Managing Psychosocial Hazards in U.S. Organizations with Ellen Cobb

Psychological Health and Safety in Government - with Mayor Maria Mitchell: Much of the focus regarding safety in the United States is on private sector organizations, given that the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 exempts state and local governments that do not have state plans. This fact, combined with the complex and often highly political nature of public services, often creates significant risk for government and public sector employees based on the diversity and extent of hazards they are exposed to, including psychosocial hazards. The environment can be even more hazardous for workers with cultural differences from the majority in a workplace. The episode features Mayor Maria Mitchell of the City of Miami Springs, Florida. She is not only an extremely skilled and experienced safety professional but a national leader in efforts to provide for the safety of government and public sector workers. Mayor Mitchell will share her perspective on physical and psychological safe by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

64 min listen

Managing Psychosocial Hazards in U.S. Organizations with Ellen Cobb: In Episode 23, host Dr. I. David Daniels is joined by a workplace bullying researcher with experience as a social worker and civil rights attorney. Ellen Cobb is also an attorney and author of three books, including her most recent “Managing Psychosocial Hazards and Work-Related Stress in Today’s Work Environment. International Insights for U. S. Organizations.” In the book and this episode, Ms. Cobb discusses her research regarding how countries around the world are managing psychosocial hazards and what organizations in the United States can learn from these other countries. One critique of the state of Psychological Health and Safety in the United States is the lack of regulation or adopted standards regarding psychosocial hazards and how they should be addressed. However, much of what we know in this country is the product of the research that’s been done on bullying in the workplace, which we recognize as the p by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

58 min listen

Chaplaincy, Psych Health, and Safety - with Pastor Warren Henry: In addition to focusing on physical health, the mind, will, and emotions can also play a role in one’s psychological health and safety. For the past two decades, Pastor Warren Henry has been helping public sector employees in his community, primarily in the public safety space, through his involvement in and leadership of a local government-supported chaplaincy. This episode will highlight how he has attempted to assist others in times of emotional and mental crisis, and he’ll share some of the challenges he’s faced personally, as well as his thoughts about how Chaplaincy can play a role in an organization’s psychological health and safety efforts. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

57 min listen

Sometimes Safe is Not Safe Enough - with Dr. Linda Martin: In this episode, we’ll speak with one of the top safety professionals and academics in America about the state of safety and the fact that Sometimes Safe, Is Not Safe Enough. We’ll talk about some of the reasons why this is the case and what needs to be done to make the workplace safer, including the importance of recognizing the impact that psychosocial hazards have on work in the United States. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

66 min listen

From Target to Advocate - with Christin Peeples: Christin Peeples shares the story of her exposure to 10 years of workplace bullying and abuse, and how it affected her both emotionally and physically, as well as how this experience led her to form a non-profit that focuses on assisting others that are facing similar circumstances. Her perspective is that often, abusive behavior is directed not at those who are weak and incompetent, but at those that are strong and highly competent. Christin uses her story to share practical tips and strategies to help targets of abusive workplace behavior deal with the impacts and find a path to better psychological health and safety. Her lived experience has transformed her from the target of abuse to an advocate for dignity in the workplace. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

63 min listen

Psych Health and Safety, A Global Perspective - with the PH&S All Stars!: In the first episode of Psych Health and Safety USA, we’ll be talking to a group of global psych health and safety podcast hosts about the world of work and what it looks like in their respective countries. We’ll discuss their experiences and their perspective on how the U. S. compares and what can be done to bridge any gaps. We’ll talk about the various standards and policies that have been implemented to improve psych health and safety. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

61 min listen

Balancing the Power Imbalance through Collective Bargaining - with Andrea Hall: “Labor Day” is celebrated on the first Monday in September. However, in the workplace, there is often an imbalance of power between management and labor that creates a hazard for both. The COVID 19 pandemic, compounded by the rise of concerns about diversity and the Great Resignation, has helped workers recognize their power to influence how they are treated has changed. One way of balancing the scales is collective bargaining. This episode will feature a labor leader who, though multiple instances of serendipity, led a group of workers to a historic collective bargaining agreement. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

