Volume
4 Number 12 April 2007
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Volume
4 Number 12 April 2007 |
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NIOSH eNews Web page |
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NIOSH, partners make roads safer for workers and motorists. NIOSH Assists Local Officials in Evaluating Possible Meth Contamination 2007 ACTE-NIOSH Award Winner Announced Articles Address Pesticide Exposures in Retail Employees, Farm Workers Reports from NIOSH-funded extramural studies Eliminating Silicosis Focus of Latest Issue of GOHNET |
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Agricultural
Workers’ Morbidity and Mortality Update
from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) Important
Dates for “WorkLife
2007: Protecting and Promoting Worker Health Symposium” NIOSH Submits Nominations
for Prestigious Science Award Occupational Safety and Health Performance Poetry Awards and Recognition New Appointments
in the NIOSH Office of the Director |
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| r2p Corner NORA News From Our Partners Communication
Products |
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NIOSH has recently released the following publications. Upcoming Events "2007 Johnson Conference: Workplace Aerosol Sampling to Meet ISO Size-Selective Criteria" |
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“3rd International Symposium on Nanotechnology,
Occupational and Environmental Health” |
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“PtD”: the three letters mean Prevention through Design, and the acronym describes the concept that Benjamin Franklin had in mind when he coined the phrase, “An ounce of prevention …” PtD means investing that ounce of prevention by incorporating occupational health and safety up front in designing the features and contents of a workplace. It means saving a pound of cure through smart planning in the very early design phase to prevent or minimize work-related hazards associated with the construction, manufacture, use, maintenance, and disposal of facilities, material, and equipment. This year, PtD becomes part of NIOSH’s tool chest as we join with our partners to launch the PtD National Initiative. Our shared goal is to bring together engineers, architects, and other designers with employers, the worker community, government agencies, occupational safety and health professionals, insurers, and others to develop a national strategy for Prevention through Design, and to identify achievable end-points. As the chart indicates, PtD will encourage stakeholder input through a sector-based approach consistent with the one used under the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). This approach will seek input on research, education, practice, and policy to be considered in strategic planning, leading to the implementation of PtD in the consideration of occupational safety and health in design. The goal: prevention or reduction of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
Further information
will follow on the NIOSH web page and in upcoming issues of eNews. In
the meantime we hope you consider ways in which you can participate
with us in this new initiative. We in NIOSH look forward to working
with you. |
NIOSH,
diverse partners sign Roadway Work Zone Safety Agreement April
2-6 is National Work Zone Awareness Week. |
NIOSH Assists Local Officials in Evaluating Possible Meth Contamination |
On March
7, NIOSH responded to a request from the Grant County, KY Sheriff’s
Office and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force for technical assistance in
evaluating suspected methamphetamine (meth) contamination in two vehicles
and a home. Using an innovative NIOSH-designed field method, NIOSH scientists
John Snawder and Cynthia Striley identified multiple locations where meth
was present, and provided technical advice for officers’ safety on
control and remediation. For more details on testing for meth contamination
and remediation of such sites, contact John Snawder at JSnawder@cdc.gov or
Cynthia Striley at CStriley@cdc.gov. |
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Articles Address Pesticide Exposures in Retail Employees, Farm Workers |
Two recent articles by NIOSH scientists and their colleagues provide findings and recommendations on work-related pesticide exposures:
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| The current issue
of the World Health Organization’s
(WHO) Global Occupational Health newsletter (GOHNET) focuses on silicosis
elimination and features two articles by NIOSH researchers. NIOSH
is a WHO Collaborating Center for Occupational Health. The latest
issue of GOHNET can be found at http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/newsletter/gohnet12e.pdf. |
 NIOSH
has released “Respiratory Disease in Agriculture:
Mortality and Morbidity Statistics,” a report of surveillance data
on occupationally relevant respiratory disease in the agriculture, forestry
and fishing industries. The report can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-106/. |
Update from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) |
Important Dates for “WorkLife 2007: Protecting and Promoting Worker Health Symposium” |
| The deadline
for abstract submissions has been extended until April
30. http://www.worklife2007.com/abstract0.asp
Early registration is open through May 30. http://www.worklife2007.com/registration0.asp |
NIOSH
has nominated nine outstanding studies by NIOSH researchers for the 2007
Charles C. Shepard Science Award. More details can be found
at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-03-26-07.html. |
| A video
featuring the performance of an inspirational poem in honor of the 35th Anniversary
of the Occupational Safety and Health Act is posted on the NIOSH
web page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/video/OSH_poem.html.
The poem was written and is performed by Stacy Smallwood, a public health
professional and performance poet, and was a highlight of the 2006 NORA Symposium. |
Christine West is one of the recipients of the U.S. Public Health Service Chief Nurse Officer Award. LT West was chosen for her outstanding capabilities and leadership as a nurse epidemiologist.
Dr. Vladimir Murashov,
Special Assistant to the NIOSH Director, was recently acknowledged by
the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of
the President for his leadership in the federal interagency Nanotechnology
Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Working Group’s efforts
to develop research priorities for environmental, health, and safety research
of engineered nanoscale materials. |
| Dr. Michael
Galvin, formerly director of the NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs,
has been appointed to the position of NIOSH Associate Director for Special
Programs. Dr. Galvin will oversee several programs initiated since
2000 that, in response to national mandates, expand the Institute’s
traditional prevention mission into new areas involving workers’ compensation
and occupational health care. Dr. Jim Newhall will serve as the
Acting Director of the NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs. |
 On
February 27, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a
new safety rule that builds on findings from NIOSH injury
investigations and work with other partners to prevent injuries
caused by oxygen resuscitator fires. NIOSH conducted several
injury investigations involving portable oxygen resuscitators and worked
with NASA to develop a new testing method for oxygen regulators. More
information on the Fire Fighter Fatality and Investigation and Prevention
Program is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/.
More information on the proposed rule can be found at http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E7-3253.htm. |
 All of
the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Sector Councils have
met except for the Mining Sector. Delays were
necessary due to enhanced activities required of NIOSH researchers by the
MINER Act of 2006 following
the mining tragedies of last year. Now, the leaders of the NORA
Mining Program are requesting stakeholder comments at a public meeting. Input
will be received from the public as part of the first NORA Mining Sector
Council meeting, which will be held near Pittsburgh, PA, on May 3. Participation
through the web is also possible. Comments are requested on important
issues that are under-studied and efficient ways to accomplish the NORA
Council mission. We are also looking for individuals and organizations
who wish to participate. Send any questions, comments or offers to
volunteer to Michael Werner (MWerner@cdc.gov)
if they relate to the NORA Mining Sector Council and to NORACoordinator@cdc.gov for
other NORA activities. |
GOHNET,
the World Health Organization’s Global
Occupational Health Newsletter, is seeking contributions for an upcoming
issue focusing on national policy frameworks or national plans for workers’ health. Contributions
are due by May 15. You can learn more by visiting the GOHNET Web
site, http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/newsletter/gohnet13call/en/index.html. |
Documents for Public Comment NIOSH has recently released the following publications.
NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Reports
Combustion by-products in the service sector |
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Call
for Poster Presentations: “NSTI
Nanotech 2007” NIOSH ERC Annual Scientific Meeting “Occupational
and Environmental Exposures of Skin to Chemicals” "2007
Johnson Conference: Workplace Aerosol Sampling to Meet ISO Size-Selective
Criteria" “3rd International Symposium on Nanotechnology, Occupational and Environmental
Health” “WorkLife
2007: Protecting and Promoting Worker Health Symposium” “International
Roofing Expo 2008” |
MINER
Act of 2006: Mine Improvement
and New Emergency Response Act of 2006. To learn more about the
MINER Act and NIOSH related activities, visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/mineract/mineract.htm. |
NIOSH eNews on the Web: www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/
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As of this writing, our initial partners include the American Society
of Safety Engineers, the Center to Protect Workers' Rights, Liberty Mutual,
the National Safety Council, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
and ORC Worldwide. We anticipate that many others will join in coming
weeks and months. 
James
Hauck is the recipient of the 2007 Association for Career and Technical
Education (ACTE)-NIOSH National Competition for Occupational Safety and
Health. Mr. Hauck is a carpentry instructor and safety
advisor from Middlesex County, East Brunswick, NJ. The award is presented
annually and recognizes excellence in promoting safety and health among
educators in career and technical education. Shown
in the photo are, from left to right, ACTE President Robert E. Scarborough,
2007 Winner James Hauck, and NIOSH Chief of Staff Frank Hearl, who was
in attendance to present the award.
On
February 22, Ken Mead received three awards in Washington D.C. Ken was
selected as both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Engineer
of the Year and the U.S. Public Health Service Engineer of the Year. The
National Society of Professional Engineers recognized Ken as one of the
Top Ten Federal Engineers of 2007. Pictured from l-r are CAPT Scott
Earnest and CDR Ken Mead.