy. This is not just about providing training and programs but also ascertaining that the staff members are better equipped with the knowledge necessary to take care of their mental well-being.

According to Martin Lloyd Sanders, companies should also ensure that the work environment maintains that everything is conducive to the mental well-being of the workforce. This means providing a healthy balance between life and career, reasonable workloads with manageable stress levels to keep workers happy. Happy workers tend to stay in their positions longer.

More is needed than just having the right policies in place. Communicating with staff about these policies is also vital. Employees should be aware of the available resources they have access to and how they can seek help if they need it. It is essential that the culture not discriminate against individuals who seek assistance in these areas.

Having a mentally healthy workplace is not only beneficial for employees, but it can also be good for the business. If employees are in great shape in the mental aspect, they are likely to be more productive. They can respond better to issues and problems they face, and they are more likely to remain loyal to the organization.

A psychologically healthy workplace can help boost the productivity of each employee, which can have a significant effect on the bottom line of a business. It is a win-win situation for all.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, shares the latest trends, news, and policy updates on public health and occupational safety. For more similar articles, please visit this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.