Out Loud Blog

Have you seen the Seinfeld episode where Elaine finds herself snacking on cake almost every day at the office? At first, she’s frustrated with the constant stream of birthday, get-well or goodbye celebrations. But when she tries to give up the cake, she realizes she’s hooked on the afternoon sugar rush.

Elaine isn’t alone. For many of us, the office is one more place that poses a threat to our healthy intentions. Whether you’re nibbling on donuts and bagels during a morning meeting or mingling at an office party, social pressures may impact how much you eat – especially if you’re a people-pleaser.

According to researchers at Case Western University, people-pleasers – those who strive to keep their social relationships smooth and comfortable – particularly are at risk of overeating in social situations. The researchers framed their findings around social events, like the upcoming Super Bowl parties, but their findings also may strike a chord for those of us facing down food at office parties or meetings.

Passing on that jelly-filled donut in a meeting while everyone else is enjoying one is hard enough, but people-pleasers have an especially tough time. If people-pleasers feel a sense of social pressure to eat, they often will eat more to match what others are consuming. And that comes with consequences.

“Those who overeat in order to please others tend to regret their choices later. It doesn’t feel good to give in to social pressures,” said Julie Exline, a Case Western Reserve psychologist and lead author of the study. In addition to the guilt, you may compromise your health, which in turn could impact your productivity at work, as other research suggests.

It’s something to keep in mind when the cake comes out (again) for a coworker’s birthday. In the end, while indulging in those office goodies might make you feel a part of the team, you’re the only one who has to battle with your waistline – and your health – later.

The research findings were reported in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.

For more on workplace wellness and fitness initiatives, read our April feature, “Workplace Workouts: Combating Employee Obesity.”

In today’s professional landscape, it is not uncommon for EHS professionals to also don the risk manager hat. While managing risk has much to do with mitigating risks, the risk manager’s responsibilities do not stop there.

In addition to risk mitigation, a successful risk manager also effectively manages loss cases to minimize the magnitude of the loss. One of the most beneficial tools in accomplishing this is a comprehensive return-to-work program, commonly referred to in industry as an RTW program.

What is a Return-to-Work Program?

An RTW program is an employer-implemented program that allows employees who have medically assigned work restrictions the opportunity to return to work under modified or restricted work assignments (commonly referred to as a light-duty assignment) in accordance with the prescribed work restrictions. The RTW program is done under the direction of the employee’s treating physician.

The Benefits of RTW Programs

RTW programs are mutually beneficial to both the affected employee and the company. Employees benefit by being expedited back to work and provided modified work assignments rather than being placed on disability pay (which often is only a percentage of the full wage) or worse, laid off (which has historically been a concern in some industries). In many cases, RTW programs also accelerate physical recovery – the opportunity for re-injury is minimized since employees are required to adhere to their medical restrictions while at work.

Employers stand to reap several benefits from an RTW program, including: the fruits of fostering good faith and loyalty towards their respective employees (a well taken care of employee is more likely to readily return to full duty as soon as medically feasible), controlling worker compensation costs (which in turn controls experience modification ratings and insurance premiums) and preventing and/or limiting lost work day cases.

RTW programs also help maintain the line of communication between the injured employee and the company. If an employee is not promptly returned to work, that communication usually is severed, which almost always eliminates effective case management opportunities.

A Return to Loyalty

Successful business leaders tend to identify human capital as a company’s greatest asset, and RTW programs safeguard those assets. RTW programs are a must for companies interested in ethical employee relations and productive risk management techniques.

In short, RTW programs are not only the right thing to do both ethically and professionally, but they go a long way in establishing a stable, loyal work force. That’s a return any employer would want.

EHS Today guest blogger Jason Townsell, CSP, was named the 2010 Future Leader in EHS. He works for AECOM as a program safety manager at San Diego International Airport.

