Volume
5 Number 9 January 2008 |
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NIOSH Draft Offers Interim Guidance on Medical Screening of Workers Potentially Exposed to Engineered Nanoparticles Interested in Construction Safety and Health? NIOSH Welcomes National Academies’ Panel Report from Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing Program Review |
NIOSH Funding Supports Katrina Health Study at Tulane Office of Extramural Program’s Announces new RFAs Update on NIOSH Hearing Loss Prevention Efforts CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report |
Recently, the global investment firm Goldman Sachs JBWere reported some gratifying but not really surprising study results. The firm found that companies who did not adequately manage occupational safety and health performed worse financially than companies that did. The findings suggest that smart investors will do well to look at companies’ occupational safety and health policies and practices as a factor for deciding where to put their capital http://www.gsjbw.com/documents/About/MediaRoom/GSJBW-WHS-Report-Media-Release.pdf. Similarly, an article in the December 1, 2007, issue of The Economist highlighted the savings that have been realized by a software company that does well by being good to its employees. The company’s employee-friendly services include an in-house primary health care center and a long-term wellness program http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10208507. These reports are part of a growing body of evidence that it makes good business sense to put a premium on employee safety and health. Productivity, profitability, strong safety and health performance, respect for employees, respect for customers, and social responsibility are all intertwined. NIOSH and its partners are addressing the questions that often arise from CEOs, Chief Operating Officers, and corporate boards when this "business case" is put forth: What hard evidence exists to support the assertion that worker safety and health is good for business? What gaps exist in that evidence? What and how can other companies learn from good corporate citizens? In addition to looking closely at pioneering efforts here in the U.S., NIOSH and its partners also are looking at international efforts to bolster the "business case" for the prevention of work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Economic strategists in the U.K. and Australia, as well as financial institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, are leading efforts globally to stimulate safety, health, and social responsibility as good management tenets. The Economics Coordinated Emphasis Area, one of NIOSH's high-priority programs, focuses on those challenges and opportunities, in partnership with diverse colleagues from industry, labor, safety, health, government, and academia. This focus is made explicit through the program's strategic plan, which is built around four strategic goals. These goals emphasize the importance of partners (goal 4) as well as the diffusion of research into practice (goal 3). They also address strategies for research (goals 1 and 2) on issues that are vital from the employer's business perspective, on ways to integrate economic issues with overall worker safety and health, on leveraging such integration through management systems, and on the economics of occupational safety and health at a global level (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/econ/goals.html). NIOSH is working to address these goals in a variety of ways: We are encouraging greater dialogue between economists and safety and health professionals:
We are developing new partnerships with outside organizations that have also engaged discussion on an integrated approach to foster a healthier and safer American workforce:
Within NIOSH, through its strategic planning and activities, the NIOSH Economics program guides and coordinates the infusion of economic issues into related efforts by other NIOSH programs such as WorkLife and Prevention through Design (PtD):
These NIOSH efforts are beginning to generate excellent, thought-provoking research. As you read the recent reports from Goldman Sachs JBWere and The Economist, I encourage you to join us in charting the course of our programs in the coming year and beyond. Partnerships have been vital for our progress to date. They will be even more vital as safety and health moves higher and higher on the agendas of corporate board meetings and shareholder meetings. (Thanks to Dr. Rene Pana-Cryan, NIOSH Economics Coordinator, for her collaboration on this month's column.) |
NIOSH Draft Offers Interim Guidance on Medical Screening of Workers Potentially Exposed to Engineered Nanoparticles |
Deadline for public comment is February 15, 2008. NIOSH is seeking public review and comment on a draft document of interim guidance concerning the medical screening of workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles in the manufacture and industrial use of nanoparticles. The document is posted on the NIOSH Web page, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/115/, along with details on how to submit comments to the NIOSH Docket. The guidance was developed to generate discussion, fill current knowledge gaps and provide interim recommendations until further scientific information becomes available. |
The NIOSH Science Blog post on Ergonomics for Construction Workers (posted 12/17/2007) discusses simple and inexpensive solutions developed by NIOSH to make construction tasks easier, more comfortable, and better suited to the needs of the human body. Construction is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States. The nature of the work puts many workers at risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The Youth@Work: Talking Safety blog (posted 1/7/2008) highlights a new NIOSH curriculum designed to teach young people about occupational safety and health. Millions of teens work in the U.S. and an estimated160,000 youths sustain work-related injuries and illnesses each year. We invite you to share your ideas with NIOSH scientists and each other on the blog at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/. |
