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.

Two signs that a building may be dealing with an infestation

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Martin Lloyd Sanders is an expert on occupational safety, and one of the things that he always deals with is health hazards in the workplace. Many of these health hazards involve biological factors and infestations of all sorts. This blog discusses two signs that a building may be dealing with an infestation.

1. Mold

You might think that it's very common to encounter mold in the workplace every so often. Usually, these become more visible in corners and other tight spaces in your office. However, what is scarier is that any visible population of mold that you see is possibly just the tip of the iceberg. Molds are fungi, and these tend to grow in huge numbers in the dark. That bit of mold in the corner of your office ceiling is the least of your worries. You should be more concerned with a more massive colony potentially residing in your ceiling in its entirety.

2. Rodents

In the office, you may have experienced getting the snack you stashed stolen by somebody else, and so you say that you smell a "rat" in the workplace, which is probably one of your workmates. However, this is not always a figurative meaning. If your food items suddenly go missing, you may literally have a rodent infestation at work. Watch out for messy scraps of food and food wrappers scattered in odd places. Also, watch out for rat droppings.

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You must remember that molds and rodents carry with them several harmful diseases. If you don't act on the problem quickly, you might have difficulty dealing with it later. Your wisest approach is to have a regular inspection a few times within a year. That's because employee safety should be the company's number one priority.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, led a portfolio of safety, environmental policy, and emergency management services and regulatory oversight for US Department of Health and Human Services. For related reading, 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.

How to file a safety and health complaint

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employees and their representatives have the right to file a safety and health complaint and request an inspection of their workplace by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) if they see a serious hazard or OSHA violation. 

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The complaint, OSHA states, should be filed as soon as possible after noting the hazard or potential violation, as OSHA citations may only be issued for violations that currently exist or existed in the last six months. 

A worker or employee has several options for filing a complaint. They may download the OSHA complaint form or request a copy from the local OSHA regional or area office, and then fax or mail it back. Include details such as name, address, and phone number for follow-up, as written complaints like this are more likely to entail an onsite inspection from OSHA. 

One may directly discuss their complaint with OSHA via phone. Call the local, regional, or area office or 1-800-321-OSHA for emergencies or life-threatening hazards. Complaints may also be filed online or by accomplishing this online form. Complains from workers in OSHA-approved state plan states will be forwarded to the appropriate state plan for proper response and action. 

This information comes in handy for workers who not only seek to report hazards at their worksite but also those who have been punished or discriminated against by employers for exercising their employee rights or for refusing to when faced with imminent danger of death or serious injury.

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Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., is an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), and has rendered more than 12 years of service in the occupational safety and health. For similar reads, click here.