Webinar Recording: From Promise to Practice: Where is Total Worker Health® Going?-From Promise to Practice: Where is Total Worker Health® Going? Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar, featuring Dr. Lee Newman, provides a comprehensive overview of Total Worker Health (TWH), tracing its evolution over 20 years from research to practical application and its future trajectory. TWH integrates traditional occupational safety with health promotion and well-being initiatives, emphasizing policies and programs that protect workers from safety hazards while enhancing overall health. Dr. Newman, a leading figure in the field and founding director of the Center for Health, Work, and Environment, highlights significant milestones including the 2011 coinage of the term, the establishment of NIOSH TWH Centers of Excellence, and international expansion of the model.<br /><br />Case studies illustrate TWH’s application in diverse settings: a grassroots consulting program for small and mid-sized enterprises in Colorado that engages over 800 businesses; a multinational agribusiness in Guatemala addressing chronic kidney disease through a holistic approach involving community and workplace factors; and initiatives supporting cancer survivors to maintain employment during treatment by integrating occupational medicine and oncology.<br /><br />Dr. Newman underscores the development of comprehensive tools like the Well-BQ survey for assessing worker well-being, an expanding evidence base with numerous intervention studies, and increasing adoption by both large corporations (e.g., Dow) and small businesses. Despite funding challenges faced by NIOSH, the field benefits from growing industry uptake and consultant engagement, suggesting sustainability beyond government support.<br /><br />TWH education and certification are advancing with multiple academic programs available, preparing professionals to work with organizations to promote broader worker health. The webinar concludes emphasizing occupational medicine's critical role in holistic worker well-being, the importance of organizational change alongside individual health, and the promise of TWH in shaping safer, healthier workplaces worldwide.

Keywords

Total Worker Health

Dr. Lee Newman

Occupational Safety

Health Promotion

NIOSH TWH Centers

Worker Well-being

Chronic Kidney Disease

Occupational Medicine

Workplace Health Programs

TWH Certification