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NIOSH-Funded Study Examines Lifting Rest Breaks
Study recommends that workers who lift for a living take more breaks

NIOSH Workplace Exacerbation of Asthma a Research Priority
WEA partnerships and research

CDC Invites Applications for Research on Implementation of Public Health Interventions
Funding available for translation research

Nanotechnology Update
Report notes NIOSH nanotechnology research progress, opportunities

Update from NPPTL
NPPTL releases January figures on the respirator certification and approval process

NIOSH participates in IOM pandemic preparedness scientific workshop

NORA
NORA Sector Council Topics

Around NIOSH
Check out what is going on at NIOSH

NIOSH Invites Comment on Draft Mine Documents

Meeting Announcements
NIOSH ERC Annual Scientific Meeting

Look for Us
Ohio Safety Congress & Expo and AAOHN

Mark Your Calendars: Important Paper and Poster Submission Deadlines

Word of the Month
Long Term Field Evaluation Program

 From the Director's Desk

In last month's issue of NIOSH eNews, I addressed the issue of scientific research on asbestos. I used that occasion to preview a major initiative by NIOSH to engage the current scientific questions about asbestos in light of today’s technical capabilities and scientific knowledge.

This month, I am pleased to note that we have now introduced that initiative for public review and comment in the form of as a draft research strategy document, "Asbestos and Other Mineral Fibers: A Roadmap for Scientific Research." I encourage you to read the draft scientific document on the NIOSH web page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-02-28-07.html, and to provide us with your comments and feedback. The draft reflects the combined professional experience and scientific insights of a NIOSH working group composed of scientists and engineers from key disciplines.

The draft research roadmap represents a current reappraisal of the areas of research needed to answer the questions about the scientific understanding of asbestos and other mineral fibers, and to provide a sound scientific foundation for future policy development to prevent asbestos-related occupational illnesses. It also reflects NIOSH’s desire to work with our diverse partners in designing, conducting, and supporting collaborative research to fulfill those scientific needs.

By presenting the draft roadmap for scientific research, we seek to stimulate a public dialogue that will define the pressing scientific questions; identify new scientific advancements that may be brought to bear on those questions; and lay out the research most likely to bring certainty out of uncertainty.  We look forward to engaging in that discussion with you, as we work together to move the draft scientific document to final form in the coming months.  Please watch future issues of NIOSH eNews for updates.

 Subscribe to personalized email updates from NIOSH!

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 NIOSH-Funded Study Examines Lifting Rest Breaks

A new study from Ohio State University recommends that workers who lift for a living should take more frequent or longer breaks than they now do in order to avoid back injury. The NIOSH-funded study adds to the literature available for NIOSH and other research organizations to address concerns about work-related back injuries. The full article is available at http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/muscleox.htm.

 Workplace Exacerbation of Asthma a Research Priority

 CDC Invites Applications for Research on Implementation of Public Health Interventions

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office of Public Health Research has announced availability of $10 million to support peer-reviewed research on factors that encourage effective “translation” of public health interventions into actual health impact. NIOSH is part of CDC. Letters of intent are due by March 12; full applications are due by April 10. The full announcement (CDC RFA-CD-07-005 - Improving Public Health Practice through Translation Research) is accessible at http://www.grants.gov/.

 Nanotechnology Update

Report Notes NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Progress, Opportunities
February 27, NIOSH released a new report, Progress toward Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace. This report details NIOSH’s accomplishments in advancing the scientific knowledge in understanding the occupational safety and health implications of engineered nanoparticles. The document also suggests potential areas where future research could further expand this knowledge. The report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-123/.

 Update from NPPTL

NPPTL Releases January Figures on the Respirator Certification and Approval Process
During January 2007, the Technology Evaluation Branch (TEB) of NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) closed a total of 31 projects related to respirator testing and certification: 23 respirator approval decisions, 7 denials and 1 application withdrawn by the manufacturer. Seven were new products and 16 were modifications to products previously approved. During January TEB received 25 applications for extensions of approval and 23 applications for new approvals. 

