The Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety hosted its 10th Annual Occupational Health Symposium: The Business of Occupational Health and Safety in March. Kim Gordon, RN, MA, BSN, COHN-S, director of Continuing Education and Outreach at the Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety, with University of Iowa College of Public Health, talks about the symposium:

What was featured at this year's health symposium?

The 10th Annual Occupational Health Symposium provided attendees with up-to-date information on health and safety issues in the workplace. The interdisciplinary conference was designed to bring together professionals who work on a daily basis to keep employees and their work environment safe and healthy. This could include occupational medicine physicians, occupational health nurses, industrial hygienists, safety engineers, ergonomic team members, union representatives, human resources professionals, and anyone out there at employers that work with employees on a daily basis.

What presenters or vendors representing health and safety in the workplace were present?

There was a vast array of presenters at this year's symposium. We featured some of our experts in occupational health and safety from The University of Iowa College of Public Health and the Department of Occupational Environmental Health.

Speakers Peter Thorne, PhD,  Wayne Sanderson, PhD, CIH, Laurence Fuortes, MD, and Stephanie Leonard, senior industrial hygienist, sharing their expertise on mold.

Henri Cuddihy, MD,  with UI HealthWorks discussed Workers' Compensation, specifically sorting out pre-existing worker injury from work related injury.

Patrick Hartley, MB, BCh, BAO, MPH, and Todd Coleman, speech pathologist from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, discussed the latest information on vocal chord dysfunction associated with workplace exposures.

Speakers from UI's Tippie College of Business also participated. Often occupational health and safety professionals have a health background and are asked to work in an environment that's much more business-related, so we had presentations on negotiations, conflict resolution, financial analysis, and the financial relationship of health and safety to one's work environment.

Vincent Traynelis, MD, Department of Neurosurgery at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the Carver College of Medicine, discussed the latest research on artificial cervical disc replacement.

We also called on area experts from business and industry to provide best practice information—things that have worked in their employer setting. Teresa Reuter, a safety and ergonomics analyst from John Deere Dubuque Works, talked about engineering and designing ergonomics in the workplace. Danette Kremer and Jan Mishler, occupational health nurses from Rockwell Collins, along with Mark Taylor presented on ergonomics and how that can prevent worker injury.

Jeff Westpheling, MD, from St. Luke's Work Well Solutions, discussed rabies, which could be an unexpected workplace exposure. Local physicians Lyse Strnad, MD, spoke on work-related eye injuries.

How important are health and safety concerns for all workers and really everyone, not just a certain industry or groups of workers?

Safety and health in the workplace really is, or should be, a priority. In today's society, work is considered a basic part of life experience. As adults, we spend anywhere up to a quarter or a third of our time at work. And we often perceive what we do for work as part of our identity, so it really has to be a priority for each worker, as well as each employer.

Who attended the occupational health symposium?

The Occupational Health Symposium was designed for health professionals, occupational medicine physicians, physician assistants, occupational health nurses and nurse practitioners, as well as other interdisciplinary persons—industrial hygienists, safety engineers, administrators, human resource professionals—anyone interested in improving the health and safety of workers.

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Kim Gordon, RN, MA, BSN, COHN-S

Peter Thorne, PhD

Wayne Sanderson, PhD, CIH

Laurence Fuortes, MD

Henri Cuddihy, MD

Patrick Hartley, MB, BCh, BAO, MPH

Vincent Traynelis, MD

UI HealthWorks

Continuing Education and Outreach at the Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety