We are pleased with the success of our COVID Conversation series, held twice monthly and continuing through June 2021. While many safety and health professionals, industrial hygienists and occupational health nurses join us live, others find it easier to watch the recording on our Oregon Healthy Workforce Center (OHWC) YouTube channel. Our Institute and OHWC particularly appreciate our partnership with the Oregon State Association of Occupational Health Nurses, including their sharing information about these events in American Association of Occupational Health Nurses chapter updates, as well as partnership with the Columbia-Willamette Chapter of ASSP. Initially we believed the content might be solely relevant for those of us working in Oregon and Washington, yet we are finding broad relevance regardless of location, and welcome anyone interested to join us. We understand how important it is to collaborate between our disciplines as we approach occupational hazards, challenges and controls, and COVID-19 is no different.

This week’s COVID Conversation #5: What about manufacturing? seamlessly illustrated the importance of an organization’s positive safety culture in efforts to address workplace pandemic protections, including the power of organizational values of trust and respect. We appreciate how naturally this discussion led to concepts relevant to Total Worker Health. Watch this session embedded below or on YouTube. As you find a few spare moments you can catch up on all the previous episodes, as well as register for what’s ahead.

COVID Conversation episodes: catch up now

COVID Convo #6: Let’s talk about poultry processing (register now)
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Dave McNiel, Regional Safety Manager, Foster Farms

COVID Conversation #5: What about manufacturing? (watch below or on YouTube)
Tues., April 13, 2021
Cliff Butler, Environmental, Health and Safety Director
Sherwin Williams/Purdy

COVID Conversation #4: Is EAP enough in the time of COVID-19? (watch on YouTube)
Tues., March 23 2021
June Vining, CEO/Executive Director of Trauma Intervention Programs NW to talk about the mental health impacts of COVID. How do we care for others and ourselves when COVID and “all the other life stuff” threatens to overwhelm? (see recording below)

COVID Conversation #3: Keeping hospital staff safe on the job during COVID-19 (watch on YouTube)
Tues., March 9, 2021
Emily Cooper, BSN, RN and Sophie Butigan, BSN, RN, CMSRN, Portland Veteran’s Administration Hospital

COVID Conversation #2: Bringing it all together (watch on YouTube)
Tues., February 23, 2021
Kim Henry, Industrial Hygienist, SAIF

COVID Convo #1: COVID-19, a fast moving pandemic – How do you catch up – or keep from getting run over? (watch on YouTube)
Tues., February 9, 2021
Joel A. Michels, Nurse Practitioner,
Occupational Health and Well-being Program Manager, City of Portland

Watch this week’s episode

What’s ahead?

Tues., April 27, 2021
COVID Convo #6: Let’s talk about poultry processing (register now)
Dave McNiel, Regional Safety Manager, Foster Farms
Tues., May 11, 2021: TBA
Tues., May 25, 2021: COVID Convo #8: Public facing workplaces: what about restaurants?
Lisa Kinsley, Human Resources, McMenamins pubs, breweries and hotels. (register now)
Tues., June 8, 2021: TBA
Tues., June 22, 2021: Georgia Latham, MS, RN, CCM, LNC, COHN-s, Occupational Health Resources Manager, North America, ON Semiconductor (registration coming soon)

Let us know if you know someone who might like to fill in a spot above.