NIOSH eNews Web page

NIOSH Topic Page Offers Resource on Preventing Coal Mine Deaths, Injuries
Topics include facts on dangerous gases, mine rescue training and ventilation controls.

NIOSH Presents Evidence Package to National Academies for Review of Occupational Energy Research Program
Review will help future NIOSH program planning.

Panel Members, Next Steps for NAS Review of Two NIOSH Programs Announced
Committees reviewing Mining and Hearing Loss Prevention Programs meet this month.

Developments Highlight NIOSH Leadership in PPE Research
Included are a technical investigation, new respirator testing and certification criteria, a new partnership, and professional recognition.

CSTE and NIOSH Release Occupational Surveillance Data
New report defines 19 occupational health indicators based on 13 state pilot program.

NIOSH and Beryllium Producer hold Annual Stakeholder Meeting
Company workers and NIOSH researchers exchange information to further beryllium research.

Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology health issues reviewed in journal article

NIOSH Nanotechnology expertise highlighted in ISO Technical Committee Meeting

NIOSH to form field research team for partnerships in studying, assessing Nanotechnology processes

r2p Corner
WANTED: Partners to move science to solutions.

NORA
NORA Liaison Committee recognizes outstanding research: Nominations due February 1, 2006

NORA Town Hall Meetings continue in January

News From Our Partners
Preventing chemical and dust hazards focus of three new videos from CSB.

Communication Products
Injury and Asthma Among Youth Less Than 20 Years of Age on Minority Farm Operations in the United States, 2000 Volume II: Hispanic Minority Data (DHHS NIOSH Pub. No. 2006-109).

Technology News 512-Improve Drill Dust Collector Capture Through Better Shroud and Inlet Configurations (DHHS NIOSH Pub. No. 2006-108).

Getting to Zero…The Human Side of Mining (DHHS NIOSH Pub. No. 2006-112)

Upcoming Events
International Symposium: Biomedical Aspects of Nano-Toxicology

IFISH 3

Call for Abstracts: 1^st American Conference on Human Vibration

Work, Stress and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace

Call for Abstracts: 13^th International Respiratory Protection of Healthcare Workers and Emergency Responders

2006 NORA Symposium: Research Makes a Difference

AIHce 2006 and VENT 2006

International Symposium on Wood Dust

Acronym of the Month
Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)

 From the Director's Desk

On December 14, the NIOSH Morgantown facility was awarded "Star" status under the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). This is a notable accomplishment. The VPP program is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have demonstrated excellence in occupational safety and health. According to the most recent figures from OSHA, the prestigious designation of "Star" status has only been awarded to 938 U.S. worksites under Federal jurisdiction as of November 30, 2005.

To obtain "Star" status, VPP requires worksites to have successful ongoing safety and health management systems, cooperation between labor and management, and low incident rates. The Morgantown facility was awarded the "Star" status after OSHA and other VPP representatives conducted a thorough site visit consisting of program audits, records inspections, facility walkthroughs, and 208 formal and informal interviews with employees. The cooperative efforts of Morgantown’s dedicated safety office staff and several employee representatives were recognized by the audit team. Additional items that particularly impressed the audit team were the safety and health committee, the safety training and recordkeeping programs, and the completeness of the site’s employee fitness programs.

This recognition demonstrates that we at NIOSH not only produce world quality science, but we also know how to “walk the walk” when it comes to making our own workplace as safe, healthy and secure as possible. Special thanks and congratulations are extended to Dan Browning, the Management Operations Officer for the Morgantown facility, the Safety Office staff for coordinating the extensive preparations and hard work required to reach this level of success in a relatively short period of time, and to each of the Morgantown employees who contributed time and effort into the preparations for the site evaluation and provided the necessary employee involvement required to receive this designation. The Morgantown facility houses the Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, the Division of Safety Research and the Health Effects Laboratory Division. More information on the OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs can be found at http://www.osha.gov/vpp.

