Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities
Outputs: Publications
Selected Publications
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All Modes of Transportation
Overtime and Extended Work Shifts: Recent Findings on Illnesses, Injuries, and Health Behaviors
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-143 (May 2004)
PDF Only
Summarizes recent scientific findings about the relationship of overtime and extended work shifts to worker safety and health.
Air Transportation
Mortality patterns following downsizing at Pan American world airways
Am J Epidemiol 2008 Jan; 167(1):1-6
Very few studies of the health effects of involuntary unemployment (e.g., downsizing) have been conducted, and results are contradictory. The authors studied the mortality through 2002 of 13,370 Pan American World Airways employees who were born before 1940 and whose records were available after the company's bankruptcy in 1991. Subanalyses of those who left involuntarily at age 60 years, or those who left involuntarily at the time of bankruptcy, did not indicate excess mortality (all-cause standardized mortality ratios = 0.69 and 0.64, respectively). These data do not indicate that mortality among those who left involuntarily was higher than for those who left voluntarily.
Mortality among a cohort of U.S. flight attendants
Occup Environ Med 2007 Dec; 64(12):e12
The objective of this study was to evaluate the mortality experience of 11,318 employees of a large, US-based international airline who worked as flight attendants for 1 or more years. No evidence was found that flight attendants are at increased risk of mortality from breast cancer or melanoma. Limitations include reliance on mortality data, and limited power to detect an excess of rare cancers such as melanoma.
Health hazard evaluation summary report: Air contaminant and noise exposures among Transportation Security Administration (TSA) baggage screeners at four international airports
PDF Only
HHE Report No. HETA-2005-0091-2957
NIOSH investigators received several requests from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct health hazard evaluations (HHEs) at four international airports. The requests expressed concern that contaminants found in the emissions of tug engines operating near "checked baggage" screening areas were related to health problems reported by some TSA employees, including respiratory distress, dizziness, and headaches.
Survey and analysis of air transportation safety among air carrier operators and pilots in Alaska
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-102 (November 2006)
The findings of this study suggest that the combination of pilot inexperience and longer work hours and work weeks may contribute to Alaska’s high pilot fatality rate. Results of the operator-pilot comparisons suggest that financial pressures on operators may influence their views on what measures would be effective in preventing crashes.
Flight safety in Alaska : Comparing attitudes and practices of high- and low-risk air carriers
Aviat Space Environ Med 2005 Jan; 76(1):52-57
Shows that pilots employed by high-risk operators differed from those employed by other carriers and concludes that the combination of pilot inexperience and longer work hours and workweeks may contribute to Alaska 's high aviation crash rate.
Alaska air carrier operator and pilot safety practices and attitudes: a statewide survey
Aviat Space Environ Med 2004 Nov; 75(11):984-991
Operator-pilot comparisons suggest that (1) financial pressures on operators may influence their views on effective measures for preventing crashes, and (2) Alaskan pilots underestimate their occupational fatality risk.
Cancer incidence in airline cabin crew
Occup Environ Med 2003 Nov; 60(11): 805-806
Growing evidence indicates that flight crew are at increased risk for certain types of cancer, although epidemiological evidence remains inconclusive.
The NIOSH/FAA Working Women's Health Study: Evaluation of the cosmic-radiation exposures of flight attendants
Health Physics 79(5) 553-559 (2000).
Differences in measured versus modeled data should be considered when estimating doses of cosmic radiation using the CARI model for epidemiologic studies.
Surveillance and Prevention of Occupational Injuries in Alaska: A Decade of Progress, 1990-1999
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-115 (May 2002)
Provides a chapter on commercial aviation that describes safety problems encountered by commercial pilots in Alaska, common situations associated with commercial aircraft
crashes in the State, and other risk factors that contribute to the high fatality rate for commercial aviators in Alaska .
Work-Related Aviation Fatalities - Alaska, 1990 - 1994
MMWR June 6, 1997/Vol.46/No.22
Summarizes the factors associated with occupational aviation fatalities in Alaska during the time period 1990 to 1994.