66 min listen

Psychological Health and Safety from an Organizational Point of View - with Dr. Andrew Holter: While a psychosocial hazard is unique to the experience or perception of an individual, a culture of psychological health and safety is an organizational issue that requires organizational attention. This episode will focus on the role that an organizational psychologist can play in workers' emotional and mental health. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

48 min listen

Psych Health, Safety, and the Law - with Adele Abrams: While the U. S. may lack a specific set of laws that address psychosocial hazards in the workplace, some have a depth of understanding of the intersection between safety and the law. Adele Abrams is not only a safety professional but a licensed attorney with a law practice in three states. Attorney Abrams has expertise in both general industry and mining, including involvement in over 400 fatality investigations. She believes that many of the root causes of these incidents could have been traced back to psychosocial hazards had these kinds of hazards been better understood and investigated. Attorney Abrams will discuss some of the challenges that organizations face when dealing with workers' mental and emotional well-being, including some of the unfounded fears that stand in the way of focusing on the total health of workers. She will share the experience of workers and advise workers, employees, and safety professionals to by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

65 min listen

The Long Road to Healthier Workplaces - with Dr. Gary Namie: Dr. Namie will discuss his journey as a workplace bullying researcher and advocate over the past 25 years and his efforts to change the nature of work through the adoption of the Healthy Workplace Bill. From his experience of vicarious exposure to his wife’s experience of bullying, through their formation of an organization to train and develop anti-bullying advocates across the United States, supporting bullying targets and consulting with organizations, unions, and leadership groups as well as serving as an expert witness. Dr. Namie, his wife Dr. Ruth Namie, and the Workplace Bullying Institute have been pursuing healthier workplaces for years. He will discuss a number of important concepts that are essential in establishing a psychologically healthy and safe environment. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

71 min listen

Psychological Health and Safety through Relationship-Centered Leadership - with Rosa Carrillo: With a vast number of people leaving the workforce, employers have been left wondering how they've failed to retain talent. A recent report points to managers as a key factor. In a recent survey, 82% indicated they would consider quitting their job because of a bad manager. There is little doubt that leadership in an organization has a tremendous impact on how safe and comfortable they feel in that very same organization. Leaders have a significant role in making sure that safety is more than just a slogan. Our guest is not only an experienced safety professional, but she’s a published author that has a unique approach to safety leadership. Rosa Carrillo is the author of “The Relationship Factor in Safety Leadership.” by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

57 min listen

Demanding Safe and Healthy Work - with Jessica Martinez: One of the core indicators of the level of psychological health and safety in an organization is the degree of freedom that workers have to share their concerns about various topics that affect their safety and their comfort level after doing so. In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Jessica Martinez, the Co-Executive Director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. The mission of NCOSH is to “build the power of workers and their organizations to demand jobs that are safe, healthy, and free from exploitation and abuse.” NCOSH is a federation of 26 grassroots worker groups and the home of the worker’s health and safety movement in the U.S. National COSH is a broad community that includes members of unions and workers’ centers, health and safety professionals, academic specialists, and non-profit advocates. They specialize in peer learning, training, support for worker organizing, and advocacy by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

48 min listen

Addressing Bullying in the Fire Rescue Service - with Fire Chiefs Kerwood and Emanuel: In the aftermath of the suicide of a 31-year-old firefighter in 2016, family and colleagues suggested that one contributing factor was lewd and harassing comments that had been made about the firefighter in a popular online forum. In response to this and other incidents, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) established a Task Force to help identify and prevent bullying, harassment, and violence in the fire rescue service. Across the United States for the past 100 years, October has been celebrated as National Fire Prevention Month. In 2022, October is also the 16th celebration of World Bullying Prevention Month. In this episode of the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast, Fire Chief Dr. Scott Kerwood and Fire Chief David Emanuel discuss their involvement in ongoing efforts to address one of the most commonly occurring and best understood psychosocial hazards (bullying) and how it i by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

