Environmental Health and Safety

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In celebration of Women in Construction Week, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Safe Site Check In announced the results of the “Digital Technology in Construction: 2022” survey. Participants included 600 women throughout the United States working in the construction industry at companies with revenues between $500,000 to over $1B annually.

Owners and operators of refineries, chemical plants and manufacturing facilities must change the way employees work as quickly as possible, and it is clear yesterday’s traditional operating model of onsite availability has evolved – not just due to current circumstances, but because of “The Great Resignation,” retirement of experienced plant workers is creating a shortfall of key skills.

Over the last two years, we have all sought ways to protect ourselves and those around us from harmful bacteria and viruses, and these efforts will likely continue well into the future. These additional precautions, which have become an integral part of daily routines, will translate into professional environments as employees begin to return to their workspaces in the new year. 

It's important to note that power outages can affect all types of industries and bring operations to a screeching halt, contributing to a loss in productivity, revenue and material. Some electrical failures can even increase the risks of workers facing serious or life-threatening injuries. 

Employers play an important role in engaging employees in healthy lifestyles, and research shows that employers who invest in the emotional health of their workforce see a return on that investment with improved safety performance. In fact, mental and emotional health, as it relates to worker safety and productivity, is one of the hottest topics being discussed in board rooms, human resource departments and executive offices across industries. 

Since the COVID-19 vaccination was made available to the public in late 2020, the topic of vaccination has been widely discussed across the country including in the daily news, by governments and agencies, in the courts, in communities, and in the workplace. From the very beginning, federal, state, and local governments/agencies have engaged in campaigns to encourage vaccination; passed laws mandating vaccination in the workplace, public places, government buildings, and elsewhere; and incentivized vaccination. Indeed, President Biden’s Administration made COVID-19 vaccination a predominant part of its national strategy to combat the pandemic. 

What if we could crowdsource our EHS data? A prime example focuses on the safety successes of the U.S. airline industry - no commercial U.S. airline has experienced a fatal crash since 2009! Their safety strategy has been so effective that the healthcare industry, which currently experiences 250,000 unnecessary patient deaths a year in the U.S., is attempting to follow its protocols. So, what has helped the airline industry achieve such immense safety feats and how can EHS leaders in industries outside of the airline industry take a page out of their book?

How do employers monitor the health and safety of personnel without encroaching on their privacy and productivity? What’s more, how do you ensure they’re wearing the proper protective gear at all times and also check that they’re utilizing safety protocols and utilities appropriately? The answer lies with wearable devices.