{"id":3857,"date":"2023-10-23T15:37:41","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/?p=3857"},"modified":"2023-10-23T16:04:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T20:04:00","slug":"pef-superheroes-learn-how-to-seek-solutions-to-health-and-safety-issues-in-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/issue\/volume-41-no-8\/pef-superheroes-learn-how-to-seek-solutions-to-health-and-safety-issues-in-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"PEF \u2018superheroes\u2019 learn how to seek solutions to health and safety issues in the workplace\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Health<\/p>\n

October 24, 2023 —<\/em> Which are you more likely to look at \u2013 the colorful images and action words of a comic strip or a traditional flyer?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"HealthThe comic strip, of course.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Using the power of superheroes and comics, <\/span>SOMOS and Marvel Entertainment<\/span><\/a> created a special comic book urging New Yorkers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PEF\u2019s Health and Safety Department took that approach and ran with it at the PEF Convention, asking attendees of the H&S Breakfast meeting to create their superhero alter-ego, choosing a power, a weakness, and their superhero team name.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As teams, they selected a health and safety issue to solve and brainstormed how to use the team\u2019s superpowers to address the issue and how to overcome the collective weaknesses.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Attendees addressed mold, mental health, parking, falling ceiling tiles, indoor air quality, sanitation, bullying, and short staffing with their superhero comics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSuperheroes was a really brilliant campaign done by SOMOS when COVID vaccination numbers were very low,\u201d said PEF Director of Health and Safety Geraldine Stella. \u201cWe are trying to rebuild our local health and safety committees, many of which have gone by the wayside since COVID, so we can better serve PEF members across the state.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Article 18 Committee co-chairs Mauren Kozakiewicz and Conrad Davis frequently meet with the Office of Employee Relations. The joint PEF\/NYS Article 18 committee studies and reviews matters of mutual concern in areas of health and safety and serves as a forum for PEF to advise the state of potential health or safety problems; to develop and implement state policy in all matters related to health and safety; and undertake initiatives in research, education and support of agency and local level health and safety committees.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe serve you, the membership,\u201d Kozakiewicz said.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Davis added: \u201cWe want you to be as healthy when you go home as you were when you came in to work.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Participants said the activity wasn\u2019t just fun, but a good way to collaborate on shared issues, and make involvement in health and safety at their workplace more interesting for their co-workers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The comic strips will be displayed at the New York State and PEF joint labor-management Health and Safety conference on Dec. 11-13, 2023, in Saratoga. Previous conferences have featured national and state experts, and prepared participants to accomplish important safety initiatives for cutting edge health & safety programs. This year the focus will be on rebuilding and fortifying health and safety committees. Workshops include conducting risk assessments, active shooter training, mapping for H&S committees, workers compensation, and workplace violence prevention.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n