55 min listen

No Cookie Cutter Approaches to Mental Health - with Dr. Tara Miller: A significant portion of the U.S. population lives in areas lacking mental-health workers. Residents of underserved areas have roughly a quarter of the providers they need, in aggregate, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation says. Additionally, more than 150 million people live in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas. The global pandemic has exacerbated this shortage by accelerating the departure of tenured therapists, combined with the lack of entrants into the field, particularly in rural communities and communities of color. Dr. Tara Miller, Ph.D., is a Licensed Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Master Addictions Counselor, Certified Professional Counseling Supervisor, Board Certified Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinician, and Certified Anger Management Specialist in her hometown, a city with a population of 5,000. She is also a business owner, the leader of a non-prof by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

57 min listen

Work Shouldn’t Hurt Emotionally - with Georgia Bryce-Hutchinson: This week's guest, Georgia Bryce-Hutchinson, was educated and trained as an environmental engineer when her lived experience in the workplace motivated her to understand better how the workplace was causing her to feel. This exploration led her to become certified as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Consultant. She is also a speaker and author of "On Your Way to Meeting You: The Journey That Changes Everything" and owner of Building Families According to Pattern, LLC. Georgia combines her ability to think logically with her passion for robust mental health as a motivator to help individuals and families in her clinical practice, including those exposed to psychosocial hazards at work. She has also recently begun to focus on helping large organizations address mental health through training and consulting efforts. She believes that "you can not separate the person from the worker," and the work envir by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

58 min listen

Mindfulness Strategies for Psychological Health and Safety - with Subena Colligan: A veteran of the U. S. Air Force, Subena Colligan started her safety journey as an Industrial Hygienist prior to moving into a corporate HSE position. Following a psychosocial hazard exposure, she began to focus on several mindfulness-focused strategies. She also focuses her management consulting practice on not only organizational development but on assisting safety professionals to deal with the challenges associated with the profession. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

51 min listen

An American View of the International Standard - with Kahlilah Guyah: In this episode, we’ll be talking about discussing ISO 45003;2021, the international standard on psychological health and safety at work from an American perspective. The guest is Kahlilah Guyah, a Certified Environmental, Health & Safety Consultant, Speaker, and CEO of EHS Compliance Services, Incorporated in Austin, Texas. Kahlilah discusses the use of international standards such as 45003 and 45001 in occupational health and safety management systems in her work across the United States. From her perspective addressing psychological health and safety is similar to managing other health and safety hazards. Organizations that take health and safety seriously can use very similar methods to address psychosocial hazards. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

60 min listen

Effective HR is Psychologically Healthy and Safe - with Antionette Tull: For over 20 years, Antoinette Tull has been a professional facilitator and an accomplished Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). With her assistance, the Richmond (VA) Police department became the most inclusive law enforcement agency serving a mid-sized city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As the Founder and CEO of Antionette Tull of Hurtle, LLC, which focuses on facilitation, HR business, and career coaching, she delivers comprehensive HR-centric facilitations designed to address the workforce challenges uniquely specific to law enforcement agencies, fire service, and emergency communications personnel. Her experience as an HR professional fuels her passion for ensuring that workers, especially those in public safety organizations, are seen as human beings and supported in ways that help them provide the highest service levels. In this episode, she shares her views regarding the connection between effecti by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

62 min listen

Psych Health and Safety USA - Trailer: The goal of the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast is to increase awareness of the importance of psychological health and safety, grow the community of psych health and safety advocates, and help reduce exposure to psychosocial hazards in workplaces in the United States. Each episode will feature not only guests with expertise in health and safety, psychology, academia, policymaking, and thought leadership but others with lived experience involving exposure to psychosocial hazards in a variety of work settings and environments. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