  NIOSH Topic Page Offers Resource on Preventing Coal Mine Deaths, Injuries

The tragedy of the January 2, 2006, Sago mine explosion in Tallmansville, West Virginia, reinforces the importance of recognizing the potential hazards in underground coal mining, and the need for systematic safety and health vigilance. A new NIOSH Web topic page provides information on methane, carbon monoxide, and other hazards in coal mining, and a portal to additional NIOSH information on mine safety and mine rescue. The page is located at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/minerescue/.

  NIOSH Presents Evidence Package to National Academies for Review of Occupational Energy
  Research Program

NIOSH has presented a full package of information to the National Academies (NA) for its review of the NIOSH Occupational Energy Research Program. The document, called an Evidence Package, presents a comprehensive overview and history of the program, a detailed summary of completed research and communication products, and a rationale and plan for future research. NIOSH research has an important role in supporting the well-being of more than 600,000 energy workers in the U.S. and more than 10 million worldwide. Much work, however, remains to be done in translating heath effects research into impact-driven practice for improving worker and public health. The NA review will help NIOSH set an optimal direction for future efforts to continue research and to move from research to practice in this area. The Evidence Package can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas/oerp/OERP-NAS.html.

 Panel Members, Next Steps for NAS Review of Two NIOSH Programs Announced

In an effort that is separate from but related to the review of the Occupational Energy Research Program, the National Academies (NA) has initiated its evaluation of selected NIOSH research program areas with the formation of provisional committees to review two programs. The NA will be evaluating not only what NIOSH research programs are producing, but also determining the extent to which NIOSH research is relevant to worker health and safety needs in the workplace. They will also evaluate the extent to which NIOSH research contributes to reducing risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The evaluation is being undertaken by the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in the NA.

In December, the NA announced provisional committees to review the hearing loss prevention and mining injury and illness prevention. Following a 20-day public comment period, the NA has set up meetings of the two committees.

• The provisional committee reviewing the hearing loss prevention program met on January 5-6, 2006 in Washington, DC. More information on this meeting can be found on the NA Web site, http://www4.nas.edu/webcr.nsf/MeetingDisplay1/DELS-O-04-01-B?OpenDocument.
  
  
• The provisional committee reviewing the mining injury and illness prevention program will meet on January 12-13, 2006 in Washington, DC. More information on this meeting can be found on the NA Web site, http://www4.nas.edu/webcr.nsf/MeetingDisplay1/DELS-O-04-01-C?OpenDocument.

Stay tuned to eNews for more information on the NA review process and additional meeting dates and times.

 Developments Highlight NIOSH Leadership in PPE Research

Recent developments involving a technical investigation, new respirator testing and certification criteria, a new partnership, and professional recognition highlight NIOSH's leadership in research for advancing personal protective equipment. The developments pertain to activities by NIOSH's National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory:

• NIOSH is conducting a technical investigation to understand the reasons for reported problems with Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) used by fire and emergency services. PASS systems sound a loud audio alarm if the wearer becomes immobilized for 25 seconds. The audio alarm assists rescue crews in locating the downed firefighter. The performance of PASS systems is covered in a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard. An April 2005 letter from the NIOSH Division of Safety Research to NFPA raised the possible limitations in PASS performance in high temperatures encountered when fighting fires. The possibility of reduced PASS audio alarm in high temperature environments was identified during line of duty death investigations by the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program Team (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html). NIOSH presented the findings of the Team to the NFPA Technical Correlating Committee for Fire and Emergency Services Protective Clothing and Equipment on which it has membership. NFPA posted a PASS alarm warning notice on the NFPA web site while the investigation is on-going (http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=136&itemID=26606&URL=Codes%20and%20Standards/NFPA%20News). NIOSH is asking users to notify it of any additional instances of in-service PASS performance limitations by emailing NPPTL_PASS@CDC.GOV. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/default.html#pass.
  