My office is situated among a group of publications known as “the food group.” These folks are editors and graphic designers for publications related to restaurants and food service management. Pretty much every week, someone in the group will bring in cupcakes, candy or donuts. Plus, being in the hospitality industry, they constantly receive boxes of sweet gourmet treats. They always share with me and they always seem to be in a good mood.

Coincidence? Apparently not.

Personally, I never needed a reason to eat a piece of chocolate or a bite of pie or cake. However, a group of researchers from North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Gettysburg College have found that people who have a sweet tooth actually have sweeter dispositions than those who enjoy savory treats or no treats at all. In the study, titled, “Sweet Taste Preferences and Experiences Predict Pro-Social Inferences, Personalities and Behaviors,” published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, volunteers who ate a piece of Dove chocolate were more likely to volunteer to help another person than those who chose a cracker or opted for nothing.

“It is striking that helpful and friendly people are considered ’sweet’ because taste would seem to have little in common with personality or behavior. Yet, recent psychological theories of embodied metaphor led us to hypothesize that seemingly innocuous metaphors can be used to derive novel insights about personality and behavior,” said study co-author, Brian Meier, Ph.D.

Michael D. Robinson, NDSU professor of psychology, added, “Our results suggest there is a robust link between sweet tastes and pro-social behavior. Such findings reveal that metaphors can lead to unique and provocative predictions about people’s behaviors and personality traits.”

It would be simplistic to say that chocolate will cure the problems our country and the world face, but it can’t hurt to eat a piece or two of chocolate and be nicer and more helpful to one another.

I recently returned from a week-long vacation in Utah and Arizona, where I spent hours almost every day hiking in canyons, the desert and/or at high elevation, all while camping in some remote areas.

While I was happy to get away from it all (no cell phone reception? Check. Traveling without a computer for once? Check. Forgetting about the “real world”? Check!), the nature of the trip meant that safety could never fully leave my mind.

From wearing UPF-protective clothing to save my skin from the hazards of the desert sun to carrying liters of water, consuming enough salt, always carrying a headlamp, never hiking alone and focusing on hygiene while preparing meals at far-flung campsites, I found that part of my brain was still in “safety mode.”

My trip ended at the Grand Canyon, which felt like being at Disneyland compared to the more remote locations I’d just come from. Even so, attention to safety was especially important here — particularly when it came to hiking down into the canyon, where the temperature could transition from “cool” to “warm” to “sweltering” by 8am.

My first hike was a short one, only about a mile down the South Kaibab trail, which is steeper than the Bright Angel trail and does not have any access to water. My husband and I had barely begun when we were stopped by two park employees who proceeded to give us the third degree: How much water were we carrying? Did it have electrolytes? How far were we hiking? Were we aware of the windy conditions? And on and on.

We were a bit surprised to be stopped like that, but even so, we appreciated the questions. While we were well-prepared for our hike, many others on the trail weren’t. We noticed people hiking past our 1-mile turnaround point wearing flip-flops and carrying tiny water bottles — or no water at all. Worse, it was still the hot part of the day, so they presumably were going to make the grueling hike up in the heat without enough water.

When we later hiked 3 miles down the Bright Angel trail, no rangers interrogated us, perhaps in part because this trail has some rest stops with running water. Even so, others definitely could have benefited from the third degree. Like the woman who approached us to ask for a “just a drop” of our water during the hike back up to the rim. She’d hiked as far as we had but had brought no water at all. Clearly, she was struggling. We offered more water but she took only the drop she asked for, which she claimed was enough to wet her mouth and keep her going to the top.

That woman, along with many unprepared hikers we passed that day, managed to make it back to the rim without having to be rescued by rangers. But that’s not the case for everyone, particularly those optimists who think they can hike all the way from the rim to the river and back in one day.

The National Park Service FAQ page about hiking in the Grand Canyon makes it clear that preparation is key:

“Depending on how prepared you are, your trip can be a vacation or a challenge, a revelation or an ordeal. The majority of Grand Canyon hikers are here for the first time, and although many are avid hikers, they find that hiking the Grand Canyon is very different from most other hiking experiences. They tend to react to the experience in one of two ways, either they can’t wait to get back, or they swear they will never do it again.”

