Worker Wellness Blog: New Helmet Mandate
Date Posted: December 19, 2023
Posted In: Discussion, News, Workforce,
by Dr. John Gaal
Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum carries the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular feature.
The MO Works Initiative focuses on creating healthy and recovery friendly workplaces; connecting laid-off workers with job-search or upskilling resources for future employment; and collaborating with community partners to offer innovative points of entry to traditional apprenticeship opportunities.
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog consists of topics concerning the rise of homelessness across the USA, in general, but more specifically regarding our Vets; to how a prominent pharmacist promotes the crucial role NARCAN now plays in our country; to how some common US military training exercises have not only been detrimental to soldiers’ brains but society as well.
Today, I wish to shed some light on a recent announcement from OSHA that mandates ALL of their construction inspectors begin using Safety Helmets vs hard hats on job sites.
As noted previously in this blog, according to the CDC (2016), from 2003-10, TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) made up nearly 25% of all construction fatalities…the most of ANY category! Let’s hope that by OSHA modeling this evidenced-based behavior others across the industry will soon follow.
I personally thank the likes of Alberici, McCarthy, Milwaukee Tool, and ASCC for taking the lead on this key safety matter!
Change always seems to bring about pushback…due to fear of the unknown. Over time, the industry has and will adapt not unlike it did for drug testing, safety glasses, safety vests, etc.
As a retired Carpenter, speaking from experience, I wish hearing protection was mandatory and enforced 40+ years ago.
Please check out the rest of this week’s blog: moworksinitiative.org/blog
Sources:
https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/trade/12112023
https://blog.bluebeam.com/safety-helmets-hard-hats-construction/