Several years ago we began to create safety meeting guides demonstrating how health truly does impact safety. We had learned through our Oregon Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (OR-FACE) Program about the effectiveness of Toolbox Talks based on workplace fatalities that have occurred in Oregon. We knew that safety committees were eager for more content to share, and that most safety leaders do understand how health related issues, such as not getting enough sleep or feeling stressed out, not only affect our personal health but impact organizational operations, including safety. As we connect with many of you at the conferences and educational events we attend, we frequently hear from you how helpful these guides have been. Yet, we know there are just as many if not more organizations that could benefit from these free tools.

Currently we have twelve available meeting guides in English, and all but two are also available in Spanish. (Yes, we are working on getting those final two translated.) Each guide is posted on our Health Impacts Safety webpage for download at no cost. We also share additional resources and links related to each of the twelve topics. Finally, you can download a PDF that includes all twelve in either language and with a calendar to encourage using one per month, titled A Year of Impact: Health Impacts Safety (English) or (Spanish – guides only). The currently available guides include (listing English titles below):

1. What’s sleep got to do with it?
2. What’s my heart got to do with it?
3. What’s diabetes got to do with it?
4. What’s the sun got to do with it?
5. What’s sitting got to do with it?
6. What’s eating got to do with it?
7. Why work when you are sick?
8. What’s stress got to do with it?
9. What’s exercise got to do with it?
10. What’s distracted driving got to do with it?
11. What’s respect got to do with it?
12. What’s mindfulness got to do with it?

Last year, we found that the most popular guide to be downloaded is guide TWH#1 on sleep, but all of the guides have been downloaded by users.

We would love to hear from you, either in the comments below, or by email. If you have used the guides, tell us how you have done that (e.g., through safety or wellness committees or?) and if and how they have been useful to provoke learning, conversations and changing procedures or policies.

Moving into 2020 we plan to update all of the guides, as well as expand to other topics. Also let us know if you have topics to suggest – we love to hear from you! And please do share this blog or the guides to others you know who may find them useful. We appreciate your support and our partnership.

Additional Resources:
Health Impacts Safety meeting guides
OR-FACE Toolbox Talks
OccHealthSci Resource Directory << Safety Toolbox Talks