NIOSH eNews Web page

Coal Dust Mine Sampler Receives R&D 100 Award
Handheld device determines if coal dust has been sufficiently mixed with rock dust to prevent risk of explosion.

NIOSH Contributes to Revised Pandemic Flu Planning
Guidance provides updated recommendations on the use of surgical masks and respirators in health care settings.

HHS Completes Allocation of WTC Medical Care Funds
Funds are for monitoring, screening, analysis and medical treatment of WTC responders and recovery workers.

NIOSH and BLS Release Workplace Violence Prevention Results
Results will assist in developing educational interventions to improve workplace safety.

"WorkLife 2007" Symposium Set for September
The symposium is part of the NIOSH WorkLife Initiative.

NIOSH Announces Two New Centers for Excellence to Promote a Healthier Workforce
Centers will establish trans-disciplinary research, education, and translation programs for integrating health protection and promotion in the workplace.

Special Issue of American Journal of Industrial Medicine Focuses on Effects of Long Work Hours
Issue features articles from the 2004 NIOSH Long Work Hour Conference.

Two NIOSH Employees Receive Interagency Teamwork Award
Team recognized for developing, communicating and applying a comprehensive model for chloroform, a problematic drinking water disinfection byproduct.

Elyce Biddle Receives 2006 Samuel Gompers Award
Dr. Biddle recognized for assistance provided to the IAIABC on trends in occupational injuries.

NIOSH hosts "Molecular Mechanisms of Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis Conference"
Proceedings to be published in "Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry"

NIOSH Facilities Host Diversity and Breast Health Awareness Speakers
Cincinnati employees wear pink for a cure

Pittsburgh Diversity Committee hosts speaker

Results from Feasibility Assessment Will Assist NIOSH in Conducting New Surveillance Activities
Battelle assessed tools and methods used in conducting occupational safety and health surveillance activities in hospitals.

Georgetown Forum Looks at Federal and State OSHA Programs
Presentations from the interactive forum are available online.

Nanotechnology Update
NIOSH, NIH, and EPA Jointly Announce Funding Opportunity

NIOSH & ISO Nanotech Standards Development

Registration for Nanotechnology Conference Now Open

Occupational Health Surveillance for Nanotechnology Workers

NIOSH Participates in EPA Risk Management Practices Meeting

Update from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)
NPPTL Director Delivers Keynote at ISRP

Public Meetings held in September and October

NIOSH Dockets Opened and Extended

NPPTL releases September figures on the respirator certification and approval process

r2p Corner
NIOSH Safety Engineer Awarded for Investigation of Oxygen Regulator Fires

NIOSH and Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare Agreement

NORA
NORA FY07 Intramural Funding Awards Announced

News From Our Partners
Organizations Encourage WTC Responders to Register with Workers Comp Board

"2007 National Safety Congress and Expo" Call for Presentations

"2007 AOHP Conference" Call for Speakers

AIHA Foundation Expands Scholarship Opportunities

Communication Products
NIOSH Fatal Occupational Injury Cost Fact Sheets

Long-Term Field Evaluation Report, Phases 8 and 9, Is Available

"Workplace Violence Prevention Strategies and Research Needs"

"Workplace Solutions: Preventing Injuries from Installing Drywall"

Three new mining publications now available.

Upcoming Events
Call for Papers: "2007 Johnson Conference: Workplace Aerosol Sampling to Meet ISO Size-Selective Criteria"

Word of the Month

Closed-circuit escape respirator (CCER)

 From the Director's Desk

Over the past three years, NIOSH has pursued a concerted program of research aimed at providing answers to the complex questions associated with the occupational health and safety implications of engineered nanomaterials. NIOSH research into this field has advanced the understanding of the ways in which workers may be exposed to nanoparticles in the manufacture and use of nanomaterials, and the ways in which nanoparticles may interact with bodily systems. Last year, based on these findings and other scientific input, NIOSH released interim guidance on safe approaches to nanotechnology. Building on this base of information and recommendations, over 30 NIOSH scientists from varied disciplines are actively engaged in moving our laboratory-based research into the field and using it to develop more finely tuned guidance. NIOSH has partnered with public- and private-sector colleagues from the U.S. and abroad, making the information and interim recommendations widely available. Industry, the worker community, and other stakeholders agree that such research and outreach is essential to realizing the promise of nanotechnology.