Because I had enough water and food, and because I rested in the shade on the way up and paced myself, my hiking experience in the Grand Canyon was a pleasant one. The same goes for my vacation in general — I’m happy to report that I came home with little more than a few mosquito bites. And while I learned that taking a vacation from the real world can be refreshing, it’s never a good idea to leave safety at home.

Guest blogger Aaron J. Morrow is a safety consultant, an OSHA 500 trainer, a Cal/OSHA 5109 trainer and a construction risk insurance specialist.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat…

by Aaron J. Morrow

Most of us have heard the phrase, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” This expression is attributed to President Harry S. Truman, who apparently used it in 1949 when his staff was being criticized. Perhaps you’ve used this phrase as a playful insult in times of competition, such as sporting events or game nights with friends (Catch Phrase can get brutal) to suggest that if you can’t handle the pressure, move aside and let someone else step up.

OSHA, meanwhile, has a different view of this “handling heat” idea. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of that hot environment, take a shaded break, drinks lots of water and monitor yourself and fellow employees for heat illness symptoms. This makes more sense considering the vast amount of jobs that require employees to work outdoors in the sun or indoors where there is poor air circulation. That is why OSHA has launched its Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers.

Every year, thousands of workers in the United States are exposed to excessively hot and humid work environments. These jobs range from construction and mining sites, all the way to employees who work in bakeries or commercial kitchens. Many of these workers will experience some sort of heat-related illness, usually as a result of heat exhaustion. Of course, if heat exhaustion isn’t addressed in a timely manner, it can turn into a heat stroke, which can be deadly. It is believed that over 30 workers died last year due to heat stroke.

Heat illness symptoms are an onset of the body’s inability to cope with heat. Your body naturally wants to maintain a core temperature, which it generally accomplishes through sweating. But during extended exposure to hot weather and humidity, this isn’t enough. Your body temperature can rise to a very dangerous level.

According to OSHA’s general duty clause, employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees and must “furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” Employers can do this by providing training about heat stress and prevention; provide cool water for workers; scheduling regular rest breaks in the shade; continuously monitor employees for change in physical and/or mental status; scheduling work during cooler times of the day; being conscious of new or employees returning from a long break who may not be acclimatized yet; and having a plan in place in case of a heat-related emergency situation.

Workers should be able to recognize the different stages of heat illness (heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke) and the symptoms associated with heat stress. For example: headache, nausea, extreme thirst, dizziness, fainting, altered mental status or extreme sweating. In the case of a heat stroke, the individual may stop sweating in hot environments. If you recognize any of these signs, you need to take action.

If you feel someone is suffering from a heat-related illness, immediately call your supervisor. For serious conditions, call 911 or your local emergency response. In the meantime, get the person out of the heat, remove outer clothing, cool the individual off and provide cool drinking water, if they’re able to drink.

While we can’t avoid working outdoors, we can help protect ourselves and our workers from experiencing injury, illness and possibly death from heat-related hazards.

“Sustainability” at the 2011 American Industrial Hygiene conference and expo (AIHce) doesn’t just mean environmental stewardship or green initiatives and work practices — it also refers to the long-term mission, vision and direction of the conference’s two host organizations.

At a May 17 press luncheon at AIHce in Portland, Oregon, leaders from the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) discussed future priorities for their respective organizations.

“One of the things I’m most proud of [in the past year] is being able to redefine a new strategic plan for the next 5 years and clarifying the vision and mission of AIHA,” said outgoing AIHA President Michael T. Brandt, DrPH, CIH. He stressed that this mission is one that AIHA must continuously strive to achieve: the elimination of occupational disease.

He acknowledged that eliminating occupational disease is “a bold vision,” but bold action will be necessary to successfully thwart hazards before workers are exposed.

