Traumatic events may occur suddenly and without warning. Depending on the severity, the level of exposure, and personal history and coping abilities, trauma can be problematic in the long term for some individuals, but can also affect most in the short term. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Kathy Martin, IHSA's Mental Health and Wellness Specialist, discusses trauma management in the workplace.

Kathy highlights the essential need for employers to be prepared to manage and respond to traumatic events and provide support to affected employees. It is critical for all businesses, regardless of size, to develop an Incident/Emergency Response Plan, which should include a Worker Trauma Response Plan. Kathy also discusses:

• The first steps to take when responding to a worker who has experienced trauma
• The four phases of Crisis Management—Prevention, Preparedness, Response (incident management), and Recovery
• Activities that workplaces can get involved in to prepare to respond to trauma, such as education and training, preparing resources, and setting up policies in place
• The importance of keeping trauma management simple. Interventions should be simple, and interactions should be short.

IHSA offers a wide range of free resources at IHSA.ca to help employers recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental wellbeing and how to support them.

Free Resources

Workplace Mental Health

Workplace Mental Health: Supporter Toolkit

Workplace Mental Health: Employer Toolkit

IHSA Safety Talks: Mental Health

How to Talk About Mental Health at Your Workplace

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