NIOSH will maintain this vigorous level of activity as we prepare to leave 2006 and enter 2007. Here are some of the new developments and products that we expect to see over the coming weeks:

• NIOSH is developing a progress report on the accomplishments that we have made to date under our strategic research program. The progress report will address how NIOSH has addressed the 10 critical areas in our strategic plan, which is posted for ongoing public review and comment at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/strat_plan.html.
  
  
• NIOSH continues to actively participate with numerous national and international organizations and agencies in addressing the health and safety issues of nanotechnology and building consensus on safe approaches. We look forward to continuing our partnership in 2007 with two such efforts led by the International Organization for Standardization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  
  
• In the next few weeks, we expect to debut a widely anticipated guidance document on occupational health surveillance of nanotechnology workers.
  
  
• With the University of Cincinnati and several other partners, we are pleased to sponsor a major international conference in December in Cincinnati. This is the latest of a series of yearly scientific conferences in this field that NIOSH has co-sponsored with prestigious groups and agencies from the U.S. and abroad.
  
  
• We are accepting grant applications under a new announcement with the National Institutes of Health and EPA. This announcement continues our commitment to fund excellent research by outside scientists to complement our intramural program.

More details on these activities can be found in the Nanotechnology section of this issue.

I would like to reiterate our standing invitation for your review, comment, and partnership as our program moves into its next year. In particular, I invite you to join me in Cincinnati on December 4-7 for the international conference. The previous international conferences that we co-hosted, in 2004 and 2005, were truly energizing experiences. I expect that this year's forum will be equally stimulating, productive, and important for moving this cutting-edge research forward.

 Coal Dust Mine Sampler Receives R&D 100 Award

On October 19, NIOSH and partners were honored by R&D Magazine with presentation of the prestigious R&D 100 Award 2006 for development of the “Coal Dust Explosibility Meter – Model 100.” This is the first device ever created that provides an immediate capability for determining if coal dust concentrations in active areas of underground coal mines have been sufficiently mixed with rock dust to prevent risk of explosion. NIOSH developed the theory and technology behind the device, and a prototype was developed in collaboration with the Geneva College Center for Technology Development. The device will be manufactured and marketed by H&P Prototyping Inc. Mention of a specific company or product is not considered a commercial endorsement by NIOSH. For more information on NIOSH research and technical assistance for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths in mining, visit the NIOSH Web page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining.

 NIOSH Contributes to Revised Pandemic Flu Planning

NIOSH participated in the development of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) revised interim pandemic influenza planning guidance, issued October 17. The revised interim guidance includes updated and more precautionary recommendations regarding the use of surgical masks and respirators in health care settings during an influenza pandemic. NIOSH participated on the work group that developed the document, which includes a discussion of the science of influenza transmission, the capabilities of respirators and surgical masks, their use in circumstances in which there is a potential for exposure to airborne agents, and the rationale for adopting these more protective health care worker recommendations. The updated guidance document can be found at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/healthcare/maskguidancehc.html.

 HHS Completes Allocation of WTC Medical Care Funds

 NIOSH and BLS Release Workplace Violence Prevention Results

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released findings from a survey conducted for NIOSH on workplace violence prevention. Nearly five percent of the 7.1 million U.S. private industry business establishments had an incident of workplace violence in the 12 months preceding the survey. The majority of those establishments did not change their workplace violence prevention procedures after the incident. Results from the survey will provide researchers with information to develop educational interventions to improve workplace safety. Findings from the survey are available in detail on the BLS Web site, http://www.bls.gov/iif/osh_wpvs.htm. More information on NIOSH research and recommendations for preventing and reducing workplace violence can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumaviolence.html.

