Volume
3 Number 2 June 2005 |
NIOSH eNews Web site |
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UPDATE:
New Topic Page Follows NA Evaluation of NIOSH Programs Significant Costs from Workplace Homicides Estimated in Study Control Banding is Addressed in New NIOSH Topic Page |
Global
Safety and Health Community to Gather in Florida this Fall NIOSH
Health Care Worker Resources Featured in Global Health Network
Newsletter Office
of Extramural Programs |
Office of the Director NIOSH Diversity Initiative Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART) Division of Respiratory Disease Studies (DRDS) Division of Safety Research (DSR) Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies (DSHEFS) Education and Information Division (EID) |
Health
Effects Laboratory Division (HELD) National
Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) Pittsburgh
Research Laboratory (PRL) Spokane
Research Laboratory (SRL) AutoROPS moves from prototype technology to practical application. U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board to hold June meeting on Combustible Dust Fact Sheet: Mechanical
Timber Harvesting Reduces Workers' Compensation
Injury Claims in West Virginia |
Nanotechnology FAQs A New Method
to Clean Dust From Soiled Work Clothes New NIOSH Topic Page: Office Environment and Worker Safety and Health. Occupational and Environmental Exposures of Skin to Chemicals-2005 Fifth International Symposium on Modern Principles of Air Monitoring North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NAACT) 2005 Advanced Personal Protective Equipment - Challenges in Protecting First Responders Work, Stress and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace |
A strong foundation for advancing the field of occupational safety and health can be found at the 16 NIOSH-funded, university-based Education and Research Centers (ERCs) and for the more than 40 institutions that receive NIOSH Training Project Grants (TPGs). These two programs assist NIOSH in providing an adequate supply of qualified personnel to carry out the purposes of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Since the inception of the ERC program in the mid-1970s, over 13,500 students have graduated. Each year continuing education courses are provided to over 30,000 trainees. Located at leading universities in 15 states, ERCs provide interdisciplinary graduate and research training, and continuing education in industrial hygiene, occupational health nursing, occupational medicine, occupational safety, and other closely-related occupational safety and health fields. They also provide outreach and serve as regional resource centers for industry, labor, government, and the public. The ERCs are funded for up to five-year periods under a competitive peer-review process. ERCs have adapted their training and education efforts to meet the needs and demands of the changing work environment. Here are a few examples:
The ERC program announcement (PAR-05-107) was published in the May 12 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guide for Grants and Contracts. Applications are currently being accepted and the receipt date is September 16, 2005. The complete program announcement, which includes further details, can be found at: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-05-107.html. We anticipate announcing the awards in summer 2006. Training Project Grants (TPGs) are supported by NIOSH at academic institutions which primarily provide single-discipline training in the fields of occupational safety and health. These training grants support academic programs that enroll approximately 800 full-time trainees each year. Successes under the TPG program include the following:
The program announcement for the TPGs is anticipated this summer and will be highlighted in a future issue of eNews. The NIOSH ERC and TPG training programs are the only federal programs providing leadership to support the ongoing training of occupational safety and health professionals. This combined effort results in a win-win situation by training occupational safety and health practitioners and researchers as well as leaders for the public and private sectors, and providing support and funding for faculty and students. To learn more about
the NIOSH ERCs visit the Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/centers.html.