Brandt added that the Core Competency Task Force, AIHA’s joint effort with ACGIH, currently is focusing on the core competencies of the industrial hygiene professional. AIHA also is launching its first Asia-Pacific conference in October in Singapore and is considering new ways to reach out and partner with potential new members.

Striving for Sustainability

Lisa Brosseau, ScD, CIH, chair of ACGIH, explained at the luncheon that ACGIH is working to remain a sustainable organization and is considering a transition to 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. This might lead to ACGIH focusing more on “social good” instead of being strictly a membership organization. Such a move wouldn’t entail eliminating members but could instead involve a move to member donors or a similar system, she explained.

This possible change is due, in part, to the lawsuits ACGIH faced over its Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs).

Brosseau said she expects a clearer vision for ACGIH in the next 6 to 9 months. She stressed that ACGIH will continue working with AIHA but will remain an independent organization.

Tran Huynh, a student pursuing a Ph.D. in industrial hygiene at the University of Minnesota, was selected as a runner-up in the 2010 Future Leaders in EHS program. This scholarship program was created to support and encourage EHS students as they lead the way in keeping tomorrow’s workers safe. The judging panel recognized Huynh based on her research experience, her excellent grades and references and her dedication to protecting workers from health and safety risks. Below, she shares a special guest blog post about her most recent research in the field.

Tales from the Taconite Mines

by Tran Huynh

My decision to enter the industrial hygiene profession has taken me to many interesting places, from secured animal research facilities to one of the largest taconite mines in North America.

Since September, I have been working on a research project assessing workers’ exposure taconite dusts under the guidance of my advisor. This exposure assessment project is a component of a larger Taconite Worker Lung Health Study that was funded by the state of Minnesota. As part of the study, University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health research teams are investigating the causes of a unique type of lung cancer called mesothelioma among taconite workers in the Mesabi Iron Range in the northeastern part of Minnesota.

My research partner and I are responsible for collecting personal and area air samples at the mines. These samples provide us with information about workers’ current exposure to asbestos and non-asbestos fibers, respirable dust and quartz silica and allow us to evaluate the adequacy of existing dust control measures to protect workers.

The exposure data will later be combined with data from other research teams including historical exposure data dating back in the 1980s, environmental exposure, mortality data, cancer incidence data and respiratory lung survey of workers and their spouses. Analysis of such comprehensive sets of data will help answer many questions, including: Is there a link between exposure to taconite dust and cancer or other health effects? If so, at what levels in occupational setting and in the community?

If evidence of disease is found at a level lower than current legal limit, then the policy needs to be re-evaluated in order to better protect workers in the mining industry.

An Engineering Marvel

The first few weeks at the mines were, to put it simply, overwhelming. The mining pit stretches hundreds of acres. The haul truck is the size of a 2-story house. The mining process and all the equipment – including rock crushers, rod mills, the dust collection system, mobile equipment and more – are an engineering marvel.

When we arrive at the mining plant to collect our samples, an escort helps us maneuver through the plant. Our escort teaches us about the extraction process, the various types of equipment used, sources of dust and health and safety measures. One time, we even had the opportunity to see a blast (from a safe distance, of course) at the pit, where we observed the blasting engineers coordinate with other mining staff via radio to ensure no one was near designated perimeter.

It has been such a privilege to be part of this project. I can’t imagine where I’ll end up next.

For more information about the study, visit http://taconiteworkers.umn.edu.

Every year, our America’s Safest Companies (ASC) award ceremony and reception earns its place as one of my favorite work events. And it’s not the food and champagne that make me look forward to this event – it’s the opportunity to meet the people who make their organizations some of the safest in the nation.

When Executive Editor Sandy Smith and I read through the ASC applications every year and make our determinations, it quickly becomes apparent that some companies just “get it.” As we sift through the many fine entries, some companies rise to the top because their applications express a sincere, whole-hearted dedication to fostering a safe, healthy and productive work force.