 "WorkLife 2007" Symposium Set for September

NIOSH and over 15 cosponsors will host the symposium "WorkLife 2007: Preserving and Promoting Worker Health," September 10-11, 2007, at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Washington DC. The symposium is part of the NIOSH WorkLife Initiative. The vision of the initiative is safe and healthy workers in workplaces that protect, sustain, and promote health and wellbeing. The symposium will gather researchers and practitioners in the areas of health protection and health promotion to better understand the relationships between workplace health protection and promotion programs and health care costs; identify programs, policies, and practices that work; and to build consensus around research priorities and a research agenda. The initiative is the NIOSH response to the "2004 Steps to a Healthier US Workforce Symposium". Check the Web page, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/worklife, for more information and updates.

 NIOSH Announces Two New Centers for Excellence to Promote a Healthier Workforce

 Special Issue of American Journal of Industrial Medicine Focuses on Effects of Long Work Hours

The November issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine features a special section on various aspects of research on long work hours, health, and safety. This collection of articles is a response to the "2004 Long Work Hour Conference," sponsored by NIOSH and the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Article abstracts are available through the journal’s Web site, http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/34471.

 Two NIOSH Employees Receive Interagency Teamwork Award

NIOSH congratulates Cynthia Striley and John Snawder, two NIOSH employees who received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and Development Teamwork Award. The award recognizes an interagency team of researchers from EPA, NIOSH, and the U.S. Air Force for their research efforts on "Internal and External Collaborations to Advance Pharmacokinetic Modeling on Age-dependent and Human Interindividual Variability for Risk Assessment."

 Elyce Biddle Receives 2006 Samuel Gompers Award

The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) awarded Elyce Biddle of NIOSH the 2006 Samuel Gompers Award, in recognition for her “outstanding efforts in improving working conditions of the masses.” The award notes that “Elyce has been called on numerous times by the association to help shed light on issues and trends in occupational injuries. Elyce truly exemplifies the passion that Samuel Gompers had for improving the working conditions for the average industrial worker.”

 NIOSH hosts "Molecular Mechanisms of Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis Conference"

 NIOSH Facilities Hold Diversity and Breast Health Awareness Speakers

Cincinnati employees wear pink for a cure
On October 13, the Cincinnati Federal Women's Program (FWP) and the Susan G. Komen Foundation joined together to educate NIOSH employees on breast health awareness. Wearing pink, NIOSH-Cincinnati employees heard information on the three steps to breast health: breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, and mammography. These efforts were in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Pittsburgh Diversity Committee hosts speaker
The NIOSH Pittsburgh Diversity Committee recently hosted a speaker on Intercultural Communication in Business. Dr. Janie Harden Fritz, Associate Professor at Duquesne University, covered several points including intercultural awareness in today’s workplace, the difference between stereotypes and generalizations, and changing the understanding of “common sense.”

 Results from Feasibility Assessment Will Assist NIOSH in Conducting New Surveillance Activities

The Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, Seattle, Washington, has completed a feasibility assessment of tools and methods for conducting occupational safety and health surveillance activities in hospitals. The report, “A Feasibility Evaluation of Tools and Methods for Surveillance of Health and Safety Hazards in Hospitals,” was conducted through a contract with NIOSH. Findings from the report will be used by NIOSH in planning for the National Exposures at Work Survey (NEWS). For more information on the feasibility assessment and the NEWS project, please contact Jim Boiano at JBoiano@cdc.gov or Greg Piacitelli at GPiacitelli@cdc.gov. A report summary and instructions for ordering the full report are available on the National Technology Information Service Web page, http://www.ntis.gov/search/product.asp?ABBR=PB2007100126&starDB=GRAHIST.
The Executive Summary is available through NIOSHTIC-2.

 Georgetown Forum Looks at Federal and State OSHA Programs

On October 23, the Center for Business and Public Policy at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business hosted an interactive forum titled “Federal and State OSHA Programs: What We Have Learned.” The forum focused on examining the effectiveness of federal and state level programs from the researcher and practitioner perspectives. The forum presentations are available for downloading on the Georgetown Web site, http://faculty.msb.edu/prog/cbpp/safety/main.htm. NIOSH is a partner with the center.