Information on NIOSH Training Project Grants can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/trngrnt.html. |
UPDATE: New Topic Page Follows NA Evaluation of NIOSH Programs |
A new NIOSH topic page describes the purpose, scope and components of the evaluation of NIOSH research programs currently underway by the National Academies (NA). Included on the topic page are a description of the evaluation, links to pertinent documents, a list of the framework committee members, copies of NIOSH presentations to the committee, and past reports by the NA. The topic page is http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas. At
the request of NIOSH, the NA is evaluating programs based on impact,
relevance and future directions. The NA will determine the extent to
which NIOSH research is responsible for changes in the workplace that
reduce the risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Fifteen
programs will be evaluated beginning with the hearing loss prevention
and mining injury prevention programs. The request reflects NIOSH's
commitment to expert external review of our research programs. |
Significant Costs from Workplace Homicides Estimated in Study |
Workplace
homicides resulted in a total cost of nearly $6.5 billion and a mean
cost of $800,000 between 1992 and 2001, NIOSH researchers estimate in
a study published in the June 2005 issue of American Journal
of Industrial Medicine. The retail trade industry had the highest
number of homicides and total cost for that period, $2.1 billion for male
employees and $556,000 for female employees. The estimates incorporated
medical expenses, loss of wages from the year of death until the year the
decedent would have been 67, and household production losses such as child
care. The findings provide data to help shape strategies and policies
for preventing workplace homicides. The abstract for the article, "Societal
Cost of Workplace Homicides in the United States, 1992-2001" by Daniel
Hartley, Elyce A. Biddle, and E. Lynn Jenkins, is available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/110495812/PDFSTART. For
further information on NIOSH research and recommendations for preventing
workplace violence, see http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/violence/. |
The
purpose, elements, current and potential applications, and other features
of control banding are described in a new NIOSH Web topic page introduced
on May 26. The page is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding.
Control banding is a process in which a single controltechnology
(such as general ventilation or containment) is applied to one range
or band of exposures to a chemical (such as exposures in the range of
1-;10 milligrams per cubic meter of air) that falls within a given
hazard group (such as skin and eye irritants or severely irritating and
corrosive materials). The most developed model for control banding
has been established by the Health
and Safety Executive (HSE) of the United Kingdom. NIOSH is
currently evaluating its utility for the United States. |
Global Safety and Health Community to Gather in Florida this Fall |
Safety and health experts from around the world will gather in Orlando, Florida this fall for two prominent international and national conferences. On September 18-22, 2005, NIOSH along with a number of other private and public sector organizations will co-support the XVIIth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work. The Congress, jointly organized by the International Labor Organization, the International Social Security Association and the National Safety Council, will serve as an international forum for approximately 3000 professionals to exchange ideas, research, and best practices on highly topical issues in the area of occupational safety and health. This marks the first time the Congress will be held in the U.S. http://www.safety2005.org. Coinciding
with the World Safety Congress, the National Safety Council Congress
and Expo will run from September 21-23, 2005 at the same location. The
Congress will feature over 200 sessions ranging from broad-based to industry-specific
topics for the seasoned professional and newcomers to safety and health.
The Expo is the world's largest annual safety
and health exhibit, where more than 750 exhibiting companies demonstrate
and showcase the latest in safety materials and products. http://www.congress.nsc.org. |
NIOSH Health Care Worker Resources Featured in Global Health Network Newsletter |
NIOSH announced
health care resources to readers of the World Health Organization's
(WHO) The Global Health Network Newsletter. The article
highlighted information available on hazards and exposures faced by
health care workers around the world, including tuberculosis, exposure
to ethylene oxide, latex allergy, workplace violence, musculoskeletal
disorders, female reproductive health and psychosocial hazards, such
as organizational change and workplace stress. Resources such as the
Worker Health Chartbook and the NIOSH Bibliographic Database for Health
Care Workers were highlighted. The newsletter can be found at http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/newsletter/gohnet8eng.pdf.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting John Palassis
at JPalassis@cdc.gov. More information
on health care worker safety and health can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/healthcare. |
NIOSH
Director's
