Volume
5 Number 10 February 2008 |
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President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2009 Submitted NIOSH Delivers Research Report on Coal Mine Refuge Alternatives Participate in the NIOSH Emergency Preparedness Response Office Town Hall Meeting National Academies Seeks Input for its Evaluation of the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program Comments Requested on WorkLife Initiative Workshops on Self-Contained Self-Rescue Breathing Systems (SCSR) |
Studies Show Contingent Workers at Higher Risk, NIOSH Researchers Report NIOSH and the American Industrial Hygiene Association Host TeleWeb Update from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) NIOSH's NPPTL to Hold Stakeholder's Meeting Sample Standard Colors for Respirator Labeling |
A bit of history: Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), the son of former slaves, worked in Kentucky coal mines as a youth. He enrolled in high school at age twenty, graduated two years later, and subsequently earned a Ph.D. degree from Harvard. In his studies, Dr. Woodson realized that the significant contributions of African-Americans to the social, artistic, and economic fabric of America had been marginalized – if not systematically ignored – in the history books of his time. Dr. Woodson led numerous initiatives to correct this oversight. One such action was the creation of Black History Week in 1926, to bring national attention to the contributions of black men and black women to American history. The second week of February was chosen because it included the birthdays of two men – Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln – who had a major influence on the course of African-American history. This observance later became Black History Month. Every February, Black History Month provides an opportunity to understand, appreciate, accept, and celebrate America’s diversity, including the growing diversity of the U.S. workforce. NIOSH is committed to exemplary occupational safety and health research that will serve the needs of this changing demographic. Internally, diversity also guides our vision of an inclusive research organization that embraces, values, and respects all individuals. By increasing the diversity of our own workforce, and by recognizing and using the skills and talents that different people bring to our common mission, we will better accomplish our shared goal of safety and health at work for all people through research and prevention. I am pleased that NIOSH has an ongoing Diversity Steering Committee. The committee provides a vehicle through which, organizationally, opportunities for a more diverse NIOSH can be suggested, formulated, and pursued. More information about our mission, vision, and goals for internal diversity can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pgms/diversity. As our current generation of scientists enters retirement age, it is critically important to nurture a new cadre of talented men and women who will reflect the diversity of the U.S. workforce as a whole. One of the ways in which NIOSH is attempting to do this is through a longstanding cooperative agreement with Morehouse College, one of the Nation's pre-eminent Historically Black Colleges and Universities. For more than a decade, this agreement has enabled talented minority students to work with NIOSH researchers on current projects. This program has introduced students to occupational safety and health, stimulated their interest in our field, and provided opportunities for mentoring. This exchange of learning has benefited both students and their NIOSH mentors. We look forward to establishing additional partnerships that will further enrich the diversity of our field in the 21st Century. Do you have additional insights into the opportunities and challenges created for occupational safety and health professionals by the growing diversity of today's workforce? Or suggestions for ways in which NIOSH can further promote diversity within our own organization? If so, please share them with us. |
The President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2009 was submitted to Congress on February 4. The request includes $326 million for NIOSH research. Details of the funding requested for NIOSH in the President's Budget Request are available under "Occupational Safety and Health" on the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web page at http://www.cdc.gov/fmo/PDFs/FY07-09_Functional_Table.pdf and in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) "Budget in Brief" at http://www.hhs.gov/budget/09budget/2009BudgetInBrief.pdf (pp. 28 and 32). Note: The level of requested funding shown in the HHS "Budget in Brief" includes $55 million for NIOSH activity that supports the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program. The $55 million is shown separately in the CDC budget. |
NIOSH Delivers Research Report on Coal Mine Refuge Alternatives |
On January 23, NIOSH delivered the "Research Report on Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines." The report responded to a provision in the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (the MINER Act) requiring NIOSH to conduct research, including field tests, concerning the utility, practicality, survivability, and cost of various refuge alternatives. Such alternatives are intended to provide safe refuge to miners who are trapped underground, awaiting rescue, after a mine explosion or roof collapse. The report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2643.htm. |
