“I want folks to take from my presentation a better understanding of the interconnectedness of environmental health, animal health, and human health, as well as the concept that the health and safety of all is dependent on the wellbeing of the environment where animals and people live,” says Domini Montgomery, MPH, ASP, Director of Safety and Risk Management at the Saint Louis Zoo.
Learn more about how Montgomery took aspects of the total worker health approach and the unique challenges the Saint Louis Zoo faced during the pandemic response at her Global Learning Summit (GLS) session, Environmental health, animal health, human health. One Health. Montgomery’s talk will focus on the intersects of human, animal, and environmental safety present at the Zoo, a snapshot of the total worker health approach that she describes in further detail here.
Total worker health aims to include the assessment of factors that originate outside the workplace—but still affect people and their performance at work—in occupational safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) practice. “Safety encompasses all parts of a person, at work and outside of work, and includes physical safety, psychological safety and mental wellness, and environmental safety,” explains Montgomery. “This includes traditional environmental health and safety as well as literal safety in your environment—safe access to outdoor spaces, parks, housing, workplaces.”
Creating that safer work environment relies on safety professionals to develop and use a variety of skills. “Professional development in SH&E is critical because, as we see knowledge grow and best practices change, evidence-based research is needed to inform all of these in ways that can positively impact worker health and safety,” says Montgomery. “Further, it’s not just new information and changes to keep people and the environment safer that’s important—as safety professionals, we need to learn and fine-tune skills like public speaking, active listening, de-escalation, evaluation, and more!”
Continue to develop your skills by joining us for Montgomery’s session, Environmental health, animal health, human health. One Health., presented at the BCSP GLS, May 7-9, 2024.