Safety Forum: Let’s Talk Fatigue, Behavior, & Policies

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It’s crucial to attend this Forum to stay informed about the evolving landscape of workplace safety. 

As marijuana legalization spreads, both employers and employees need to understand how it may impact job performance, safety protocols, and overall workplace dynamics. Employers need to be equipped with knowledge about the potential effects of marijuana on cognitive and motor functions, as well as the legal implications for workplace policies. Fatigue is also increasingly impacting our workforce and jeopardizing workers’ safety. SafeStart is a program that addresses workers’ behavior, mindset, and overall health. Employers will want to learn more about the legal implications of marijuana usage. Join us as we unpack these critical issues affecting our safety environment today. 

Speaker 1: Don Wilson, Chief Client Officer, SafeStart

Don’s working background includes over 25 years of experience in instructional design, vocational education, e-learning, industrial education, and health and safety training. As a motivational speaker on 24/7 safety concepts, he has been a frequent presenter at corporate health and safety meetings, as well as NSC, ASSP and VPPPA conferences at both the national and local level. He has also presented briefings on 24/7 safety to the leadership of all branches of the U.S. Armed Services at the Pentagon, and has taught classes on various subjects at safety schools and organizations across North America and around the world. Don donates all his speaking fees to charities that improve the safety of communities.

Dead Tired – Techniques for Dealing with Fatigue and Other 24/7 Human Factor Problems 

Fatigue is a very serious subject that most people and organizations don’t take seriously enough. And it’s not just sleep disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome or insomnia—the kind of fatigue everyone feels every day significantly increases our risk of a serious injury or fatality – especially when we get behind the wheel.  But because we feel fatigue every day, most people don’t take it as a serious threat. And our complacency about the issue often leads to the perception that fatigue can be controlled. You’re “just” tired. Shake it off. Have a coffee and move on with your day. Unlike other workplace safety issues, the increased risk that comes with our fatigue doesn’t go away when we leave our workplaces – fatigue is a 24/7 issue that requires a different Human Factors management approach.

In this session, we will briefly cover the three main areas organizations need to focus on to manage fatigue and the associated risks:

1. Workplace Fatigue Risk Management Program
2. Worker and Family Fatigue Program
3. Training to Help Your Employees to Develop Skills & Habits for Managing Fatigue “In the Moment”

Speaker 2: Hope Abramov, Partner, Labor & Employment, Thompson Coburn

Hope Abramov is a partner at Thompson Coburn LLP and Co-Chairs the Firm’s Labor and Employment Practice.  She has represented employers in labor and employment matters throughout the United States, counseling HR professionals and corporate leaders on employment law compliance, discrimination matters, wage and hour issues, benefits, health and safety, and worker’s compensation.

Hope frequently represents companies in labor matters, including labor arbitrations, union negotiations, union certifications and de-certifications and matters before the National Labor Relations Board.  She also develops and drafts personnel policies and conducts on-site or remote training on compliance with labor and employment laws.  Hope holds the unique distinction of having served as an in-house attorney for more than 10 years at Bunge North America, an integrated agribusiness and food ingredient company with facilities throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Hope received a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Brandeis University and a juris doctor degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Hope K. Abramov

she/her/hers
habramov@thompsoncoburn.com
P: 314.552.6496
F: 314.552.7000
M: 314.602.6496

Thompson Coburn LLP
One US Bank Plaza
St. Louis, Missouri 63101
www.thompsoncoburn.com