  
• On December 13, 2005, NIOSH convened a public meeting with respirator manufacturers and other stakeholders to continue discussions on concepts for standards for testing and certifying powered, air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) and closed-circuit, self-contained, breathing apparatus that would be used for respiratory protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents. In the public meeting, NIOSH noted that it proposes, as a first step, to establish criteria administratively for testing PAPRs for CBRN exposures, so that testing of such devices can begin in a timely way, and then to develop formal standards under a notice-and-comment process. If devices are certified after testing under the administratively established criteria, manufacturers would not be required to re-submit them for testing under the formally established criteria. Additional details are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/.
  
  
• NIOSH and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) formalized an agreement on December 2, 2005, to facilitate cooperation between the two organizations. The agreement involves the determination of performance requirements and cooperation in the development of test methods, product specifications, practices, guides, classifications, and terminology related to work and emergency responder protective clothing and equipment.
  
  
• NIOSH chemist Dennis Viscusi was named U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Employee of the Month for December 2005. The award recognized Dennis' technical contributions to the transformation of a 1940s-era building on NIOSH's Bruceton, Pa., campus into a state-of-the-art laboratory facility for testing respirators. The renovated laboratory building opened in May 2005. While carrying out his regular duties, Dennis helped with every detail of the building renovation, from laying out the lab benches and placing test equipment to ensuring that the appropriate power requirements were available for the lab equipment to minimize electrical interference. More information on Dennis' contributions is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/viscusi/viscusi.html.
  
  

  CSTE and NIOSH Release Occupational Surveillance Data

The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and NIOSH have released a new report, Putting Data to Work: Occupational Health Indicators from Thirteen Pilot States for 2000. The report defines 19 occupational health indicators (OHI), specific measures of a work-related disease or injury or factors associated with occupational health in a specified population. The indicators allow for assessing and monitoring overall health and provide a baseline from which comparisons and trends over time can be tracked. OHIs are intended to increase the consistency and availability of occupational disease and injury surveillance data at the state and federal levels. The set of OHIs are part of a larger national process of public health indicator development including injury, environmental, chronic disease and the “Leading Health Indicators” of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2010 project. The CSTE-NIOSH report can be found at http://www.cste.org/pdffiles/newpdffiles/CSTE_OHI.pdf.

 NIOSH and Beryllium Producer hold Annual Stakeholder Meeting

On November 3 and 4, 2005, NIOSH and Brush Wellman Inc. (BWI), the major U.S. producer of beryllium and beryllium-containing products, held their annual stakeholder communications meeting in Morgantown, WV. The meeting served as a communication forum among workforce representatives from all company levels, company health and safety staff and NIOSH researchers. Workers highlighted research-driven changes put into practice at the facility over the past 20 years, described the beryllium management program and its implementation at another facility, and posed questions to NIOSH researchers as ideas for future research. NIOSH researchers presented a review of the program progress and updates on ongoing industrial hygiene, genetic, and epidemiologic research studies. Upon their return to the plant, the workers shared the meeting information with coworkers and their families. In 1998, NIOSH and BWI signed a Memorandum of Understanding that outlined a plan to conduct beryllium-related occupational safety and health research, with the ultimate goal of preventing beryllium disease. More information on NIOSH beryllium research highlights is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/beryllium/newsletter.html.

  Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology health issues reviewed in journal article
The body of scientific evidence about the occupational health implications of airborne, engineered nanoparticles is comprehensively reviewed in a new, peer-reviewed journal article by two scientists, one a current NIOSH researcher and the other formerly with NIOSH. The article, “Airborne Nanostructured Particles and Occupational Health,” by Andrew D. Maynard and Eileen D. Kuempel, appears in the December 2005 Journal of Nanoparticle Research. Dr. Maynard is now with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and Dr. Kuempel is with the NIOSH Education and Information Division.

