NIOSH eNews - November 2007

A TV program in the early 1960s had the catchy title, “That Was the Week That Was.” As we enter the last few weeks of 2007, I am gratified that in looking back over the Year That Was, we can point to many important NIOSH accomplishments. To mention a few that stand out particularly in my mind:

We achieved significant progress in our series of program evaluations under the auspices of the National Academies – having now completed evidence packages and presentations in all eight of the program areas that are under evaluation by the National Academies’ expert review committees. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas. This initiative, which is unprecedented for a public health agency, has demanded a great deal of thoughtful, intensive work for all involved, both inside and outside of NIOSH. We will carefully assess the findings and recommendations of each committee, and the success of the initiative as a whole.
Our draft document, “Asbestos and Other Mineral Fibers: A Roadmap for Scientific Research,” stimulated valuable dialogue with our diverse stakeholders on this challenging but critically important national research need. We are reviewing all of the peer review comments that were submitted on the draft, for incorporation into a final document next year. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/099.
NIOSH took significant steps forward toward the development of new technologies to prevent catastrophic disasters in underground coal mining, and to increase miners’ chances of survival in the event that an emergency does occur. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/mineract/mineract.htm. The Crandall Canyon disaster in August underscored the imperative behind our mission. In mining, NIOSH also maintained its national leadership in research and health surveillance to prevent coal workers’ pneumoconiosis.
NIOSH’s Prevention through Design (PtD) workshop in July drew an eminent group of more than 200 partners from diverse interests to launch an innovative national initiative for eliminating occupational hazards as early as possible in the life cycle of work environments and equipment. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/PtD Along with the WorkLife Initiative, which was highlighted by a national symposium in September http://www.worklife2007.com/home.asp, PtD reflects a new way of thinking outside traditional boxes to come up with solutions for the fundamental health and safety challenges of the 21st Century.
The NIOSH report “Progress Toward Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace” detailed the astonishing progress that NIOSH and its partners have made since 2004, when we established our high-priority program of research on the occupational safety and health implications and applications of nanotechnology. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech. NIOSH continues to be a national and international leader in this field of cutting-edge research.

I invite you to revisit our previous issues of NIOSH eNews for 2007 for many other examples of notable accomplishments in the past year, from Research to Practice (r2p), fire fighter safety and health, the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), and disaster preparedness and response, to health hazard evaluations, research to prevent flavorings-related respiratory illness, and injury and illness prevention in health care.

And in the coming year … but that is a subject for next time.

Introducing the NIOSH Science Blog

On November 5, NIOSH introduced a new NIOSH Science Blog to further communicate and stimulate discussion on scientific issues related to NIOSH’s research and recommendations. The blog, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog, provides an expeditious system for partners and stakeholders to present ideas to NIOSH scientists and each other, while engaging in robust scientific discussion with the goal of protecting workers. The inaugural entry focuses on the recent NIOSH Alert on preventing fire fighter fatalities from heart attacks and other cardiovascular events.

4^th NOIRS Conference Slated for October 2008

The Fourth National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS) will be held on October 21 – 23, 2008 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA. NOIRS 2008 is being convened to serve as a national forum for the presentation of the latest findings and methods in occupational injury research. Abstracts of 300 words or less are invited across all industry sectors in areas that may include, but are not limited to, surveillance of fatal and non-fatal injuries, intervention evaluation, prevention through design, engineering/technology, research to practice, workplace violence, motor vehicle safety, fall prevention research, machines and industrial vehicle safety, high risk and vulnerable workers, emergency response, and the economics of injury prevention. For further information on NOIRS 2008, visit the NIOSH Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noirs2008 or contact Jim Collins at JCollins1@cdc.gov.

Comments on NIOSH Survey of Truck Driver Safety and Health

NIOSH is requesting public comment on the content and conduct of a nationally representative survey of truck drivers’ safety and health. This assessment will provide baseline data on the working conditions, wellness, health behaviors, self-reported injuries, fatigue and sleep disorders among truck drivers. The proposed survey questionnaire and plan are available for public review and comment until January 2, 2008 at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/110.

NIOSH Web Resource on MRSA and the Workplace Recommends Ways to Prevent Risks of
Infections

A new NIOSH Topic Page, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/mrsa, offers recommendations for preventing the spread of MRSA, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, in the workplace. The Topic Page provides practical information on good, basic health practices which workplaces can tailor for their individual needs.

Announcement for DART Director Published

An announcement on the federal government's official job site, http://www.usajobs.gov, seeks candidates for the position of Director of the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. The announcement closes December 4. Further details, including qualifications for the position, are available at http://www.usajobs.gov. To find the announcement, search on the announcement number, AD10-07-018.

Publications Office

On December 1, the NIOSH Publications Office will become part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CDC-INFO. Orders for NIOSH publications can be placed either through the NIOSH Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/email-pubs.html, or by telephone through CDC-INFO at 1-800-CDC-INFO.

r2p Corner

Filling the Gap, Data on Contract Worker Safety and Health
NIOSH has partnered with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and ORC Worldwide supported by the Duke Energy Foundation to fill a critical data gap – data related to occupational safety and health of contract workers. Reliance on contract workers to perform a wide array of functions and tasks appears to be a long-term trend. But national, state, and industry-level data bases for assessing safety and health for this population are either absent or extremely limited. A Task Force of representatives from each partner will review existing data, identify the types of data that need to be collected, and the effectiveness of enhancing data systems. Learn more about this effort by contacting Elyce Biddle at EBiddle@cdc.gov.