Participate in the NIOSH Emergency Preparedness Response Office Town Hall Meeting |
The NIOSH Emergency Preparedness Response Office invites you to attend its Research Portfolio Town Hall Meeting on:
NIOSH has developed strategic goals to address important issues surrounding the health and safety of emergency responders. The conference will provide an overview of the Emergency Preparedness and Response portfolio and will solicit public comments regarding priorities of the strategic goals. For more information on these strategic goals, visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/epr/goals.html. For information on conference registration, please visit our Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/epr/townhall.html. |
National Academies Seeks Input for its Evaluation of the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation |
A committee of the National Academies is soliciting input from NIOSH stakeholders about the relevance and impact of NIOSH’s health hazard evaluation (HHE) program. The input is part of the committee’s evaluation of the HHE program, which in turn is one of several evaluations being conducted by the National Academies to examine NIOSH programs with respect to their impact, relevance, and future directions. If you are interested in providing input, we encourage you to do so at the following National Academies Web site: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/survey/dels/nioshhhe.htm. |
NIOSH is requesting public comment (Docket Number NIOSH 132) on a new resource document intended to facilitate the development of workplace programs, policies, and practices to sustain and improve workforce health: The Essential Elements of Effective Workplace Programs and Policies for Improving Worker Health and Wellbeing. The development and dissemination of these Elements as a useful tool is a key effort of the NIOSH WorkLife Initiative, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/worklife. You may find instructions for submitting comments here, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/132. |
Workshops on Self-Contained Self-Rescue Breathing Systems (SCSR) |
Workshops to solicit information from self-contained self-rescue (SCSR) user groups and technology developers will be held on February 12 in Wheeling, WV, and on March 11 in Denver, CO. Information obtained will be considered in the development of redesign criteria for the next-generation SCSR. Each one-day workshop will include discussion on lessons learned from recent mine disasters, impact of the MINER Act and the S-MINER Act on SCSR development, and development of a course of action. Registration for this workshop is free, will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis, and is required since space is limited. Additional information and registration is available at http://www.nttc.edu/clients/niosh/workshopinfo.asp. |
Studies Show Contingent Workers at Higher Risk, NIOSH Researchers Report |
U.S. and European studies suggest that contingent workers such as part-time, temporary, or contract workers are at higher risk for occupational injuries and illnesses than workers in traditional employment situations, NIOSH researchers report. Several possible reasons for the higher risk are suggested in the increasing scientific evidence, and warrant further scientific investigation, the researchers stated. The article, “Contingent Workers and Contingent Health: Risks of a Modern Economy,” by Kristin J. Cummings, M.D., M.P.H., and Kathleen Kreiss, M.D., was published in the January 30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The report is available on line at http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/299/4/448. |
NIOSH and the American Industrial Hygiene Association Host TeleWeb |
Two NIOSH Scientists, Ziqing Zhuang, Ph.D., and William Newcomb, will participate in American Industrial Hygiene Association's (AIHA) Distance Learning Program by presenting "The Value of Anthropometrics" and "How to Improve and Apply Respirator Fit Testing" in a TeleWeb on Thursday, March 20, 2008, from 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM ET. The course will provide an overview of fit testing, NIOSH respirator certification, discussion of a new respirator fit test panel, and the results of testing using the new panel. Students will be provided with tools to better able them to understand the value of fit testing, categorize facial characteristics which can affect respirator use, and identify applicable fit testing methodologies that can be applied within their own organization. For more information visit the AIHA Web site at http://www.AIHA.org. |
Update from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) |
NIOSH's NPPTL Seeks Public Comment on PAPR concept and Positive Pressure CC SCBA NPPTL is also reevaluating its limitations on and precaution for safe use of positive-pressure closed-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus. Public comment on this document, NIOSH Docket Number 123, will be accepted until April 10, 2008. The full document can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/123. Comments submitted by e-mail or mail should be addressed to the “NIOSH Docket Officer” and should specify the appropriate Docket Number and identify the author(s), return address, and a phone number, in case clarification is needed. Comments can be submitted by e-mail to niocindocket@cdc.gov. If submitting comments by e-mail, they may be provided as e-mail text or as a Word file attachment. Printed comments can be sent to: NIOSH Docket Office, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, MS-C34, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226. Stakeholders’ Meeting on Personal Protective Technology Sample Standard Colors for Respirator Labeling |
