Psychology in the Workplace

Most Workplaces Measure Psychological Safety, Ignoring Psychosocial Risks

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:08:43 -0400

Psychological and psychosocial safety are two different things.

Psychosocial Hazards Linked to More Than 800,000 Worker Deaths Annually

Thu, 21 May 2026 13:57:58 -0400

On-the-job psychosocial risk factors may contribute to more than 800,000 worker deaths globally each year due to cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders, according to recent research.

EHS Pros’ Invisible Load

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500

According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics study, white-collar jobs are associated with a considerably higher level of psychological stress. Among those white-collar jobs is daily EHS work.

NSC News – Do You Feel Like an Imposter, a Fraud?

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 11:00:20 -0400

Feel like you’re really not up to the EHS responsibility you’ve been given?

Survey: Workplace Incivility Increased 20% in Past Year

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:42:38 -0400

According to a newly released Quarter 1 2025 Civility Index from SHRM, a human resources organization, instances of incivility at work in the U.S. have risen more than 20 percent.

ASSP Safety: Do We Value People or Profits?

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:20:51 -0400

Forty countries have identified psychosocial hazards as risks requiring attention. The United States is not one of them.

Health and safety are imprinted in leaders’ safety DNA

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 14:58:07 -0500

How people react to risk can be imprinted in their DNA, and many of the qualities which help leaders reach their senior position, can also prove to be a weakness when it comes to health and safety.

What programs most help industrial worker physical and mental health?

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 11:28:17 -0500

Those working in industrial jobs face unique physical and mental health challenges that employers should be aware of. Most companies care about the well-being of their workers.

Elevating occupational safety: A new holistic approach for excellence

info@ProActSafety.com (Shawn M. Galloway) — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 12:02:55 -0500

Do your employees truly know what to look for and can they recognize the hazards and risks associated with their tasks? Is it psychologically safe to openly recognize hazards and risks and choose safe actions within the culture?

How many companies are psychologically safe?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:11:45 -0500

Another way of feeling safe on your job is in terms of psychological safety. This is mental and emotional safety. Do you feel it’s safe for you to put it out there — opinions and ideas?

PODCAST | Conversation with psychology of safety pioneer Dr. E. Scott Geller

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, editor-at-large Dave Johnson interviews behavioral psychologist Dr. E. Scott Geller. Dr. Geller discusses the uses and misuses of behavior-based safety, why the psychology of safety is more important today than ever, and the need for safety and health professionals to practice empathy, positive psychology, one-on-one conversations, and Actively Caring For People (AC4P).

Transforming the blue-collar industry: A case study enhancing employee engagement through flexible work models

tl.gianatti@soteranalytics.com (Toni-Louise Gianatti) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0400

In the age of customer-centric business models, it's easy to overlook the fundamental role of employees in driving business success. Here's one company's story utilizing a focused approach to enhance employee engagement.

Employee well-being training creates a more engaged, productive workforce

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400

It’s vital to help alleviate these outside stressors so your employees become more engaged and productive in all phases of life.

The psychology behind colors and symbols in safety messaging

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 11:38:29 -0400

Colors and symbols can affect our emotions, cognition, and actions, and their strategic implementation improves safety outcomes.

Mental health and workplace safety: Is there a connection?

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 11:13:25 -0500

Securing employees' physical safety is a top priority for employers in the construction industry. But what about psychological safety? Keeping your employees’ minds in a safe, healthy space is essential, but, unfortunately, mental health care in the construction industry is falling short.

What can safety professionals learn from psychology?

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

How to use psychological and behavioral knowledge to improve workplace safety. As a safety leader, it’s important to recognize moments when people are looking to you as an example and ensure that your behavior aligns with the values you’re working to instill in others.

Prioritizing mental health benefits all industries

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 15:28:02 -0400

Workplace mental health and well-being are critical in every industry and company. Unfortunately, not all companies take the need for mental health support and resources seriously. The manufacturing industry, in particular, has been deemed one of the worst for mental health and wellness support.

The ‘stop work authority’ approach

peter.furst@gmail.com (Peter G. Furst) — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:19:19 -0400

The intent of a “stop work authority” (SWA) when included in a safety program is to empower employees to take action when they see a situation that is unsafe or think a worker may get injured. Though the SWA process and practice may seem as beneficial at many levels in dealing with operational risk and worker safety; there potentially may be some unforeseen barriers or challenges to its actual utilization.

OSHA, industry leaders call on employers, workers to combat surge in construction worker suicides

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:05:30 -0400

Coinciding with Construction Suicide Prevention Week, a task force is calling on construction industry employers, trade groups and other stakeholders to join OSHA’s Suicide Prevention Safety Stand-Down, Sept. 5-9, 2022.

Brain-centered safety a hot topic at ASSP Safety 2022

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 11:15:01 -0400

Neuroscience applied to workplace safety has emerged in the past several years as new field in safety.

CDC/NIOSH to Host Panel Discussion on Protecting Health Worker Mental Health: A Call to Action

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 12:45:00 -0500

CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will host a special virtual event on Thursday, Nov. 18 with NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and other national experts from labor and medicine on the mental health of the nation’s critical health workforce.

Suicide Prevention Month: Creating a healthier, happier workplace

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:07:00 -0400

Studies have been looking into the effect of stress and other psychosocial factors on employees’ well-being for decades. One of the first efforts to recognize the connection between workplace stress and well-being was the Whitehall Studies from 1967 to the mid-1980s. And studies continue to document the link between the two.

Mental health training can benefit construction workers

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 10:07:00 -0400

On the average construction site, safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Rules, OSHA regulations, and standard operating procedures control how crews go about their days. While physical safety is essential, what is often overlooked in heavy industries is the weight of mental health challenges.

Mental Health Focus: 5 Effective Steps to take in the workplace

Wed, 13 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Managers say their employees’ personal lives shouldn’t be their concern. However, this isn’t the best approach because workplace mental health is an important matter. It’s a common mistake to forget the human nature of employees. As an employer, it’s important to be compassionate with those who work for you.

Survivors of a fatality can struggle for answers

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

. Gene Hobbs was working for the Meade County Road Department, raking along the edge of a road shortly after noon, when he was run over by a dump truck backing up, killing him upon impact, on December 13, 2016.

Does punishment work? Absolutely, but probably not

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Invited to do a workshop for a very large international corporation, I went out to a dinner where I sat next to the “grand poohbah” vice president in charge of all things quality and safety. He leaned over to me and said:

Anxiety at work: A Q&A with Dr. Carlin Barnes

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Typically, anxiety disorders are chronic. Often, there is a waxing and waning course. The severity of the anxiety condition(s) depends upon several factors including adequate treatment, absence of precipitating factors, etc.

The third dimension of risk assessment

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Although it seems to make perfect, intuitive sense that people would get hurt when they are doing the most dangerous things, that isn’t what actually happens to more than 95 percent of us. So, what does this mean in terms of the old risk assessment matrix?

Winning business through Safety

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

One sweeping glance across the Seattle skyline is enough to see that something is happening in the area. If a region’s tower crane count is any indication of economic growth, then companies should pay attention to the Pacific Northwest.

Safety for everyone: If only it was that simple

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

"Safety for everyone” is the tagline of a 60-second Honda commercial you might have seen this fall. It tugs at the heart strings. A series of images is accompanied by voice-overs: