NIOSH eNews Web page

Report Released on National Academies' Review of NIOSH Hearing Loss Research Program
First of as many as 15 NIOSH programs to be evaluated by the NA.

NIOSH Posts Revised Nanotechnology Page
Redesign will make it easier to maneuver the substantial amount of material.

NIOSH to Seek Applications for 2006 Director's Award
Application deadline is December 1, 2006.

MMWR: Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance-United States 2003-2004
Data shows a decrease in blood lead levels from previous years.

Monthly Report from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
Respirator certification and approval report for July, announcement of upcoming public meetings

NIOSH Agricultural Centers to Host Journalists Workshop
October workshop to focus on childhood agricultural safety and health.

New Site Showcases Industrial Workers from the 1940s.
Go back in time with this collection of historic NIOSH photographs

r2p Corner
NIOSH and AIHA co-host Chinese delegation

Two Revised Standards Released by National Fire Protection Association

NORA
First Meetings Scheduled for the NORA Sector Councils

Around NIOSH
Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART)
NIOSH and NHCA hold successful hearing loss prevention conference.

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies (DRDS)
MMWR: Advanced Cases of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis: Two Counties, Virginia, 2006

Division of Safety Research
(DSR)
Florida fire department incorporates NIOSH design features to improve EMS workers safety.

Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies (DSHEFS)
Marie Haring Sweeney receives award for international health service.

Education and Information Division (EID)
Another decade of training research…What’s new?

Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD)
Jim Antonini honored by the American Welding Society.

National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)
Total Inward Leakage Project

Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL)
NIOSH developed technology results in MSHA approved proximity detection system.

Spokane Research Laboratory (SRL)
Laboratory hosts Major Hazard Risk Assessment course.

News From Our Partners
AAOHN to debut conference for leadership achievement in September

Communication Products
Preventing Asthma and Death from MDI Exposure During Spray-on Truck Bed Liner and Related Applications

NIOSH videos available as audio pod casts

Proceedings of the First American Conference on Human Vibration

Glutaraldehyde Topic Page

Health Hazard Evaluations

• Evaluation of physical and psychological symptoms following Hurricane Katrina.
• Evaluation of exposure at a newspaper printing facility.
• Evaluation of exposures in a university research laboratory.
• Evaluation of dermatitis and exposure to metalworking fluids exposure.

Upcoming Events
Contact Dermatitis 2006 – Blending Science with Best Practice

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Children at Work and Play

International Conference on Nanotechnology Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: Research to Practice

Word of the Month
Proximity detection systems

 From the Director's Desk

On September 11, the United States marks the fifth commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. First and foremost, the commemoration gives occasion to honor the courage of those who died in the attacks, to express our deepest sympathy for their survivors and loved ones, to thank the responders who labored selflessly at the disaster site, and to recognize the continuing impact of those tragedies.

I am proud that NIOSH has worked closely with its universe of partners and stakeholders to address the health and safety demands of the 9/11 disaster.

This work has drawn on scientific and technical expertise rooted in NIOSH's 35 years of leadership. It has also challenged NIOSH, in many ways, to adapt its expertise to the changing landscape of the post 9/11 era. To name some of these contributions:

Within hours of the World Trade Center (WTC) destruction, NIOSH staff were on site at Ground Zero to offer technical assistance to responders who labored heroically in the wake of the attacks. This was part of an unprecedented federal deployment of help.

In other technical assistance, NIOSH also helped to assess and recommend steps to address potential occupational exposures to workers in several buildings in the zone of the WTC dust plume.

NIOSH has been the diligent steward of federal funds to fund medical screening, monitoring, and treatment of WTC responders. This effort was begun with first steps in 2002, recognizing the need to identify, anticipate, and address potential health threats associated with WTC exposures in rescue, recovery, clean up, and restoration.

NIOSH has built on lessons learned from the 9/11 emergency response to help design new equipment and strategies for safeguarding responders in large-scale disasters.

More information can be found at the WTC topic page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/wtc/. In the past seven months, I have been privileged to meet many in the New York City community. Their personal stories have reinforced my conviction that NIOSH has a vital continuing role to play in strengthening safety, health, and security in the post-9/11 workplace. With your help, we are dedicated to fulfilling that mission.

 Report Released on National Academies' Review of NIOSH Hearing Loss Research Program

The National Academies' Committee to Review the NIOSH Hearing Loss Research Program released its report of findings and recommendations on August 30, 2006. The Hearing Loss Research Program is the first of as many as 15 NIOSH programs that will be evaluated with respect to their impact, relevance, and performance addressing emerging issues. A copy of the report is available online at http://www.iom.edu/Default.aspx?id=36811. NIOSH thanks the National Academies, the evaluation committee, and review participants for their work. NIOSH is studying the report's findings and recommendations. More information about National Academies' evaluation of NIOSH research programs can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas.