An abstract of the article is available online at Springerlink.

From the available evidence, the scientists conclude that the current data, although limited, suggest the wisdom of taking prudent measures in working with engineered nanomaterials. While more research is needed to better understand the characteristics and behaviors of nanomaterials relevant for assessing their occupational health implications, enough data exist for suggesting preliminary guiding principles, according to the article.

NIOSH conducts a strategic research program in key areas described by the article, and offers preliminary guidance in the Web-based document “Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology” on occupational safety and health practices pending additional needed research. Further information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech.

Participants convene for inaugural ISO meeting on nanotechnologies.

NIOSH Nanotechnology expertise highlighted in ISO Technical Committee Meeting
NIOSH’s international leadership in research on the occupational health and safety implications of nanotechnology was highlighted on Nov. 9-11, 2005, at the inaugural meeting of the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) Technical Committee on Nanotechnologies. The meeting was an early step in a process to develop international standards for global consistency in all aspects of nanotechnology. NIOSH's roles in the meeting reflected a vigorous U.S. involvement in the process:

• Vladimir Murashov, a senior scientist in the NIOSH Director’s Office, was part of a 13-member U.S. delegation led by Dr. E. Clayton Teague, Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), and Chair of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group for nanotechnology. Dr. Murashov was the only member of the delegation who specifically represented occupational health issues.
  
  
• NIOSH’s Web-based document Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology is under consideration by the U.S. Technical Advisory Group for submission to the ISO Technical Committee as a potential basis for the committee’s development of an ISO Technical Report on occupational health issues.

More information on the international meeting is available from the ISO at http://www.iso.org/iso/en/commcentre/pressreleases/2005/Ref980.html. Additional information on the NIOSH nanotechnology research program, and on opportunities for stakeholder participation, is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech.

NIOSH to form field research team for partnerships in studying, assessing Nanotechnology processes
NIOSH will form an interdisciplinary field team of NIOSH researchers in the area of nanotechnology. The team will partner with employers and others in conducting field studies to observe and assess occupational health and safety practices in facilities where nanotechnology processes and applications are used.

NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., invited NIOSH scientists and engineers through an all-hands email on Dec. 27, 2005, to participate in the effort. More information on the initiative can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-12-28-05.html.

  r2p Corner

WANTED: Partners to move science to solutions.
The NIOSH Research to Practice (r2p) program is seeking partners for improving workplace safety and health in the areas of mining, emergency preparedness and construction. Here are examples of impact resulting from NIOSH partnerships.

• Collaboration with mining companies throughout the U.S. has resulted in the use of directional lifelines, chemical light sticks and hand-held lasers for assisting miners in evacuating underground mines during emergencies.
  
  
• NIOSH and stakeholders established new respirator standards for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazards which have been endorsed by the National Fire Protection Association and adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for use on equipment purchased by DHS grant funds.
  
  
• A partnership resulted in significantly lower lead levels among Connecticut construction workers participating in a NIOSH-funded program compared with counterparts in other states.

Interested in joining NIOSH move science to solutions? Contact the NIOSH r2p Office at nioshr2p@cdc.gov. More information on these and other partnerships can be found on the r2p Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/r2p.

  NORA

NORA Liaison Committee recognizes outstanding research: Nominations due February 1, 2006
Only one month remains to nominate an outstanding research project for one of two National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) awards to be presented at the NORA Symposium on April 18-20, 2006 in Washington, DC. The NORA Partnering Award for Worker Health and Safety honors organizations that work together to demonstrate teamwork, innovative thinking, and strong science in the interest of worker health and safety. The NORA Innovative Research Award for Worker Health and Safety recognizes researchers for pioneering and creative occupational health and safety research in a NORA priority area. Candidates may be affiliated with a university, industry, government agency, labor union, or a private organization. Awards will be presented by the NORA Liaison Committee. Nominations are due February 1, 2006. More information, including nomination guidelines, is available at the NORA Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/symp06/awards.html.