MMWR: Investigation of Progressive Inflammatory Neuropathy Among Swine Slaughterhouse |
An article in the January 31, 2008, issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) describes ongoing health-investigation and outbreak-control measures taken to characterize neurological illnesses among a group of swine slaughterhouse workers. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm57e131.pdf. |
Comments NIOSH has received on a feasibility assessment for a cancer study among former IBM employees at a plant in Endicott, NY (NIOSH Docket Number 103) have been added to the Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/nioshdocket0103.html. |
Be sure to check out and comment on the latest NIOSH Science Blog topics. Posted on January 22, 2008, Larry Elliott, director of the NIOSH Office of Compensation Analysis and Support, describes the history and methodology of the NIOSH dose reconstruction program. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/nsb012208_dose.html. A February 4, 2008, posting discusses body artists’ potential work-related exposures to bloodborne pathogens. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/. |
Commercial Partner for the E-Stop |
NORA Liaison Committee recognizes outstanding research: Nominations due April 30, 2008 NORA Liaison Committee Meeting Call for Posters |
AIHA Launches OEHS Library Central The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has launched a new digital library for occupational and environmental health and safety professionals called OEHS Library Central. This resource offers downloadable versions of all AIHA print publications to subscribers and links to abstracting and databases for more than 150 science and technical journals. Further information is available at http://www.oehslibrary.org. |
“Got Everything Covered?” poster, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2008-109, provides helpful tips on protecting workers from the hazards of isocyanate exposure during spray-on truck bedliner applications. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2008-109. NIOSH has developed a series of post cards and posters containing health information for reducing bloodborne pathogen exposure among body artists and health care workers at correctional facilities. Body Artists “Good Clean Art” post card, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2007-138, provide information on reducing cross-contamination. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-138/. “Look Sharp” post card, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2007-139, addresses the handling and disposing of sharps. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-139. Health Care Workers at Correctional Facilities “Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure” poster, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2007-157. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-157. “Protect Your Employees with an Exposure Control Plan” brochure, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2007-158, provides information to medical service administrators and supervisors about improving facility Exposure Control Plans. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-158. “Encourage Your Workers to Report Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures” brochure, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2007-159, provides information for encouraging the reporting of worker bloodborne pathogen exposure in correctional facilities. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-159. Health Hazard Evaluation |
Look for Us Construction Safety Council – Booths 412 and 414 Society of Mining Engineers (SME) Annual Meeting and Exhibit – Booth 1535 CONEXPO CON/AGG 2008 Fire Department Instructors Conference – Booth 248 Call for Abstracts “14th International Society for Respiratory Protection” Upcoming Conferences “Work, Stress, and Health 2008: Health and Safe Work Through Research, Practice, and Partnerships” “8th Annual Safety Patient Handling and Movement Conference” “Semiconductor Environmental, Safety and Health Association (SESHA) Annual Symposium and Expo” “Fire Department Instructors Conference 2008” “9th Annual Transforming Fall Prevention Practices” “American Association of Occupational Health Nurses” “International Association of Fire Chiefs 2008 International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference” “2008 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition” “NSTI Nanotech Annual Conference” “2008 World Safety Conference and Exposition” "American Society of Safety Engineers “SAFETY 2008” Professional Development Conference and Exposition" “12th US/North American Mine Ventilation Symposium” “International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Rescue International 2008” “2008 National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS)” “PCIH 2008” “8th Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology” |
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