 NIOSH Posts Revised Nanotechnology Page

A revised nanotechnology topic page, describing NIOSH research on the occupational safety and health implications and applications of this emerging technology, is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech. The page was revised to make it easier for stakeholders and the general public to navigate, read, and use, reflecting the substantial amount of material that has been added to the topic page since the original version was introduced in 2004. The revised page also highlights an updated version of the online document "Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology: An Information Exchange with NIOSH," which was first posted in 2005.

 NIOSH to Seek Applications for 2006 Director's Award

NIOSH is soliciting applications for the 2006 NIOSH Director's Award for Scientific Achievement in Occupational Safety and Health. The award each year recognizes outstanding scientific research achievement in the field of occupational safety and health that has made a major impact or has the potential of making a major impact for practitioners and workplaces. Researchers who are currently receiving independent investigator-initiated grant support from NIOSH are eligible for the competitive award, which provides a $10,000 supplement in direct costs to the grant that is the basis for the work cited in the award. Watch the NIOSH Web page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep for the announcement.

With the 2005 Director's Award, NIOSH was pleased to recognize the exemplary research of Dr. Charles A. Czeisler, whose positions include Baldino Professor of Sleep Medicine and Director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School. The 2005 award recognized groundbreaking research by Dr. Czeisler on the impact of long working hours on serious medical errors by interns, and reductions in the rate of such errors with strategic limitations on work shifts. More information about Dr. Czeisler and his research activities can be found at http://sleep.med.harvard.edu/people/faculty/210/Charles+A+Czeisler+PhD+MD.

 MMWR: Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance-United States 2003-2004

The number of U.S. adults with elevated blood lead levels declined in 2003-2004 from previous years, according to new findings reported by NIOSH from data collected through the Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program. The program is funded by NIOSH and enhances health surveillance to identify elevated blood lead levels. The new findings were reported in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for August 18. The full MMWR can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5532a2.htm. More information on the ABLES program can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ABLES/ables.html.

 Monthly Report from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory

The NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) releases new figures on the respirator certification and approval process. During the month of July, 17 requests for extensions of existing respirator approvals and nine applications for new approvals were opened. In addition, NIOSH opened processes for reviewing quality assurance (QA) manuals for three respirator products; some manufacturers choose to submit their QA manuals for NIOSH review prior to submitting the actual products. Thirty applications were closed. These include 23 air-purifying, five air-supplied respirator applications as well as applications involving two quality assurance manuals, 14 extensions of approval and eight new approvals. Certification was granted for 27 products, and one application was denied and two were withdrawn. NIOSH also conducted post-certification activities, including three site audits and four product audits. Product audits are conducted on previously certified respirators that NIOSH purchases and checks to ensure they are still in compliance with NIOSH certification standards.

NPPTL will host the following public meetings.

• September 19, 2006 – Arlington, Virginia – public meeting to discuss concept requirements for closed-circuit escape respirators
• September 28, 2006 – Golden, Colorado – public meeting to discuss concept requirements for closed-circuit escape respirators
• October 11, 2006 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – respirator manufacturers meeting
• October 12, 2006 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – public meeting to discuss ongoing standards and research developments
• October 13, 2006 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – public meeting to discuss new and continuing research

Additional details, including registration information, are available on the NPPTL Web site http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/.

 NIOSH Agricultural Centers to Host Journalists Workshop

 New Site Showcases Industrial Workers from the 1940s.

Over 50 photos of Connecticut workers and occupational health professionals are now available for viewing on the Connecticut Department of Public Health Web site. These photos are from the NIOSH Collection of Historic Photographs and were taken by John Collier, Jr., a photographer for the Farm Security Administration on assignment for the U.S. Public Health Service and the State of Connecticut Department of Health in the early 1940's. The photos and brief descriptions can be viewed at http://www.dph.state.ct.us/BRS/EOHA/Documents/present.pdf.

 r2p Corner

NIOSH and AIHA co-host Chinese delegation
NIOSH and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) had the pleasure of co-hosting a delegation of Chinese occupational safety and health officials and industry leaders on August 17, 2006. Marilyn Fingerhut, NIOSH Office of the Director, and Ed Thimons, NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, represented NIOSH at the event. Dr. Fingerhut provided details on NIOSH global activities and Mr. Thimons presented the NIOSH mining safety and health research program with particular emphasis on methane and dust control. This meeting furthers our partnership agreement with AIHA and extends the global exchange of occupational safety and health information.