 Nanotechnology Update

NIOSH, NIH, and EPA Jointly Announce Funding Opportunity
NIOSH joined with the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to solicit grant applications for research that will explore interactions between engineered nanomaterials and bodily systems. Grant applications are now being accepted under the announcement: Manufactured Nanomaterials: Physico-chemical Principles of Biocompatibility and Toxicity (R01). The deadline for letters of intent is December 13, 2006. For more information, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-06-008.html.

NIOSH & ISO Nanotech Standards Development
NIOSH continues to be actively involved with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 229 on nanotechnologies. NIOSH is contributing technical input to the development of proposals for international occupational safety and health standards in nanotechnology, which will be presented at the next plenary session in Seoul, South Korea, on December 4-7, 2006. For more information about NIOSH participation in nanotechnology standardization development, contact Dr. Vladimir Murashov at VMurashov@cdc.gov.

Registration for Nanotechnology Conference Now Open
Registrations are being accepted now for the “International Conference on Nanotechnology Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: Research to Practice,” which will be held December 4-7, 2006, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The conference is co-sponsored by NIOSH, the University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This conference is centered on the impact of nanotechnology on occupational and environmental health and safety from two perspectives: (1) promotion and protection of individual safety and health along the life cycle of nano-based products and (2) use of emerging technology in prevention, detection and treatment of occupational and environmental diseases. Further information is available in the conference announcement at http://www.uc.edu/noehs/conference_program.asp.

Occupational Health Surveillance for Nanotechnology Workers
A new NIOSH guidance document, “Occupational Health Surveillance for Nanotechnology Workers,” is expected to be posted in November on the NIOSH Nanotechnology topic page. This document will provide a framework for consideration of the issues pertaining to occupational health surveillance for nanotechnology. Watch the topic page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech and the next issue of eNews for more details.

NIOSH Participates in EPA Risk Management Practices Meeting
NIOSH scientists Dr. Charles Geraci and Dr. Vladimir Murashov were among the invited government representatives who participated in a diverse peer panel at an October 19-20 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public meeting on risk management practices for nanoscale materials. To focus the public meeting, EPA used a discussion paper that cited NIOSH’s interim document, “Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology,” as the primary reference for proposed EPA recommendations on workplace-related issues under a stewardship program for nanoscale materials. For further details about the EPA public meeting, see https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/nano.

 Update from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)

NPPTL Director Delivers Keynote at ISRP
The International Society for Respiratory Protection (ISRP) held its 13th international biennial conference August 27 - September 1 in Toronto, Canada. The conference theme was respiratory protection for healthcare workers, emergency responders, and emerging hazards. NPPTL Director Les Boord described the NIOSH personal protective technology programs during his keynote address and NPPTL researchers Ziqing Zhuang, Raymond Roberge, and Lisa Delaney gave technical presentations. Abstracts are available at http://www.amersectisrp.org/toronto/main_abstract.htm or you may request a CD of the conference presentations by contacting Ziqing Zhuang at ZZhuang1@cdc.gov.

Public Meetings held in September and October
Arlington, VA and Golden, CO were the sites for two September public stakeholder meetings to discuss proposed Closed Circuit Escape Respirator (CCER) regulatory changes. NIOSH is developing the proposed changes in cooperation with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The meetings were an opportunity for information exchange between NIOSH and MSHA with respirator manufacturers, industry representatives, labor representatives, and other interested parties. Presentations from the meetings are available on at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl.

On October 12-13, NPPTL sponsored public meetings to discuss concepts for requirements for new programs for the approval of powered, air-purifying respirators and for NIOSH’s total inward leakage program, quality assurance program, and administrative module. In addition, new and continuing research projects were presented. Over 150 attendees learned about research projects being conducted in four focus areas: respiratory protection; sensors and electronics – integration with personal protective technology; protective clothing and ensembles; and human performance. Presentations and posters from the meeting can be viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/resources/pressrel/letters/lttr-101206.html.

NIOSH Dockets Opened and Extended
Docket NIOSH 094 has been opened for the Personal Protective Technology (PPT) Cross Sector. The Personal Protective Technology (PPT) cross-sector, one of 15 cross-sector programs in the NIOSH Program Portfolio, seeks to advance the current state of knowledge and application of personal protective technologies. This includes the technical methods, processes, techniques, tools, and materials that support the development and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by individuals to reduce effects of their exposure to a hazard. Interested parties can comment on the Draft Goals presented at the Public Meeting on October 13, 2006. The draft goals can also be viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/ppt/goals/pdfs/DraftPPTGoals-10-25-06.pdf.

