Emergency Risk Communication in OSH: The Pandemic and Beyond

Emergencies come in many forms:  serious injuries, fatalities, property damage, and even pandemics.  The ability to communicate risk coherently and credibly during these scenarios is critical to risk reduction and resilience.  Occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals can serve as an indispensable resource for preparation and response to these events by serving as subject matter experts (SMEs) and ensuring sustainable risk communication.  OSH professionals must learn how to prepare for crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC), how and to whom to communicate risk, and how to prevent the spread of misinformation.  In this presentation, we will discuss lessons learned from emergency scenarios, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and what resources are available to OSH professionals.