Quarterly News and Updates April 2021
Spring is here! As the buds and blossoms emerge, so too do our hopes for the pandemic recovery. In this issue, we focus on issues of equity and action related to COVID-19 as restrictions ease. Although vaccinations are progressing, recent surges in cases remind us that prevention is still key.

Guest contributor and occupational epidemiologist Devan Hawkins, ScD, shares important research on occupations and racial groups at greatest risk, and what employers can do to ensure a safe working environment. In Massachusetts, a recent survey revealed that one third of workers say social distancing was not implemented and half say they have received no additional health and safety training. We can and must do better.

We need every employer to their part in the overall pandemic recovery response. In addition, we need government agencies to develop and communicate clearer, evidence-based guidelines for building ventilation based on ongoing uncertainties in airborne transmission.

Read on about free resources and guidance (e.g., CDC and ACOEM), including ventilation guidelines, on how to implement safe return-to-work policies, upcoming CPH-NEW talks, educational programs, and more. 
Occupational and racial disparities for COVID-19: What can employers do?

Contributed by Devan Hawkins, ScD, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

It is true that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected everybody.  However, the burden of the pandemic has not been borne-equally. Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans face risks of infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 multiple times higher than White Americans.  Urban/densely population counties with more income inequality and lower rates of insurance have higher rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths than other counties. Similar disparities have been documented in Massachusetts cities and towns. Unfortunately, as the COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out, many of these same vulnerable communities have had less access to the vaccine and lower rates of vaccination. 

COVID-19 Resources
For Employers


For Public Health Professionals

CPH-NEW Training and Continuing Education
  • Opioid Hazard Awareness Training: This free innovative opioid hazard awareness training module is designed for sand and gravel workers. It fits the requirements of the MSHA Part 46 Health and Safety Refresher Training “Health” section. The 45-minute module comes with a Facilitators’ Guide with slide-by-slide instructions including how to engage training participants through discussion.

  • Remote Team Facilitation for Workplace Safety and Wellbeing: Join CPH-NEW's 12-hour training course to learn how to engage workers in a design process focused on employee safety, health and well-being. Learn from our team engagement experts how to implement the Design Team model used in the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program. 

Coming Soon!

  • TWH Learning Lab: This is a continuous learning community for professionals looking for advanced training on the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program (HWPP) and emerging Total Worker Health topics. Participants must first complete a HWPP facilitator training or have attended an introductory TWH training. Stay tuned for registration info!

Virtual Events
CPHNEW Speaker Events

Wednesday, May 5th - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Learning Pass Webinars: A Total Worker Health® approach to worker well-being for a changing workforce. Speaker: Jennifer Cavallari, ScD.

Monday, May 24th - AIHce EXP 2021 Conference, American Industrial Hygiene Association: 1) 10am A Total Worker Health® approach to worker well-being for a changing workforce, and 2) 2pm HearWell: A participatory approach to hearing protection use and training. Speaker: Jennifer Cavallari, ScD.

Other Events

Tuesday, April 20th - Thursday, April 29th - The Latest on COVID-19 Protection Strategies and Vaccinations - An Online Workshop: The New England Consortium (TNEC) will be offering 2-hour live, online courses on worker safety during COVID-19 throughout the month. The course will cover topics such as resilience, vaccine updates/state plans, hazard/risk analysis, and building ventilation issues for returning to the workplace.

Colorado Center for Work, Health and Environment
Center Publications

New Peer-Reviewed Publications:


CPH-News & Views Emerging Topic Briefs Issue 68

For all News&Views issues and journal articles, please visit the publications page
Awards and Recognitions

Congratulations to our Center personnel:
Mazen El Ghaziri, PhD, MPH, RN, assistant professor and associate chair at University of Massachusetts Lowell Solomont School of Nursing was awarded the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) and Safety Golden Pen Novice Author Award for his manuscript titled, "Understanding the Impact of Bullying in a Unionized U.S. Public Sector Workforce".
CPH-NEW is a NIOSH TWH Center for Excellence
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