The deadline to submit comments to Docket NIOSH 05 for the closed-circuit escape respirator concept requirements has been extended until November 30. Additional information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/resources/pressrel/letters/lttr-102006.html.

NPPTL releases September figures on the respirator certification and approval process
During September 2006, the Technology Evaluation Branch of NPPTL issued a total of 26 respirator approvals. Of these, 17 included approval of modifications of products that had been previously approved. Nine of the approvals were for new products. Approval was denied for 16 products, including nine new and seven modifications.

The Engineering Evaluation team conducted one site audit of a manufacturing site to evaluate the quality assurance process and manufacturing practices. They also completed two product audits. This process involves NPPTL purchasing previously approved products, through the open market, and putting the product through a complete approval check to ensure compliance with the approval issued. One product audit was initiated. The Certified Product Investigation Process completed five evaluations of previously certified products and started three investigations. These evaluations are initiated by the reporting of a potential problem either by a manufacturer or user. If a problem with the equipment is identified, the result can be a product redesign or issuance of a user notice or other remedies.

 r2p Corner

NIOSH Safety Engineer Awarded for Investigation of Oxygen Regulator Fires
Tim Merinar, Safety Engineer in the NIOSH Division of Safety Research, was recognized by the Virginia Beach VA, Fire Department for meritorious service to the department. In February 2005, the Fire Department experienced a near-miss incident in which a device on an oxygen tank, an oxygen resuscitator regulator, spontaneously ignited and burned. As a result of a request to NIOSH from the Fire Department for technical assistance in determining the cause of the ignition, Mr. Merinar coordinated an investigation and worked with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a forensic evaluator to identify likely cause. From the findings, he further coordinated a joint FDA and NIOSH Public Health Notification that rapidly alerted fire departments, emergency responder agencies, and healthcare services across the U.S. to the potential hazard, and provided guidance on avoiding it. Presenting Mr. Merinar with an inscribed, bronze, presentation fire-axe, the Fire Department said that the response to its request exemplifies how the government and the private sector should work hand-in-hand. The joint FDA and NIOSH Public Health Notification can be found at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/042406-o2fires.html. For additional information on the technical investigation, contact Tim Merinar at TMerinar@cdc.gov.

NIOSH and Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare Agreement
NIOSH and the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP) have established a collaborative partnership to improve workplace safety and health in the healthcare setting. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on October 5 by NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. and AOHP Executive President Denise Knoblauch. "The MOU allows us to combine our resources to put NIOSH research into practice in the health care setting,” said Dr. Howard.

 NORA

NORA FY07 Intramural Funding Awards Announced
NIOSH recently announced the selection of several new internal NORA projects. The approved projects are expected to make substantial contributions to workplace safety and health. The selections were made following peer review by experts from outside NIOSH and covered the NORA sector areas of wholesale and retail trade; construction; healthcare and social assistance; manufacturing; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and agriculture, forestry, and fishing. This year’s proposals were especially noteworthy for the increase in the number determined to be of high scientific merit by external peer review.

More information about these NORA projects is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-10-11-06.html. Future eNews articles will describe other facets of NORA. Address questions to NORACoordinator@cdc.gov.

 News From Our Partners

Organizations Encourage WTC Responders to Register with Workers Comp Board
Partner organizations in World Trade Center responder health issues are encouraging responders to register with the Workers' Compensation Board of New York State before August 14, 2007. Registration using the state's Form WTC-12 does not constitute the filing of a claim, but it does extend the time for a responder to file a claim if his or her health should become affected in the future by rescue, recovery, or cleanup work at Ground Zero. More information, including a fact sheet and sample forms, is available at http://www.nycosh.org/911info/index.html. Public service announcements prepared by the partner organizations are available at http://www.balconynewyork.com.