Two Revised Standards Released by National Fire Protection Association
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released two revised personal protective equipment (PPE) certification standards. As part of a Memorandum of Understanding between NIOSH and NFPA, personnel from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory serve as members of the NFPA committees revising the standards and contributed scientific, technical and user information that was critical to the revision process. NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents sets minimum levels of protection for emergency first responders to incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) particulate terrorism agents. The revised standard sets ensemble protective performance of hazard environments requiring the use of respiratory protective devices approved to NIOSH CBRN respirator standards. NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting now includes an optional protection category for CBRN hazards. More information on the revised standards can be found on the NFPA Web site, http://www.nfpa.org.

 NORA

First Meetings Scheduled for the NORA Sector Councils
The NORA Sector Councils are getting to work for occupational safety and health research. During the next six months, eight sector councils and one sub sector council will meet to draft goals, performance measures, and implementation plans for the nation. The following table outlines the upcoming meetings.

The councils are designed to be representative of the sectors and knowledgeable of the many issues facing those workers but still small enough to work effectively as a group. If you want to be involved but are not called upon to be a member, stay tuned to next month’s eNews to find out how you can be sector council corresponding member. As always, contact the NORA Coordinator, NORACoordinator@cdc.gov, if you have any questions.

 Around NIOSH

Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART)
On August 10 – 11, NIOSH along with the National Hearing Conservation Association sponsored the "Barriers to Effective Use of Hearing Protectors" Conference in Covington, KY. The emphasis of the meeting was to identify real and perceived barriers to hearing protector wear, point out new and emerging research areas and develop best practices for meeting those barriers. Professionals from government, academia, and industry attended and presented. For more information about NIOSH research on hearing loss prevention in the workplace, visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise or contact William Murphy at WMurphy@cdc.gov.

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies (DRDS)
A study reported in the August 25 issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report finds 11 cases of advanced coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in Lee and Wise counties, Virginia, a higher than expected incidence. The findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive measures to control coal mine dust effectively. The article is online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5533a1.htm.

Crash test dummy head strike against CPR seat cabinetry during ambulance crash test.

Division of Safety Research (DSR)
Incorporating design features based on NIOSH research of ambulance crash-related injury risk to emergency medical service (EMS) workers, the Winter Park, FL Fire Rescue Department has placed a new ambulance into service. In an EMSResponder.com article titled Florida Rescuers Design Safer Ambulance, Lt. A. J. Isaacs, the project manager, reported that some of the changes were made after reviewing NIOSH ambulance crash studies. Contact Paul Moore at PMoore@cdc.gov for more information on the NIOSH ambulance safety research. The EMSResponder.com article can be found at http://www.emsresponder.com/article/article.jsp?id=3519&siteSection=1.

Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies (DSHEFS)
Dr. Marie Haring Sweeney, Chief of the DSHEFS Surveillance Branch, was presented with an award for dedicated and effective contribution to the development of the Health Sector of Vietnam. The award was presented in recognition of her achievements as the U.S. Health Attaché to Vietnam from October 2003 through June 2006.

Education and Information Division (EID)
NIOSH and the Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, are conducting an updated literature review of occupational safety and health training research. The updated review will include training literature from the past decade with attention given to those factors that make training effective.

Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD)
Dr. James Antonini recently received the American Welding Society Safety and Health Award. The award is presented annually to an individual who best encourages the advancement of welding safety and health through conducting research, education activities, development of safe practices or the dissemination of knowledge through publications or other means.

National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)
NIOSH is conducting a project to establish total inward leakage (TIL) laboratory test capability and performance requirements for respirator certification. The project is initially addressing the performance requirement for half-mask respirators, including elastomeric and filtering facepiece styles. For more information on this project, please visit the NIOSH Web site at
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/standardsdev/til/.

Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL)
Using technology initially developed by NIOSH, the TramGuard™ system has become the first Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approved proximity detection system for remote control continuous mining machines. The system was designed to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries among miners working near continuous mining machines. The mention of a trademarked product does not constitute a NIOSH commercial endorsement. More information on the MSHA action is available at http://www.msha.gov/MEDIA/PRESS/2006/NR060829.asp.

Spokane Research Laboratory (SRL)
On August 3-5, 2006, the Spokane Research Laboratory hosted the Major Hazard Risk Assessment course presented by Professor Jim Joy of the University of Queensland, Mineral Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISHC). Attendees came from all sectors of the mining industry and included representatives from Consol Energy, Phelps Dodge, Newmont, Teck Cominco, Stillwater Mining, and Revett Mining. SRL's Floyd Varley, who organized the initial course, will host a follow-up course Risk Assessment Facilitator's course the week of September 11th.

