Preparing the Occupational Safety and Health Workforce for Future Disruptions

Details

• Personal Author:
  Caruso DL ; Edwards, Nicole T. ; Felknor, Sarah A. ; Howard J ; Streit, Jessica M. K.
• Description:
  Background: Despite some emerging lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence suggests the world remains largely underprepared for-and vulnerable to-similar threats in the future. Methods: In 2022, researchers at the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) led a team of volunteers to explore how future disruptions, such as pandemics, might impact work and the practice of occupational safety and health (OSH). This qualitative inquiry was framed as a strategic foresight project and included a series of activities designed to help better understand, prepare for, and influence the future. Results: Findings from a thorough search for indicators of change were synthesized into nine critical uncertainties and four plausible future scenarios. Analysis of these outputs elucidated three key challenges that may impact OSH research, policy, and practice during future disruptions: (1) data access, (2) direct-to-worker communications, and (3) mis- and dis-information management. Conclusions: A robust strategic response is offered to address these challenges, and next steps are proposed to enhance OSH preparedness and institutionalize strategic foresight across the OSH community. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communication Health Promotion Occupational Health Public Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Alternative Futures Communication Communication Research Data Access Disinformation Health Communications Information Dissemination Information Systems Misinformation Occupational Safety And Health Public Health Scenarios Strategic Foresight Sudden Disruptions

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; District of Columbia ; Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OD - Office of the Director ; WSD - Western States Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  55-72
• Volume:
  67
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068804
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2024 Jan; 67(1):55-72
• Contact Point Address:
  Jessica M. K. Streit, PhD, MS, CHES®, Office of Research Integration, Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Ave MS C24, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
• Email:
  jstreit@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e80c828fd0c538cce9ee960eeb707cd5891fcc9cda8922bf410519b79a4e73cafbd44ae4ac9c044daf8b4b24734df62cacabd6fd4039c995a7a45cdf686d86c6
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207379/cdc_207379_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.57 MB ]