The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) presents the Bullard-Sherwood Research-to-Practice (r2p) Awards to recognize outstanding efforts by NIOSH scientists and their partners in applying occupational safety and health research to preventing workplace fatalities, illnesses, and injuries. The award is named in honor of two distinguished individuals who made significant improvements in workplace injury and illness prevention.

Edward W. Bullard designed the first "hard hat" as protective headgear for miners. He combined his experience with doughboy Army helmets during World War I and his understanding of customer needs to develop the "Hard Boiled Hat." The name was derived from the use of steam during the hat manufacturing process. Joseph Strauss, the engineer in charge of constructing the Golden Gate Bridge (bridge), requested that Mr. Bullard adapt his mineworker helmet to help protect bridge workers from falling rivets. This bridge site became the first designated "Hard Hat Construction Area." In related history, the steel used in the building of the bridge oxidized during transport to San Francisco from Pennsylvania, and therefore required sandblasting before it could be painted. As a result of this unanticipated requirement, Mr. Bullard designed and sold another helmet to the bridge builders to specifically protect the sandblasting workers. This helmet was similar to the hard hat developed for bridge builders but included a hood or "canopy" over the hat, a window to see through, and supplied air for respiratory protection in its design. Today, approximately six million hard hats, also known as "skull buckets," are sold annually throughout the world to protect workers. Bullard's family-owned company, now entering its fifth generation, still produces many of those hard hats as well as more modern sandblasting helmets.

R. Jeremy (Jerry) Sherwood successfully merged research and practical industrial hygiene by inventing the first practical personal sampling pump in the late 1950s. He had identified the need for sampling pumps that could be worn by workers and not impede their work processes. Until then, sampling was done either on an area basis or an industrial hygienist followed a worker while carrying heavy, bulky, and short-term sampling equipment. Using the newly developed personal sampling pump, he demonstrated that area sampling often severely underestimated worker exposures. Within a few years of their invention, personal sampling pumps became the staple in industrial hygiene work that they are today. He also developed a miniature sampler for sulfur dioxide which became commercially available and was widely used throughout Europe. His research on respirators led to the first fit testing. While at the International Labor Organization and later at the World Health Organization, Mr. Sherwood put his own knowledge and research experiences into practice by training others in occupational safety and health, particularly in developing countries. This became one of his greatest passions and many workers around the globe have benefitted from his efforts.

2008

Award Announcement

Knowledge Category:

Winner:

Kreiss K, Kanwal RS, Kullman G, Taylor McKernan L, Dunn KH, Hubbs A, Streicher R, Okun A, Anderson S, Fedan J, Ahlers HW; plus 77 additional contributors. Prevention of Flavoring-Related Bronchiolitis Obliterans.

Interventions Category:

Winner:

Schrader SM, Breitenstein MJ, Lowe BD. Health Effects of Occupational Cycling.

Honorable Mention:

Merinar T, Washenitz, F. Mitigating an Ignition Hazard in Oxygen Resuscitator Regulators.

Winner:

Gao P, Weise T, Tomasovic B. Permeation Calculator: Computer Software for Automated and Standardized Analysis of Chemical Protective Clothing Permeation Data.

Honorable Mention:

• Lincoln J, McKibbin R, Woodward C, Lucas D, Bevan J. Preventing Winch Entanglement Injuries on Commercial Fishing Vessels.
• Esswein EJ, Boeniger MF, Ashley KE. Development of a Hand Wipe Removal Method for Toxic Metals.

2007

Winner:

Miller A, Hoover M, Stapleton B. Developing a Nanoparticle Information Library.

Winner:

McFall MF, Frederick LJ, Haskell WE, Stein R. Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program.

Honorable Mention:

Collins JW, Waters TR, Wolf LD, Bell J, Evanoff B, Nelson A, Menzel N. An Evaluation of a "Best Practices" Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program in Nursing Homes.

Winner:

Esswein EJ, Snawder JE, Striley C, Kennedy E, DeBord GM. Conception, Development, and Rapid Commercialization of Two Novel Surface Wipe Detection Methods for Methamphetamine.

2006

Winner:

Hsiao H, Whisler R, Zwiener J, Guan J, Spahr J, Kau TY, Bradtmiller B, Whitestone J, Feldstein J, Wolner T, Reynolds R. Harness Design and Sizing Effectiveness.

Winner:

Cullen ET, Wopat PF, Clough-Thomas KS. Tell Me a Story: Why Stories are Essential to Effective Safety Training.

Winner:

Kovalchik PG, Matetic RJ, Peterson JS. Engineering Controls for Hearing Loss Prevention.

Honorable Mention:

Mark C, Chase F, Owens J. Preventing Rock Fall Fatalities During Coal Pillar Recovery.

2005

Winner:

Connor TH (project officer), Reed LD, Burroughs GE, Mead KR, McDiarmid MA, Power LA, Hammond DR, and MacKenzie BA. NIOSH Alert: Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-165, September 2004.

Honorable Mention:

Schnakenberg G Jr. (project officer), Bugarski AD, Noll JD, Patts LD, Mischler SE, Timko RJ, Thimons ED, Watzman B, Wright MJ, Viars B, and Ellis M. Reducing Underground Miners' Exposure to Diesel Emissions.

Schuler CR (project officer), Kreiss K, Day GA, Henneberger PK, Hoover MD, Kitt M, Sparks R, Stanton ML, Stefaniak AB, Tift B, Velilla A, McCanlies EA, Weston A, and Cummings K. Understanding and Preventing Beryllium Sensitization and Chronic Beryllium Disease.

Winner:

Szalajda J (project officer), Metzler R, Boord L, BerryAnn R, Palya F, Monahan G, Thornton T, Cloonan T, and Dower J. Standards Development for Respiratory Protection Equipment used by Emergency Responders at a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Terrorist Event.

Honorable Mention:

Palassis J (project officer), Cauley J, Ellison C, Rogers RR, Jr., Helton N, Doyle G, Becks V, Elliott P, Afanah S, Hamilton A, Weber J, Okun A, Votaw D, Ahlers H, Haring-Sweeney M, and Chan HS. NIOSH Safety Checklist Program for Schools, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-101, October 2003.

Winner:

Mowrey GL (project officer) and Schiffbauer WH. Lockout/Tagout, Jammed, and Moving Machinery Controls.

Honorable Mention:

Harris JR (CROPS Project Officer), McKenzie EA Jr., (AutoROPS Project Officer), Cantis DM, Etherton JR, Ronaghi M, Powers JR Jr., Lutz TJ, Hudson AJ, Homce GT, Edgel HDl, and Amendola AA. ROPS Technology Transfer Team