NORA

Join Us in July for the NORA Symposium
Save the date for the “NORA Symposium 2008: Public Market for Ideas and Partnerships.” The Symposium will be held in Denver, CO on July 29, 2008 and is co-sponsored by the Mountains and Plains Education and Research Center. The 2008 Symposium focuses on the importance of collaboration and partnerships to achieve impact in the workplace. A parallel NORA virtual conference on the internet will be available for participants unable to attend the meeting in Denver. More information about the 2008 Symposium is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/symp08/. To join the Symposium mailing list and receive additional details about the program, call for posters, and registration as they become available, send an e-mail to the NORA Coordinator at noracoordinator@cdc.gov

News From Our Partners

NIOSH and CPWR and CSC 18^th Annual Construction Safety Conference
NIOSH is joining with Center to Protect Workers' Rights (CPWR) and the Construction Safety Council (CSC) to sponsor the 18^th Annual Construction Safety Conference, February 12 – 14, 2008 in Rosemont, IL. The conference will bring together a diverse audience, including construction owners/users, contractors, researchers, government officials, safety and health professionals, unions, and workers to share information and ideas about effective safety and health interventions and how to move best practices from inception to practical implementation. Registration is underway – information can be found at http://www.buildsafe.org/confnews/2008/conf_dx.html or by contracting Trish Quinn at 301-495-8521 or pquinn@cpwr.com.

Communication Products

NIOSH has posted new Safety and Health Topic Pages for:

Safety and Health in the Horse Racing Industry – http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/HorseJockey
Fighting Wildfires – http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/firefighting
Health Hazard Evaluations Program Portfolio – http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/hhe/

“Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries from Contacting Overhead Power Lines with Metal Ladders”
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2007-155

New Agricultural Publications

“Injuries to Youth on U.S. Farm Operations, 2004” http://wwwlink.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-161
“Injuries to Youth on Hispanic Farm Operations, 2003” http://wwwlink.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-162
“Injuries to Youth on Racial Minority Farm Operations, 2003” http://wwwlink.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-163

“Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers”
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-122

“Technology News 524: HazComWriter Compliance Tool for MSHA Rule 30 CFT Part 47 or OSHA Rule 29 CFR 1910.1200”
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2534.htm

“Technology News 527: The Partial Cab: A New Noise Engineering Control for Surface Drill Rigs”
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2506.htm

Upcoming Events

Call for Abstracts

“International Association of Fire Chiefs 2008 International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference,” May 29 – June 1, 2008, Hunt Valley, MD. Deadline is November 21, 2007. http://iafc.confex.com/iafc/haz08/cfp.cgi.
“NSTI Nanotech Annual Conference,” June 1 – 5, 2008, Boston, MA. Deadline is December 6, 2007. http://www.nsti.org/Nanotech2008
“14^th International Society for Respiratory Protection,” September 14 – 18, 2008, Dublin, Ireland. Deadline is June 30, 2008. http://www.isrp.com/dublin/index.html.

International Conference on Agriculture Economics in Developing Countries (AEDeC 2007)
November 26 – 29, 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. http://www.aedec2007.org

European NanOSH Conference – Nanotechnologies: A Critical Area in Occupational Safety and Health
December 3 – 7, 2007, Helsinki, Finland. NIOSH is a co-supporter of the conference. http://www.ttl.fi/Internet/English/Information/International+meetings+and+symposia/EuroNanOsh

International Roofing Expo 2008
February 21 – 23, 2008, Las Vegas, NV. http://www.theroofingexpo.com/Roofing07/public/Content.aspx?ID=6980&left=0&Nav=0

Work, Stress, and Health 2008: Health and Safe Work Through Research, Practice, and Partnerships
March 6 – 8, 2008, Washington, DC. http://www.apa.org/pi/work/wsh.html

Fire Department Instructors Conference 2008
April 7 – 12, 2008, Indianapolis, IN. http://fdic08.events.pennnet.com/fl//index.cfm

American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
April 25 – May 2, 2008, Salt Lake City, UT. http://www.aaohn.org/education/symposium-expo/index.cfm

2008 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition
May 31 – June 5, 2008, Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://www.aiha.org/abstract.html.

2008 World Safety Conference and Exposition
June 2 – 6, 2008, Las Vegas, NV. http://www.nfpa.org/wsce.

6^th International Conference on Workplace Bullying
June 4 – 6, 2008, Montréal, Québec, Canada. http://www.bullyinginstitute.org/montconf.html

American Society of Safety Engineers “SAFETY 2008” Professional Development Conference and Exposition
June 9 – 12, 2008, Las Vegas, NV. http://www.asse.org/speakerpage08

12^th US/North American Mine Ventilation Symposium
June 11 – 18, 2008, Reno, NV. http://www.unr.edu/ventsymp2008

2008 ASTM Boulder Conference on Surface and Dermal Sampling
August 4 – 8, 2008, Boulder, Colorado. Deadline is November 12, 2007. Kevin Ashley in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology is the Symposium Chair. http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/filtrexx40.cgi?U+mystore+swqs8906+-P+EVENT_ID+1080+/usr6/htdocs/astm.org/SYMPOSIA/callforpapers.frm

International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Rescue International 2008
August 14 – 16, 2008, Denver, CO. http://www.iafc.org

8^th Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology
November 12 – 14, 2008, Valencia, Spain. http://www.ea-ohp.org

Word of the Month

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: refers to types of “staph” (Staphylococcus aureus) that are resistant to treatment with typical antibiotics, including Methicillin. Staph is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people.

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