"2007 National Safety Congress and Expo" Call for Presentations
The National Safety Council is soliciting abstracts for the "2007 National Safety Congress and Expo" to be held in Chicago, October 12-19, 2007. The submission deadline is January 12, 2007. Information on the call for presentations is available at https://www.eshow2000.com/nsc/2007/call_for_papers.cfm.

"2007 AOHP Conference" Call for Speakers
The Association of Occupational Health Professionals has issued a call for speakers for the "2007 AOHP Conference" to be held in Savannah, GA, September 26-29, 2007. The submission deadline is November 17, 2006. More information on the call for speakers is available on the AOHP Web site, http://www.aohp.org/conference/AbstractsSubmission.asp#Speakers.

AIHA Foundation Expands Scholarship Opportunities
The American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) has made two important changes to its scholarship award procedures. In addition to their existing requirements, students attending industrial hygiene academic programs approved as NIOSH Education and Research Centers or accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health are now eligible for AIHF scholarships. The AIHF has also agreed to award scholarships to undergraduate students in programs accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). More information on these changes can be found on the AIHA Web site, http://www.aiha.org.

 Communication Products

NIOSH Fatal Occupational Injury Cost Fact Sheets
A new series of fact sheets estimate the cost to society of a workplace fatality using the cost-of-illness approach. This approach combines the direct and indirect costs to produce an overall cost of an occupational fatal injury. Fact sheets are available for ten industry groupings, including agriculture, forestry and fishing; mining; construction; services; manufacturing; transportation, communications, electric, gas and sanitary services; wholesale trade; retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and public administration. The fact sheets can be found through the NIOSH Traumatic Occupational Injury Web page, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumapubs02-04.html.

Long-Term Field Evaluation Report, Phases 8 and 9, Is Available
"Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Long Term Field Evaluation: Combined Eighth and Ninth Phase Results," NIOSH Report of Investigations 9671, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-103, is available. The report contains the results of laboratory tests under the latest phases of a program that evaluates how well self-contained self-rescuers endure the underground coal mining environment with regard to both physical damage and aging when they are deployed in accordance with Federal regulations. The report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2120.htm.

"Workplace Violence Prevention Strategies and Research Needs"
NIOSH has released a summary document from the November 2004 conference, "Partnering in Workplace Violence Prevention: Translating Research to Practice." The report, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-144, provides a useful framework on the current state of workplace violence research, prevention and communication activities in the U.S. The report can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-144.

"Workplace Solutions: Preventing Injuries from Installing Drywall"
A new NIOSH workplace solutions document offers recommendations for preventing and reducing injuries to workers who install drywall. The report, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-147, provides a description of the types of injuries workers have reported and offers three cases reports detailing how the injuries occurred. The report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2006-147.

Three new mining publications now available
NIOSH released the following mining publications:

• "Effectiveness of Selected Diesel Particulate Matter Control Technologies for Underground Mining Applications: Isolated Zone Study, 2004." DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-138. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2094.htm.
  
  
  
• "Roof Bolting Machine Operators Skills Training for a Walk-Thru Roof Bolter: Training Guide." DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-135. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2093.htm.
  
  
  
• "Job Training Analysis: A Process for Quickly Developing a Roadmap for Teaching and Evaluating Job Skills." DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-139.
  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2095.htm.
  

 Upcoming Events

Call for Papers: "2007 Johnson Conference: Workplace Aerosol Sampling to Meet ISO Size-Selective Criteria"
Abstracts will be accepted until December 15, 2006 for the "2007 Johnson Conference: Workplace Aerosol Sampling to Meet ISO Size-Selective Criteria." The conference will be held July 16-20, 2007 in Burlington, VT and is sponsored by ASTM International. More information on the Call for Abstracts is available by contacting Martin Harper, Conference Chairman, at MHarper@cdc.gov. Additional information on the conference can be found at http://www.astm.org under Symposia and Workshops.

 Word of the Month

Closed-circuit escape respirator (CCER): small respirators that employ either compressed oxygen or a chemical source of oxygen, and a chemical system for removing exhaled carbon dioxide from the worker’s recirculated air. Users rebreathe their exhalations, after the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels have been restored to suitable levels. Examples include self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) used by miners to escape dangerous atmospheres in underground coal mines after a fire or explosion.