Evaluation of Noise Exposure at an International Airport
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HHE Report No. HETA-2005-0197-3010 Transportation Security Administration Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Erlanger, Kentucky
NIOSH investigators responded to a management request to determine if a risk for hearing loss was posed by noise from conveyor belts and baggage inspection equipment in the checked baggage screening areas of an international airport. As a result, NIOSH investigators recommended further evaluation of noise exposures followed by development of a hearing conservation program, if needed, and engineering controls to reduce specific noise exposures. The full report is available at .
Roadway Transportation
Impact of federal compliance reviews of trucking companies in reducing highway truck crashes
Accid Anal Prev 2008 Jan; 40(1):238-245
This study provides the estimates of the costs of highway crashes involving large trucks by type of truck involved. Based on the latest data available, the estimated cost of police-reported crashes involving trucks with a gross weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds averaged US$ 59,153 (in 2000 dollars).
Worldwide Occupational Road Safety (WORS) Report
In developing this report, NIOSH contractor Dr. Will Murray reviewed data sources for occupational crashes using key informants in 15 nations. He found gaps in jurisdiction, incomplete data, and inability to compare or link data within or between nations. These factors, along with limited information sharing about successful programs to promote occupational road safety, are impediments to development of international initiatives.
Truck driver occupational safety and health. 2003 conference report and selective literature review
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-120 (February 2007)
In April 2003, an international group of researchers convened in Detroit to discuss the occupational safety and health of commercial motor vehicle drivers. This conference was unusual because it focused on driver well-being, rather than general highway safety and transportation issues. The following report provides a selective review of the relevant literature, summarizes the conference presentations, incorporates the comments made by many of the participants, and outlines some topics needing further research.
NIOSH Hazard Review: Work-Related Roadway Crashes: Challenges and Opportunities for Prevention
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-119
Provides a comprehensive review of safety issues for workers who operate motor vehicles on the job. Identifies groups of workers at greatest risk for traffic crashes, summarizes key issues that contribute to work-related roadway crashes, and recommends preventive measures for employers and other stakeholders.
A comparison of crash patterns in heavy trucks with and without collision warning system technology
SAE 2004 Transactions Journal of Commercial Vehicles 2005 Jul; 113(2):360-365
Fact Sheet: Older Drivers in the Workplace: Crash Prevention for Employers and Workers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-159
Provides safety recommendations for older drivers and their employers.
Fact Sheet: Work-Related Roadway Crashes: Prevention Strategies for Employers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-136
en español
Includes recommendations for employers on crash prevention and vehicle safety programs.
Fact Sheet: Work-Related Roadway Crashes: Who's at Risk?
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-137
en español
Provides a quick reference for statistics on fatal work-related crashes in the U.S.
Water Transportation
Personal exposure to benzene from fuel emissions among commercial fishers: comparison of two-stroke, four-stroke and diesel engines
J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2007 Mar; 17(2):151-158
The objective of this study was to measure personal exposure to benzene as a marker of fuel exposure, and to predict exposure levels across categories of carbureted two-stroke, four-stroke and diesel engines.
Evaluation of Diesel Exposure at Marine Terminals
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HHE Report No. HETA-2003-0246-3013, Joint Pacific Marine Safety Code Committee San Francisco, California
NIOSH investigators responded to a joint union/management request to assess equipment-generated diesel exhaust during move/load/unload operations at four marine terminals. Resulting recommendations included work practice changes and engineering approaches to reduce exposures.
Warehousing
Ergonomic guidelines for manual material handling
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-131(April 2007)
This booklet is written for managers and supervisors in industries that involve the manual handling of containers. It offers suggestions to improve the handling of rectangular, square, and cylindrical containers, sacks, and bags. This booklet will help users to recognize high-risk manual material handling work tasks and choose effective options for reducing their physical demands.
