National Academies to Host Webinar on COVID-19, Precarious Work

On Dec. 6, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will host a webinar that focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected small businesses and precarious work in the United States. Precarious work can involve insecurity of employment and income as well as uncertain, unpredictable, and risky workplace environments. According to the webinar description, presenters will discuss topics such as what makes work precarious as well as how state and local decision-makers can support healthy work. There is no cost to attend the webinar, and those who are interested in participating can register via Eventbrite.

The Dec. 6 webinar is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, and scheduled speakers include individuals from Washington University in St. Louis; Howard University; the University of California, Santa Cruz; CUNY Queens College; and Illinois’ Boone County Health Department. Additional details can be found on the National Academies website.

Related: AIHA recently launched a “grand challenges” initiative that seeks to tackle huge issues in worker health, safety, and well-being. Under this initiative, one of four projects will seek to improve equity in workplaces, minimize precarious work situations, and protect vulnerable workers. Volunteers who are interested in getting involved with this project can learn more from a blog post on SynergistNOW.

A feature article published in this month’s issue of The Synergist explores how occupational and environmental health and safety professionals can protect workers with multiple jobs, and an article from the September 2018 issue discusses the role of corporate social responsibility programs in ending modern slavery.