NORA Town Hall Meetings continue in January
People across the country are expressing their ideas about the top occupational safety and health research needs at the NORA town hall meetings. The first two meetings occurred in December 2005 with strong turnouts in Chicago and College Park, Maryland. Meetings will continue this month with stops in Seattle on January 17^th and Houston on January 23rd. Find out how you can be a part of setting the research agenda for the next decade. For more information about the meetings, including the most up to date list of locations please visit the NORA Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/townhall/.

  News From Our Partners

• A 7-minute video describing good management practices for preventing deaths and injuries involving sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). NaHS, a process chemical used in the paper, mining and leather industries, releases highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas when mixed with acid or heated. Since 1971, accidents from exposure to this chemical have resulted in 32 deaths and 176 injuries.
  
  
• A 20-minute video summary of the CSB hearing into the hazards of combustible dust causing tragic explosions in North Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana. The three incidents resulted in the deaths of 14 workers and 81 injuries.
  
  
• A computer-generated animation depicting the sequence of events leading to the explosion and fire at BP’s Texas City, TX refinery in March 2005.

The videos can be viewed in the CSB Video Archive at http://www.csb.gov and free DVD copies are available through the CSB.

 Communication Products

Injury and Asthma Among Youth Less Than 20 Years of Age on Minority Farm Operations in the United States, 2000 Volume II: Hispanic Minority Data (DHHS NIOSH Pub. No. 2006-109)
This new NIOSH publication provides youth demographic, injury and asthma estimates at the national level for youth on Hispanic-operated farms in the U.S. In 2000, there were an estimated 366 injuries among youth less than 20 years of age on these farms. The major cause of these injuries included contact with objects and falls. Additionally, nearly 1,300 youth with asthma lived on these farms. The document can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-109.

Technology News 512-Improve Drill Dust Collector Capture Through Better Shroud and Inlet Configurations (DHHS NIOSH Pub. No. 2006-108)
Researchers from the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory have demonstrated the benefits of having a tight shroud enclosure for the drill dust collection system. This result stems from investigations into ways of improving the effectiveness of dust collection on surface mine drills. Workers exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica dust can develop serious or fatal respiratory diseases, such as silicosis. Detailed information on the study can be found at /niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/2006-108.htm.

Getting to Zero…The Human Side of Mining (DHHS NIOSH Pub. No. 2006-112)
This NIOSH publication features material presented at the NIOSH open-industry briefing held during the 2004 Northwest Mining Association Conference in Spokane, WA. Featured are results of recently completed and on-going mine safety and health research conducted at the NIOSH Pittsburgh and Spokane Research Laboratories which focus on the human side of mining -- the miner. The document can be accessed at /niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/2006-112.htm.

 Upcoming Events

International Symposium: Biomedical Aspects of Nano-Toxicology
NIOSH will sponsor an international symposium, “Nano-Toxicology: Biomedical Aspects,” on January 29-February 1, 2006, in Miami, FL. Invited speakers from the U.S. and abroad will address key issues for assessing the toxicology of nanomaterials and determining if such materials pose an occupational health risk. Other sponsoring organizations are the University of Pittsburgh, Inter Health Neutraceuticals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc., Alabaster (USA). Additional details and a registration form are available at http://www.pitt.edu/~nanotox/index.htm.

IFISH 3
The Third International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference (IFISH 3) will be held on February 1-4, 2006 in Chennai, India. IFISH 3 is for those interested in small-scale and commercial fishing safety and injury prevention and will include a stimulating program with keynote speakers, presentation of scientific papers and posters and workshop. In addition, a thematic workshop on Tsunami will follow the conference on February 6-7, 2006. The conference is convened by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Government Organization in collaboration with the NIOSH Alaska Field Station and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. More information on the conference can be found at http://www.ifish3.org.