2 min listen

Partners in Bullying Prevention with Janet Glover-Kerkvliet - Sonja Pitts: In this episode of the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast, host Dr. I. David Daniels will talk with two friends whose relationship is almost exclusively the result of their common interest in addressing workplace bullying. Janet Glover-Kerkvliet and Sonja Pitts are the co-founders of the Maryland Healthy Workplace Task Force, which continues to advocate for legislation to prevent bullying in the workplace. Both are also affiliates of the Workplace Bullying Institute. Nearly one-third of adult Americans (30%) said they directly experienced abusive conduct at work. Efforts to make the workplace safer by creating regulations have been taken up by many based on their experience. In this case, one with direct experience of being the target of bullying and another with experience as a therapist assisting targets have joined forces to help foster change. Janet and Sonja will share their views on the journey towa by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

63 min listen

New Voices for Psych Health and Safety - with Jaime Feinberg: Jaimie Feinberg is not only a safety professional; with nearly 20 years in safety, she is a millennial who has a lived experience in several organizations of not feeling safe herself. While her experience is not unique, her courage and ability to share it are unique, especially for younger workers. Jaime shares what she has seen in the past and what she is currently experiencing in a start-up company where she feels safe and feels that she belongs. She attributes much of this feeling to her company's focus on workers, safety culture, and maintaining this culture as they grow. Jaime will also share how this employee-focused perspective is fuelling their work as a company as they prepare to launch a new product into the substance testing space. This episode will challenge many traditional views on psychological health and safety, impairment, and the approaches that some have taken to respond to these issues. The conversa by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

54 min listen

Lessons from Disaster - with Jolie Wills: This episode features a conversation with one of the co-founders of Hummingly whose vision is “Everyone has access to the world's best advice in the toughest of times.” Jolie Wills is a cognitive scientist who utilizes her lived experience as a survivor of a major disaster, as well as a body of research conducted across the globe, to help individuals, teams, and organizations focus on the psychological health and safety of those they interact with. Lessons learned in the aftermath of significant events, can apply to every level of the organization in disaster situations or in many of the routine challenges that face us all. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

65 min listen

Leading for Better Workplace Mental Health in EMS - with Lisa Lisa Giruzzi and Robbie MacCue: EMS practitioners face challenging and traumatic events that can impact their daily mental well-being. The mounting effect of patient needs, family, long workdays, nutrition, physical health, and sleep deprivation all contribute to an individual’s sense of wellness. Paramedics and EMTs responding to the COVID-19 pandemic have also experienced increased stress levels over concerns about exposure to the virus, self-quarantines, and the health and safety of their families. Lisa Gurruzzi and Robbie MacCue are the co-founders of the EMS Leadership Academy and their signature event the EMS Leadership Summit. They bring their experience in organizational coaching and EMS leadership to help Emergency Medical Services become places designed for the individuals in the organizations with their psychological health and safety in mind. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

66 min listen

It’s Hard to Feel Safe When My Equipment Doesn’t Fit - with Amy Roosa: International standards identify “Inadequate equipment availability, suitability, (and) reliability” as a psychosocial hazard. OSHA requires personal protective equipment to be “provided, used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition.” The word reliable means “suitable or fit to be relied on.” However, it’s difficult to feel safe, rely upon, or trust PPE that doesn’t fit. The guest for this episode Amy Roosa is the founder of Iowa Women in Safety and “The Safety Rack.” She’s a tireless advocate for women in the trades, and women in safety, with a specific focus on PPE for women. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

60 min listen

Arming the Resource to Be More Human - with Dr. Allessandria Plozzi: As much as the organization has the most significant responsibility for creating a psychologically healthy and safe environment, it would be naive to suggest that focusing on resiliency for people in the organization is not also important. There are real-life situations where emotional and even physical survival may depend on how resilient an individual can be in situations where the psychosocial hazards in the workplace cannot be eliminated. There are simply times when the work is complex and the hazards associated, especially with work responsibilities outside the organization’s control. Dr. Alessandria Polizzi uses her lived experience as a Human Resource Executive and a scholar to become laser-focused on helping humans in organizations be more resilient. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