At the ASC reception, we get the chance to meet some of the leaders and employees responsible for these stellar safety and health programs. This helps me develop a more complete picture of how and why safety is valued within these organizations. Plus, it’s wonderful to see how honored these recipients are to be recognized for their dedication to safety.

The November EHS Today podcast celebrates America’s Safest Companies. Representatives from four winning companies share some of their secrets to safety success and express what this award means to them. The podcast even includes some of the sounds from the 2010 ASC awards ceremony and reception, which took place Oct. 4 in the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego (reception space pictured above). The November 2010 issue of EHS Today includes profiles of all ASC winners.

Finally, stay tuned for an upcoming blog entry that will share some tips and words of wisdom for the ASC applicants. After all, it’s not too early to start preparing for next year’s application season.

2010 America’s Safest Companies

2010 America’s Safest Companies Podcast

EHS Today works to provide its readers with the best and most up-to-date occupational health and safety news available, and that was no different during the H1N1 flu scare. Two mathematical biologists now reveal that media coverage of a pandemic can significantly help prevent the spread of disease.

During outbreaks of serious infectious diseases, many people closely follow media reports and, as a result, take precautions – such as staying home, getting vaccinated, avoiding crowds, using disinfectants, canceling travel plans and wearing face masks.

Known as “self-isolation,” these precautions significantly can reduce the severity of an outbreak, according to mathematical modeling done by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va.

“The more forcefully the media provides information about pandemic infections and deaths, the more the total number of infections is reduced,” said Howard Weiss, a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Mathematics. “Media coverage also reduces the maximum number of infections at any particular time, which is important for allocating the resources needed for treating infectious diseases.”

The benefit of publicly reporting disease outbreaks seems obvious, and public health officials in the United States have a policy of regularly communicating with the news media about such incidents. But according to Weiss, not all world governments choose to communicate so well – and nobody had used rigorous mathematical techniques to study the impact of that communication before.

Adjusting the Model

Epidemiologists use the S-I-R model to anticipate the effect of disease outbreaks. The basic model places individuals into one of three groups signified by each letter of the acronym:

• Susceptible individuals, who are vulnerable to the disease;

• Infected individuals, who have the disease;

• Removed individuals, who have been vaccinated, have isolated themselves from the population, have already recovered from the disease – or have died.

Weiss and collaborator Anna Mummert, an assistant professor of mathematics at Marshall University, modified that model to take into account ways that individuals could move from the susceptible group to the removed group without passing through the infected group. By self-isolating as a result of news media warnings, they reasoned, individuals could move directly into the removed class because they are no longer susceptible.

“On a chart showing the number of infected people at any one time, as you increase the intensity of the media coverage, you substantially decrease the number of infections,” Weiss noted. “We are assuming that people self-isolate at a rate that is proportional to the amount of media coverage, though we would like to study that in more detail.”

The sooner the media coverage of a pandemic begins, the fewer individuals ultimately will be infected. But Weiss said the model shows that almost any media coverage is helpful at reducing the extent of a pandemic.

“Telling the public always helps, but the longer you wait, the less it helps,” he said. “If you wait long enough, the effect of media coverage is essentially negligible.”

Weiss acknowledges that strong communications about such dreaded diseases as Ebola could create public panic. In those rare cases, public health officials must weigh the benefits against the risks.

“In general, our advice to public health officials anywhere in the world is not to hold back,” he added. “They should get out the news about infectious disease outbreaks loudly and quickly. It’s clear that vigorous media reporting can have a substantial effect on reducing the impact of an outbreak.”

EHS Today plays its part by covering pandemic news and providing businesses with tools and advice for creating pandemic plans:

H1N1: Spreading the Message

CDC Releases New Flu Guidance for Employers

Industrial Hygienists Urge Businesses to Prepare for a Pandemic Now

Mass Notification Systems: A Useful Tool during Pandemic Response