Center for Public Health Workforce Development - Rutgers SPH

01/15/2026

Center Instructor Mike Presutti presents educational material on mental health and substance use in the construction industry. We asked him for some thoughts about this article:

“This powerful account of a family’s tragedy reflects a devastating, collective reality. The confluence of production pressures, labor uncertainties, and a growing combative culture of words and actions incubates and drives despair. We do not sustain healthy mental wellness with slogans, posters, or campaigns. We do so with servant leaders, who genuinely act with moral discernment, prioritize work life balance, and drive these ideals deep down into every level of their organizations. Value people as if those workers weren’t some stranger’s kid, spouse, or friend, but our own. Because they are our own.

The death of TJ Kimball was a private tragedy that underscores a widespread risk in the stressful field.

01/08/2026

📊 Our talented Administrative Director of Research and Evaluation Megan Rockafellow Baldoni will be sharing her data visualization expertise in a webinar next Tuesday 1/13 at 12PM! You don't want to miss her talk on how public health professionals can create clear, compelling, and accurate data visualizations. Participants will also learn the essential elements of effective visual design and how to evaluate existing charts for clarity, accuracy, and impact.

🔗 Register at https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3GTI3-pUSyeGPsNvYbMxsw #/registration

01/07/2026

🙏Start 2026 off right by taking the time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your purpose as a public health professional. This insightful, interactive training offers a space to explore empathy, resilience, and self-awareness—bringing heart, balance, and imagination back into your work.

🔗Register at go.rutgers.edu/Jan20

01/06/2026

From lead and asbestos to hazardous waste and construction safety, we have over 300 courses being offered throughout 2026. View our catalog online at go.rutgers.edu/2026CourseCatalog

01/04/2026

12 DAYS OF SAFETY 🎁 Day 12 😃 Shorter days, colder weather, and the post-holiday letdown can take a real toll on mental health in January. Combat the "January Blues" with exercise, spending time outdoors, and finding ways to stay connected with friends and family. If feelings persist and start to affect daily activities, seek help from a mental health professional. ❤️

01/03/2026

12 DAYS OF SAFETY 🎁 Day 11 😃 HazMaddie the Center Elf wants to make sure you know how to enjoy fun outdoors this winter and stay safe from hypothermia. Just remember the acronym COLD — cover, overexertion, layers, dry!

❄ Cover. Wear a hat or other protective covering to prevent body heat from escaping from your head, face and neck. Cover your hands with mittens instead of gloves.

❄ Overexertion. Avoid activities that cause a lot of sweat. The combination of wet clothing and cold weather can cause the body to lose heat more quickly.

❄ Layers. Wear loosefitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Outer clothing made of tightly woven, water-repellent material is best for wind protection. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers hold body heat better than cotton does.

❄ Dry. Stay as dry as possible. Get out of wet clothing as soon as possible. Be especially careful to keep your hands and feet dry, as it's easy for snow to get into mittens and boots.

01/01/2026

12 DAYS OF SAFETY 🎁 Day 10 😃 Climbing down from shelves can be dangerous so HazMaddie the Center Elf is making a New Year's resolution to enroll in the Center's OSHA 3115 Fall Protection course. Make safety a part of your 2026 resolutions! Find a course that will make your job safer at go.rutgers.edu/2026CourseCatalog

01/01/2026

12 DAYS OF SAFETY 🎁 Day 9 😃 Wishing you a safe and fun New Year's Eve! Unfortunately New Year's Day always brings an increase in alcohol-related traffic deaths. Celebrate responsibly by making sure you have a designated driver behind the wheel.

12/31/2025

12 DAYS OF SAFETY 🎁 Day 8 😃 Poor HazMaddie! While it’s important to stay active during the winter, getting out in the snow and on the ice can increase your chances of falling, which is just what happened to Center Elf HazMaddie. To avoid slips and falls this winter, make sure you wear shoes that have good traction and focus on where you’re going so you can avoid icy patches.

12/30/2025

12 DAYS OF SAFETY 🎁 Day 7 😃 HazMaddie the Center Elf knows that one of the best things she can do to stay safe and healthy in the coming year is schedule an annual wellness visit with her doctor and make sure she's up-to-date on all her vaccines. It also isn't too late to get a flu shot while she's there! Getting a shot protects against multiple circulating strains and reduces risk of severe complications, hospitalization, and death.

12/29/2025

12 DAYS OF SAFETY 🎁 DAY 6 😃 Uh oh! Santa brought HazMaddie the Center Elf some gifts powered by lithium ion batteries. But thankfully she knows how to use them safely:

⚡Only use devices, batteries, and charging equipment that are listed and labeled by a nationally recognized testing lab such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

⚡Always follow manufacturer instructions.

⚡Make sure batteries are installed in the device correctly.

⚡Remove the device from the charger once charging is complete.

⚡ Keep batteries at room temperature. Do not charge at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not store in direct sunlight or inside hot vehicles.

⚡Only charge one device or battery at a time.

⚡Never charge small electronics on a bed or couch, under a pillow or between cushions, and near anything combustible.

⚡Do not store or charge devices such as E-Bikes, E-Scooters, and other micro-mobility devices in the exit paths of your home or business.

⚡Stop using your device if you notice problems with the battery or charger. Signs include: unusual odor, change of color, too much heat, change in shape or swelling, leaking and smoking.

12/28/2025

12 DAYS of SAFETY 🎁 DAY 5 😃 HazMaddie the Center Elf knows that colder months bring added risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from heaters, generators, and fireplaces. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can build up from running fuel-burning devices indoors. That's why she always has a carbon monoxide alarm in her home, replaces the batteries regularly, and carries a portable detector when traveling.