48 min listen

Total Worker Health USA - with Chia-Chia Chang: In the OSH Act, the U. S. Congress declared it to be “its purpose and policy, through the exercise of its powers to regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign nations and to provide for the general welfare, to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources …by providing for research in the field of occupational safety and health, including the psychological factors involved, and by developing innovative methods, techniques, and approaches for dealing with occupational safety and health problems.” In 2003, the Total Worker Health® approach originated from the 2003 NIOSH Steps to a Healthier US Workforce Initiative. The goals of this initiative were to protect, support, and enhance workers’ health through comprehensive programs for safe and healthy work, integrated with health-supportive environments and access to adequate health by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

51 min listen

Psychological Health and Safety in Fire Rescue and EMS - with the Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research: This week, host Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Dr. Sara Jahnke, Dr. Carlos Poston, and Dr. Ketih Haddock, the leaders of the Center for Fire, Rescue and EMS Health Research (CFREHR), one of the research efforts of the National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI) USA. In another episode focused on National Fire Prevention Month, CFREHR, the leadership of this research-based organization, shares their views on the state of psychological health and safety in the industry and their thoughts about the future. NDRI-USA’s research centers are focused on health outcomes research, epidemiology, and prevention science. Particular areas of inquiry include minority health and disparities, tobacco control, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, and occupational health, especially among the military and emergency responders. The mission of the (CFREHR) is to understand a by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

56 min listen

Challenging Assumptions about Well-Being in Black Communities - with Dr. Yasser Payne: Dr. Yasser Arafat Payne is a full Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. Dr. Payne completed his doctoral work at the Graduate Center-City University of New York where he was trained as a social-personality psychologist. Also, Dr. Payne completed a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIH-NIDA) whereby he worked on a re-entry, and intervention-based research project in New York City’s largest jail, Rikers Island—a project designed to reduce: (1) recidivism, (2) drug use, and (3) other risky behavior leading to HIV/AIDS. Dr. Payne's latest Street Participatory Action Research (Street PAR) project is entitled: The People's Report: The Link between Structural Violence and Crime in Wilmington, Delaware. This community-based study trained fifteen people (20-48) formerly involved with The Streets and/or the criminal by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

52 min listen

Safety from the “C” Suite - with Dr. Darryl Hill: In this episode, host Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Dr. Darryl C. Hill, responsible for Safety and Security in a company with nearly 60,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada, regarding his view on “Safety from the C Suite.” Often conversational about safety in general, and psychological health and safety specifically depend on the view of the person and their level of responsibility in the organization. While front-line workers may have greater exposure to certain hazards, no level of the organization is totally immune from the risk that results from psychosocial hazards. Also, the approaches to identifying, assessing, and mitigating hazards, including those of a psychosocial nature, will differ in focus and implementation. In this episode, we will hear a voice from a “C” Suite safety professional in a role where failure can result in the loss of not only human health and safety but also business. by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

50 min listen

Psych Health and Safety in Oil and Gas with James Junkin: Oil and Gas account for approximately 3% of the global GDP. Petroleum products can be found in everything from personal protective equipment, packaging, and aspirin, to clothing, fuel for transportation, and even solar panels. Workers in this industry are exposed to a range of potential hazards at different production stages—whether on the electric lines, using heavy equipment, or working around flammable gases. They are also exposed to time pressure, harsh environmental conditions, and even isolation from friends and family. Each of these can affect their physical and mental health. In an environment that can place workers at risk, it’s imperative to ensure safety is not just about rules and preventative measures—it’s also a foundational value deeply embedded in an organization’s culture. The guest for this episode is James Junkin, the CEO of Mariner-Gulf Consulting and Services, LLC, a Louisiana-based environmental, safe by Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

57 min listen

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Managing Psychosocial Hazards in U.S. Organizations with Ellen Cobb

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