 News From Our Partners

AAOHN to debut conference for leadership achievement in September
The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) will hold its annual Conference for Leadership Advancement, formerly Conference of Leaders, in Long Beach, CA, September 13-15, 2006. Details of the conference, including registration information, can be found on the AAOHN Web site at http://www.aaohn.org.

 Communication Products

Preventing Asthma and Death from MDI Exposure During Spray-on Truck Bed Liner and Related Applications
NIOSH requests assistance in preventing asthma, other respiratory diseases, and death from exposure to methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI). More than 10,000 U.S. workers are potentially exposed to MDI during spray-on truck bed lining operations. NIOSH recommendations on reducing exposures are provided in at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-149.

NIOSH videos available as audio pod casts
The NIOSH videos "Working with Stress" http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/video/stress1.html and "Violence on the Job" http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/video/violence.html were featured as audio pod casts in the unveiling of the new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pod cast site, http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts. These audio versions were adapted form the existing NIOSH videos of the same name http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/video. The new CDC Pod cast site features pod casts, transcripts and video versions of CDC publications.

Proceedings of the First American Conference on Human Vibration
A NIOSH proceedings document is available from the First American Conference on Human Vibration was held June 5-7, 2006 in Morgantown, WV. The meeting showcased the most recent research regarding the physiological effects of vibration and explored the etiology of vibration-induced disorders and illuminated opportunities for their diagnoses, treatment and prevention. The proceedings document can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-140.

Glutaraldehyde Topic Page
NIOSH has developed a new safety and health topic page for glutaraldehyde, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/glutaraldehyde. Glutaraldehyde is a colorless, oily, liquid-chemical with a pungent odor and is used in a variety of industries. Workers can be exposed to glutaraldehyde through inhalation or skin contact potentially resulting in upper and lower respiratory problems, eye irritation and dermatitis.

Health Hazard Evaluations

The following Health Hazard Evaluation Reports have been released.

• Evaluation of physical and psychological symptoms following Hurricane Katrina. NIOSH investigators responded to requests from union and management representatives to evaluate physical and psychological symptoms among employees of the New Orleans Fire Department and the New Orleans Police Department in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The full reports are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2006-0023-3003.pdf (NOFD) and http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2006-0027-3001.pdf (NOPD).
  
  
• Evaluation of exposure at a newspaper printing facility. NIOSH investigators responded to an employee request to evaluate exposures to ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, volatile organic compounds, respirable particulate matter, and carbon monoxide. The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2005-0361-3005.pdf.
  
  
• Evaluation of exposures in a university research laboratory. NIOSH investigators responded to management request to evaluate potential employee exposure to aerosolized Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) in an animal bio-safety level 3 (ABSL3) laboratory. The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2004-0081-3002.pdf.
  
  
• Evaluation of dermatitis and exposure to metalworking fluids exposure. NIOSH investigators responded to a union local’s request at a facility that manufactures tapered steel roller bearings for use in industrial and agricultural equipment. The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2004-0399-3007.pdf.

 Upcoming Events

Contact Dermatitis 2006 – Blending Science with Best Practice
A combined meeting of the Experimental Contact Dermatitis Research Group and the American Contact Dermatitis Society will be held September 28–30, 2006, in Baltimore, MD. The meeting will focus on both the basic and applied science, and the clinical science of contact dermatitis. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/cd2006.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Children at Work and Play
NIOSH and several partners will cosponsor Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) in Children at Work and Play, October 19–20, 2006, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The conference will focus on the issue of NIHL in children who sometimes begin working as early as age 10-12 years, often in noisy environments, such as construction, agriculture, entertainment, and landscaping. More information on the conference is available at http://www.hearingconservation.org/conf_childrenconf.html.

International Conference on Nanotechnology Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: Research to Practice
NIOSH and the University of Cincinnati will cosponsor the International Conference on Nanotechnology Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: Research to Practice, December 3-8, 2006, in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, visit the conference Web site at http://www.uc.edu/noehs. The conference follows other successful international forums cosponsored by NIOSH in Buxton, U.K., in 2004, Minneapolis in 2006, and Miami earlier in 2006.

 Word of the Month

Proximity detection systems are designed to keep miners from being run over, crushed or pinned when they are positioned too close to a continuous mining machine by providing automatic proximity detection and shutdown of the continuous mining machine.