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WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY programs in all kinds of workplaces, lead- ership getting involved in these kinds of initiatives is what goes the furthest to normalize them. ThThen, make sure to cre- ate a dialogue that involves all employees, providing information on the health and safety implications of working in hazard- ous environments when feeling down, as part of standard safety training. Measure. Having an understanding of the patterns of low feelings among your workforce can help you make more in- formed safety decisions and identify trig- gers of stress and injury. Digital therapeu- tic support tools can provide anonymized insights into the patterns of mental well- ness among your workforce and the key stressors being cited by workers. Take action. Once you’re informed of the status and stressors impacting the men- tal wellness of your workers, identify chang- es that can be made to alleviate these con- cerns on an ongoing basis. Chances are, the change is well worth the improved satisfac- tion and reduced turnover and injuries that are likely to follow. Additionally, be sure to communicate any changes you’re putting in place back to workers. Seeing stressors ad- dressed by management will increase trust and confifirm for employees that the work- place is a safe environment where commu- nication is welcomed and rewarded. Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, stated that the men- tal health transformation in workplaces “will require organizations to rethink how they protect workers from harm.” The challenges to health and safety in today’s workplaces are not the same ones we faced in prior decades and even centuries. Yet, our approach to health and safety pro- tocols and support within our organiza- tions often focuses on the same outdated priorities. It’s time to recognize the threat of poor mental health among our workers and better protect them. Smriti Joshi is the Chief Psychologist at Wysa, the leading AI-guided mental health platform, delivering clinically-validated care through more than 150 interactive mental re- silience exercises, professional expert coach- ing, and underpinned by emotionally intel- ligent conversational AI. Smriti is a licensed clinical psychologist and has been offering her services in the mental health space for over 21 years. As part of the National Mental Health Council (NMHC) for WICCI, Smriti has conducted mental health-related events organized by WICCI NMHC. She is lead- ing the Ethics and Science in Mental health Tech conversations on the Therapists in Tech platform supporting more than 1,000 mental health professionals. REFERENCES 1. www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/fastfacts.html 2. www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-well-being/ compounding-pressure-2021 3. www.thehartford.com/workers- compensation/stress-workers-compensation 4. www.wysa.com/all-worked-up 5. hbr.org/2004/10/presenteeism-at-work- but-out-of-it 6. www.fastcompany.com/90819886/ employees-are-lying-about-mental-health-days- but-not-because-they-dont-need-them 7. www.wysa.com/2023-emhr 8. www.iwh.on.ca/newsletters/at-work/69/ study-finds-persistence-of-higher-injury-risk-for- new-workers 9. www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/Getting_ Started-Senior_Manager_508.pdf MAXimizing Health & Safety Guaranteed. INDUSTRIAL VACUUM CLEANERS Portable • Continuous-Duty • Central Systems VAC-U-MAX offers a full range of ATEX certified, compressed-air operated, industrial vacuum cleaners for flammable liquid, combustible dust & reactive powder. Fill out RFQ at vac-u-max.com/vacuum. Flammable Liquid Combustible Dust Food / Pharma 30-Gallon VAC-U-MAX.COM Combustible Dust 55-Gallon Combustible Dust 15-Gallon (800) VAC-U-MAX COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED Reactive Metal Powder 48 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL/MAY 2023 www.ohsonline.com