Call for Abstracts: 1^st American Conference on Human Vibration
Abstracts are due by February 12, 2006 for the 1^st American Conference on Human Vibration to be held June 5-7, 2006 in Morgantown, WV. The conference will provide a unique opportunity for participants to exchange information on all aspects of human responses to hand-transmitted vibration and whole-body vibration. Questions regarding abstract submission can be sent to achv@cdc.gov or to Ren Dong at RDong@cdc.gov.

Work, Stress and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace
NIOSH, the American Psychological Association, the National Institute of Justice of the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Labor, will convene the sixth international conference on occupational stress and health, Work, Stress, and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace in Miami, Florida., March 2-4, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Miami Hotel. The conference is designed to address the constantly changing nature of work, and the implications of these changes for the health, safety, and well-being of workers. In keeping with the conference theme of “making a difference in the workplace,” there will be a particular focus on the translation of research to practice and workplace programs, policies, practices, case experiences, and other efforts to prevent stress in today's workplace. More information about the conference can be found at: http://www.apa.org/pi/work/wsh2006.html.

Call for Abstracts: 13^th Conference of the International Society for Respiratory Protection
Abstracts are due March 31, 2006 for the 13^th Conference of the International Society for Respiratory Protection. The conference will be held August 27-September 1, 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Topics for papers include respiratory protection for healthcare workers, emergency responders, and those in developing countries, updates on standards and regulations, emerging hazards and technologies, and fundamentals of respiratory protection. More information on the Call for Abstracts is available at http://www.isrp.com.au/isrpcom/callforpapers_toronto.htm or by contacting Ziqing Zhuang at ZZhuang1@cdc.gov. Additional information on the conference can be found at http://www.isrp.com/au.

2006 NORA Symposium: Research Makes a Difference
The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Symposium 2006: Research Makes a Difference symposium will be held on April 18-20, 2006 in Washington, D.C. Several hundred occupational safety and health researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers from the public and private sectors will convene to celebrate completion of the first decade of NORA, mark the 35^th anniversary of NIOSH, and inaugurate the new plan for the future of NORA. An important aspect of this conference will be scientific presentations addressing the original 21 NORA priorities and anticipating research areas for the next ten years. The symposium will be a unique forum for a broad cross-section of the occupational safety and health community to learn about the variety of research accomplishments stimulated or anticipated by NORA. For more information about the symposium, please visit the NORA Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/NORA, or e-mail the NORA coordinator at noracoordinator@cdc.gov.

AIHce 2006 and VENT 2006
The American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce) and Ventilation 2006-the 8^th International Conference on Ventilation will be held concurrently May 13-18, 2006 in Chicago, IL. AIHce 2006 will feature weekend symposia on nanotechnology and infectious disease, late-breaking sessions on hurricane response and recovery, and expert panel sessions on nanotechnology, confined spaces and hexavalent chromium. Additionally, participants attending AIHce 2006 will have access to Ventilation 2006 at no additional cost. Ventilation 2006 will serve as a forum for exchanging latest developments in ventilation-related emission and exposure controls. NIOSH is a cosponsor of Ventilation 2006. More information on both conferences can be found at http://www.aiha.org/Content/CE/aihce/aihce.htm.

International Symposium on Wood Dust
The International Symposium on Wood Dust: Challenges for occupational risk assessment and management will be held October 25-27, 2006 in Strasbourg, France. Participants will learn the newest developments in toxicology, epidemiology, exposure assessment and prevention of risks due to wood dust. Additionally, the latest results from studies performed in the frame of WOOD-RISK European project will be presented. The symposium is being organized by the Institut National de Recherche et de Securite. More information on the conference can be found at http://www.ami.dk/wooddustconference2006.

 Acronym of the Month

Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) emit a loud, highly discernable audio alarm when sensing the absence of motion if a worker becomes immobilized for 25 seconds. The systems are used by fire and emergency services to detect these distress conditions.