The Engineering Evaluation team conducted two quality assurance manual audits to evaluate the quality assurance process and manufacturing practices. One product audit was initiated. The Certified Product Investigation Process completed 3 evaluations of previously certified products. There were no new approvals or modifications of approvals for CBRN respirators.

NIOSH Participates in IOM Pandemic Preparedness Scientific Workshop
Roland BerryAnn with the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory represented NIOSH on a February 22 panel on certifying effective personal protective equipment. The panel was part of a scientific workshop sponsored by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), held at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, to identify research directions, certification and standard setting issues, and risk assessment issues specific to personal protective equipment for healthcare workers during an influenza pandemic. http://iom.edu/?ID=39679.

 NORA

NORA Sector Council Topics
Almost all the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Sector Councils have met. Each has tackled the initial task of preparing a draft strategic plan, highlighting priority research and activities leading to impact within the sector. The initial goal is to present the draft for public comment within a year of the Council’s formation. Many of the twenty-one priority areas from the first decade of NORA continue to arise, including hearing loss, musculoskeletal disorders, organization of work, special populations at risk, surveillance and traumatic injuries. Other topics include encouraging widespread adoption of successful interventions and developing a workplace safety culture. Check here for updates. Send any questions, comments or offers to volunteer to NORACoordinator@cdc.gov.

 Around NIOSH

Members of NIOSH's beryllium research team met with research staff from Brush Wellman Inc. to discuss current and upcoming research projects…

Effective January 1, the Republic of Korea introduced the “Workplace Health Partner Program,” which Korean officials said was inspired by the NIOSH health hazard evaluation program…

Saving time and cost in reaching stakeholders, NIOSH has moved primarily to a new listserv delivery of reports from Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluations (FACE) and firefighter fatality investigations, in which subscribers will be automatically notified about new reports and provided with a web link for immediate access to a report http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face…

NIOSH’s Office of Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS) completed more than 5,700 dose reconstructions in 2006, which is the highest annual output since the program began. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas for more information…

NIOSH researchers Matthew Wheeler and A. John Bailer have developed software that aids in advancing the field of risk assessment science by incorporating model-averaging into risk assessment software. For more information, contact Matt Wheeler at MWheeler@cdc.gov...

NIOSH Invites Comment on Draft Mine Documents
NIOSH is requesting public comment on three draft documents related to research needs for prevention of death and injury in underground mining.

Comments on the draft “Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Mines” will be accepted until March 12. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/MineSeal/.

Comments on the draft report “Long-Term Field Evaluation Program (LTFE) Concept” will be accepted until April 5. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/NPPTL-LTFE/.

Comments on the draft document “SCSR Vision – Realizing a New Generation of Mine Escape Respirators” will be accepted until April 5. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/NPPTL-SCSRvision/.

 Meeting Announcements

NIOSH ERC Annual Scientific Meeting
The New York/New Jersey Education and Research Center 28th Annual Scientific Meeting, “The Changing Workforce and Occupational Health Disparities,” will be held April 13, Mount Sinai School of Medicine. For more information go to http://ophp.umdnj.edu/nynjerc/Home.html.

 Look For Us

Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, March 20-22, Cleveland, OH, NIOSH booth number 113.

 Mark Your Calendars: Important Paper and Poster Submission Deadlines

Call for Abstracts “WorkLife 2007: Protecting and Promoting Worker Health Symposium”
Abstracts submissions will be accepted until March 16, for WorkLife 2007: Protecting and Promoting Worker Health National Symposium. The Symposium will be held by NIOSH and partner agencies and organizations September 10 - 11, in Bethesda, Maryland. For more information go to http://www.worklife2007.com/abstract0.asp.

Call for Posters “2007 Annual Fire Conference”
Posters will be accepted until March 24, for the “2007 Annual Fire Conference.” The conference is sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and will be held April 4-5 in Gaithersburg, MD. Additional information on the call for posters and the meeting can be found at http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/info/fireconf/index.htm.

Call for Presentations “International Roofing Expo 2008”
Presentation submissions will be accepted until April 2, for the International Roofing Expo, 2008. The Expo will be held February 21-23, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. For more information go to http://www.theroofingexpo.com/Roofing07/public/Content.aspx?ID=6980&left=0&Nav=0.

 Word of the Month