GOSH is the Place to Be March 6-9, 2023

GOSH logo that says We Will Be at GOSH 2023

The Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Conference (GOSH) will take place next week, March 6-9, 2023 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. This is the largest safety and health conference in the Northwest and among the largest in the United States. There will be over 150 workshops and presentations and more than 125 exhibitors showing the latest safety and health products and services. The Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences (Institute) is honored to be a sponsor of this event. In addition to participating as an exhibitor, three researchers and educators from the Institute will be presenting. We urge you to prioritize attending this important occupational health and safety professional development event. Institute presentations include the following: 

Tuesday March 7th, 3-4:30pm  

Session # 786, “Why We Sleep and the Consequences of When We Don’t” 

Andrew McHill, Assistant Professor, Director of Sleep, Chronobiology and Health Laboratory OHSU 

Abstract: Humans spend over a third of their lives asleep, yet millions of individuals obtain an insufficient amount of sleep on a daily basis. We are just now beginning to understand reasons why we need to sleep and both the long- and short-term consequences of not getting enough sleep. This talk focuses on several reasons why we need to sleep, common daily activities that unknowingly (or knowingly) disrupt our sleep, and the consequences to your personal and professional life of when you don’t get enough sleep.  

Wednesday March 8th, 10:30-11:45am  

Session # 839 “Safety Supportive Supervisor Training to Reduce Psycho-social Stressors at Work” 

Leslie Hammer, PhD, Associate Director of Research, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Co-director Oregon Healthy Workforce Center Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, OHSU 

Abstract: Job stress and other psycho-social factors such as work-life conflict and poor workplace cultures serve as negative occupational exposures affecting worker safety, health, and well-being. Dr. Hammer shares findings from a study that evaluated the development of the Safety and Health Improvement Program’s Safety Supervisor Supportive Training, as well as looked at how workplace culture affects the training’s effectiveness. Taking a Total Worker Health® approach, she discusses the role of occupational stress and other psychosocial stressors on workers’ safety, health, and well-being, as well as the role of the supervisor/ manager in reducing worker stress. 

professional photo of Dr. Costa-Black
Katia Costa-Black, PhD
Liz Hill, SAIF Corporation

Thursday March 9th 8:30-12:00pm

Session # 913 “Total Worker Health® 101” 

Katia Costa-Black, our Senior Manager for Education and Partnerships, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, OHSU and Liz Hill, Total Worker Health Advisor, SAIF Corporation 

Abstract: This class is the prerequisite course within the newly created Oregon Total Worker Health (TWH) Alliance curriculum designed by the Oregon Total Worker Health Alliance. Additional curriculum modules augment and broaden knowledge and skill sets within the TWH discipline and evolve as informed by research and practice. The purpose of the new curriculum is to create and provide consistent and reproducible training that is research-based and supports current practice. 

 Thursday March 9, 1:00-3:30pm 

Session # 959 “Total Worker Health: Workplace Solutions” 

Katia Costa-Black, our Senior Manager for Education and Partnerships, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, OHSU and Liz Hill, Total Worker Health Advisor, SAIF Corporation 

Abstract: This course can be a follow-up to “Total Worker Health 101,” or it can be taken as a standalone. Attendees should have a basic knowledge about Total Worker Health concepts. In this session, examples of Total Worker Health policies, practices, and procedures are shared and discussed. Course participants are invited to share their successes and challenges as related to the topic. This course is part of the Oregon Total Worker Health Alliance curriculum. 

The institute will be well represented at GOSH. There is still time to register. Have a look at the full program. Hope to see you there.