NIOSH announces the inaugural issue of the “National Occupational Research Agenda Construction Sector E-Newsletter.” This newsletter will cover news and activities of the Construction Sector Council and other new research and events of interest to our construction stakeholders. You can view the inaugural issue at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/news/nora/construction/NORAconstNewsV1N1.html. Sign-up for future issues via the Web page, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/news/nora/construction/. |
NIOSH Welcomes National Academies’ Panel Report from Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing Program Review |
On December 19, NIOSH received a report of findings and recommendations from a review by a committee of the National Academies. The review committee assessed the scientific soundness, relevance and impact of the NIOSH agriculture, forestry and fishing program. The full 311-page report, which includes detailed results of the public review and recommendations for improving NIOSH’s program, can be viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas/AgForFish/review.html. This program review is one of nine such reviews that the National Academies is conducting at NIOSH’s request. |
Under a competitive research grant from NIOSH, researchers at Tulane University are conducting a health study to determine if post-Hurricane Katrina exposures of workers to dusts containing bio-aerosols (bacteria and mold) are associated with changes in respiratory health. The study will include approximately 1,000 New Orleans area workers performing demolition and remediation work; trash and debris removal/disposal and landfill work; street, sewerage and water-line repair; general construction work; tree cutting and landscape restoration; and facilities services work. More information on the study is available from the Tulane program at KatrinaWorkerStudy@tulane.edu or by phone at 504-988-3846. |
New Extramural Research Funding Opportunities Career Development Grants in Occupational Safety and Health Research (K01): Mining Occupational Safety and Health Research: NIOSH Exploratory and/or Developmental Grant Program (R21): NIOSH Small Research Grant Program (R03): NIOSH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13): Occupational Safety and Health Research (R01): Small Business Innovation Research Grants (R43 and R44): National Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Childhood Agricultural Injury: Please contact the NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs for additional details (Telephone: 404-498-2530; E-mail: oepcorrespond@cdc.gov). |
Theresa Schulz completes term as President of National Association New Hearing Loss Prevention Publications Inquiring Ears Want to Know: A Fact Sheet about Your Hearing Test (2008-102) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2573.htm. They’re Your Ears: Protect Them (2007-175) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-175/. Have you Heard? Hearing Loss Caused by Farm Noise is Preventable (2007-176) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-176/. Hearing Loss Prevention Unit rolls into Vegas |
Evaluation of Results from Occupational Tuberculin Skin Tests – Mississippi, 2006 Acute Pesticide Poisoning Associated with Pyraclostrobin Fungicide – Iowa, 2007 |
The Web page for the NIOSH Docket 105 “Hazardous Drugs” has been updated with presentations and transcripts from an August 28, 2007, meeting to discuss the draft document, “NIOSH Hazardous Drugs List Update.” The update also includes public comments submitted to the NIOSH Docket. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/nioshdocket0105.html. |
(by Michael Attfield, NIOSH Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, with contributions from other of Joe's former co-workers at NIOSH) |
NIOSH requests poster submissions for the NORA 2008: Public Market for Ideas and Partnerships Symposium, July 29, 2008 |
CDC’s Injury Center Finds Increase in Injury Mortality |
Health Care Waste Anesthetic Gases – Occupational Hazard in Hospitals (2007-151) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-151/. Mining Technology News 529 – New Technology for Ground Control in Multiple-Seam Mining (2008-103) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2549.htm. Three publications previously available in print have now been added to the NIOSH Web site. Effectiveness of Selected Diesel Particulate Matter Control Technologies for Underground Mining Applications: Isolated Zone Study, 2003 (2006-126) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid1778.htm. Handbook for Methane Control in Mining (2006-127) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid1779.htm. Field Evaluation of Seat Designs for Underground Coal Mine Shuttle Cars (2007-100) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2227.htm. Health Hazard Evaluations Services Sector: Evaluation of a cholinesterase monitoring program |
Look for Us Construction Safety Council – Booths 412 and 414 Society of Mining Engineers (SME) Annual Meeting and Exhibit – Booth 1535 Fire Department Instructors Conference – Booth 248 Call for Abstracts “International Roofing Expo 2008” “Work, Stress, and Health 2008: Health and Safe Work Through Research, Practice, and Partnerships” “Semiconductor Environmental, Safety and Health Association (SESHA) Annual Symposium and Expo” “Fire Department Instructors Conference 2008” “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” “2008 ASTM Boulder Conference on Surface and Dermal Sampling” “International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Rescue International 2008” “2008 National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS)” “8th Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology” |
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