NIOSH Accepting Comments on Proposed National Total Worker Health Agenda
The agenda, currently in draft form, is intended to stimulate innovative research, practical applications, policy guidance, and capacity-building of Total Worker Health practitioners to improve workplace practices. Comments are due by Dec. 22.
NIOSH is seeking public comments on what research, practice, and policy issues should be top priorities in its proposed National Total Worker Health™ Agenda. Now in draft form, the agenda will be finalized and issued to help improve integrated workplace practices, prevent worker injuries and illnesses, and advance workers' safety, health, and well-being. Comments are due by Dec. 22, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST.
Comments may be submitted by mail, via http://www.regulations.gov, or in person at one of three town-hall sessions during two scientific meetings: The 1st International Symposium to Advance Total Worker Health and The Healthier Federal Workers Conference. For more detailed information on how to register for the conferences and town-hall sessions, see the Federal Register notice that is available at www.regulations.gov (search CDC-2014-0014). The agency wants comments that address these questions:
- Do you see your own organization's goals reflected in the Proposed National Total Worker Health Agenda?
- What are the bridges between your own work and the Proposed National Total Worker Health Agenda?
- Are there any missing components or gaps in the Proposed National Total Worker Health Agenda?
"A growing body of science supports the effectiveness of integrating health protection programs with health promotion programs in efforts to create workplace interventions that advance worker safety, health, and well-being," said NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard, M.D. "A national agenda with stakeholder input and support is imperative in moving forward with the Total Worker Health™ strategy."
The Proposed National Total Worker Health™ Agenda includes four strategic goals:
- Advance and conduct etiologic, surveillance, and intervention research that builds the evidence base for effectively integrating health protection and health promotion activities in the workplace.
- Increase the awareness and adoption of effective, integrated occupational safety and health protection and health promotion activities in the workplace.
- Create guidance for policies that promote integration of occupational safety and health protection and health promotion activities in the workplace.
- Build professional capacity to strengthen the Total Worker Health™ workforce and Total Worker Health™ field to support the development, growth, and maintenance of integrated occupational safety and health protection and health promotion activities in the workplace.