A Prospective Study of Back Belts for Prevention of Back Pain and Injury
JAMA J Am Med Assoc 2000 Dec; 284(21):2727-2732
A large prospective cohort study of back belt use is adjusted for multiple individual risk factors. Demonstrates that neither frequent back belt use nor a store policy that required belt use was associated with reduced incidence of back injury claims or low-back pain.
Worker Deaths by Falls: A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-116 (November 2000)
Summarizes surveillance data and investigative reports of fatal work-related falls from elevations. Reviews what is known about occupational fatalities due to falls from elevations and identifies common risk factors and exposures. Recommends general approaches to preventing these fatal events.
NIOSH ALERT: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers Who Operate or Work Near Forklifts
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-109 (June 2001)
Describes the hazards associated with forklift operation and makes recommendations to prevent injuries and deaths related to forklifts.
Workplace Use of Back Belts - Review and Recommendations
NIOSH Publication No. 94-122}
Provides the report of a NIOSH Working Group that reviewed the scientific literature related to back belts. Includes summary conclusions and recommendations of the biomechanical, physiological, psychophysical, and epidemiologic studies published in the peer-reviewed literature.
Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-110
Includes the rationale and supporting criteria for the development of the revised NIOSH lifting equation and provides users with methods and examples for accurately applying the lifting equation to a variety of lifting tasks.
Methods for assessing the physical demands of manual lifting: A review and case study from warehousing
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 59:871-881 (1998).
This paper presents case study results of a physically demanding repetitive manual lifting job in two grocery warehouses and reviews assessment methods.
HHE Report No. HETA-91-405-2340, Big Bear Grocery Warehouse, Columbus, Ohio
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In response to a confidential employee request, NIOSH studied the possible hazards associated with repetitive lifting, excessive work pace, and heat stress in order selectors at a grocery warehouse in Ohio .
HHE Report No. HETA-93-0920-2548, Kroger Grocery Warehouse, Nashville, Tennessee
PDF only
In response to a confidential employee request, NIOSH studied the possible hazards associated with repetitive lifting and excessive work pace at a grocery warehouse in Tennessee .
Utilities
NIOSH Alert: Request for Preventing Worker Deaths from Uncontrolled Release of Electrical, Mechanical, and Other Types of Hazardous Energy
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-110 (August 1999)
Describes five fatal incidents in which workers contacted uncontrolled hazardous energy during work. Provides recommendations to prevent such occupational deaths.
Electrical Safety: Safety and Health for Electrical Trades--Student Manual
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-123 (January 2002)
Part of a safety and health curriculum for secondary and post-secondary electrical trades courses. Designed to engage the learner in recognizing, evaluating, and controlling hazards associated with electrical work.
NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance in Preventing Electrocutions of Crane Operators and Crew Members Working Near Overhead Power Lines
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 95-108 (August 1993)
en español
Describes five cases (six electrocutions) that resulted from the hazards of operating cranes near overhead power lines and makes recommendations for preventing similar incidents.
Occupational Fatalities During Trenching and Excavation Work --- United States, 1992--2001
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: April 23, 2004 / 53(15);311-314
Summarizes fatalities associated with trenching and excavation work in the United States and provides two brief case studies to illustrate the hazards associated with this work.
Preventing Injuries When Working with Hydraulic Excavators and Backhoe Loaders
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-107 (November 2003)
Recommends that injuries and deaths be prevented through training, proper installation and maintenance, work practices, and personal protective equipment.
Worker Deaths by Electrocution: A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-131 (May 1998)
Summarizes surveillance data and investigative reports of fatal incidents involving workers who came into contact with electrical current.
Evaluation of Cancer Occurrence at a Power Plant
PDF only
HHE Report #2003-0097-3018 Belle River Power Plant China, Michigan
NIOSH investigators responded to a management request to determine if there was an excess of cancer cases among current and former workers at a power plant. Using state cancer registry data, NIOSH investigators calculated cancer rates among current and former employees and compared them to rates in the surrounding communities.
Search All Publications and Products
Search NIOSHTIC-2, a bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH, or try one of these pre-generated search queries.
Page last updated: April 25, 2008
Page last reviewed: April 25, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