Award In order to highlight outstanding extramural leadership and research accomplishments that have a measurable impact on the workplace or practitioner environment, the NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs (OEP) has implemented the NIOSH Director's Award for Scientific Leadership in Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH extramural grantees who are receiving independent investigator-initiated research support are eligible for this award. Award applications are due June 20th of each year. NIOSH anticipates that up to five awards will be made each year as a supplement to the recipient's current grant. The awards will be announced on or around December 31. Background, application guidance, and additional information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/funding.html#dir. UPDATE: NIOSH State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance In past years, this priority area has been referred to as the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program, which is an essential component of the State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance program announced last year, http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-04-106.html. For the next receipt date, August 6, 2005, NIOSH has identified work-related injury fatalities as a priority health condition, although others may be proposed. Questions about the NIOSH State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance program announcement should be addressed to the Scientific Program Administrator, Susan Board at SBoard@cdc.gov. In addition, information about FACE can be obtained through the FACE Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face, or by contacting Virgil Casini at VCasiniJr@cdc.gov or Dee Higgins at DHiggins@cdc.gov. Application
Deadline Extended for "Centers of Excellence
to Promote a Healthier Workforce" |
Office
of the Director NIOSH
Diversity Initiative Dr. Marvin Mills, a former NIOSH employee, has a distinguished career in occupational safety and health. Dr. Mills proposed the establishment of NIOSH summer internships for minority college students in hopes of engaging their interest for the field of occupational safety and health. Over the years more than 100 students have come to NIOSH under this intern program and many of those have pursued careers in public health. Division of Applied Research and Technology
(DART) Division
of Respiratory Disease Studies (DRDS) Division
of Safety Research (DSR) Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
(DSHEFS) Education and
Information Division (EID) Health
Effects Laboratory Division (HELD) National
Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) A major activity in the lab is the comparison of the physiological stress or burden imposed by a prototype fire fighter ensemble that provides chemical and biological hazard protection to a standard fire fighter ensemble. Data gathered will assist NPPTL researchers in developing a robust, predictive physiological stress index and models that may be used to evaluate future prototype protective garments. Pittsburgh
Research Laboratory (PRL)
Spokane Research
Laboratory (SRL) |
Automatically deployable Rollover Protective Structure (AutoROPS), a NIOSH Division of Safety Research project, has received funds from the Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization (OTTC) at the California State University San Bernardino which will assist the project in moving to the next phase of translating research to practice. AutoROPS
is a passive safety device to protect tractor operators in an overturn
event. NIOSH, in partnership with industry, developed and tested the
AutoROPS against the strict Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2194
standard. After successfully meeting the SAE standard,
NIOSH submitted and was awarded an OTTC grant to conduct a market feasibility
study and prototype development and testing evaluation. A 12-week
market study identified the manufacturers' need for a product that
meets industry standards. Efforts by the marketing team resulted
in the AutoROPS inclusion in the latest version of the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 21299 standard. Current
activities to further the advancement of the AutoROPS in the field include
initiating a licensing and copyright background study, a field acceptance
study and marketing of the AutoROPS at state fairs and equipment shows
this summer. Contact Tony McKenzie at EMckenzieJr@cdc.gov for
more information on the AutoROPS. |
As outlined in last month's NORA column, a significant evolution of NORA is the move to sector-based research agendas. This approach represents a new way for NORA to involve partners in recognizing problems and solving them through research. Scientists, whose research focuses primarily on a particular occupation, such as the investigation of fire fighter fatalities and the development of control technologies for mine safety, can easily identify with this approach. The picture may not be as clear for those scientists whose laboratory-based research is organized around the principles of a scientific discipline, such as chemistry, biology and physics. In response to your comments and concerns about where more basic research fits into the sector-based approach, we share two examples of laboratory-based research that it expected to make significant contributions to identifying or solving important problems within a sector.
These
are just two examples of the synergistic effect produced by laboratory-based
and field- and epidemiology-based studies resulting in valuable information
for improving worker safety and health. Continued collaboration among
these fields and the translation of ideas across these boundaries will
facilitate our shared goal: safer, healthier people at work. Please
continue to provide us with your comments and suggestions via the NORA
Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora and
stay tuned to future issues of eNews for updates on the second
decade of NORA. |
The
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will hold
a public hearing on June 22, 2005 at the Ronald Reagan Building and
International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. The CSB solicits public
input on its investigation of combustible dust hazards following three
deadly accidents which occurred in 2003 in North Carolina, Kentucky
and Indiana. CSB also invites the public to comment and to contribute
new information regarding specific questions raised by the investigation,
either verbally at the hearing or via written submission to the CSB.
The Federal Register Notice and additional information about the hearing,
information requested by the investigators, and how to submit comments
can be found through a link on the CSB Web site, http://csb.gov. |
Fact
Sheet: Mechanical Timber Harvesting Reduces Workers' Compensation
Injury Claims in West
Virginia Nanotechnology
FAQs A New Method to Clean Dust From Soiled Work Clothes New
NIOSH Topic Page: Office Environment and Worker Safety and Health |
Occupational and Environmental Exposures of
Skin to Chemicals-2005 Fifth
International Symposium on Modern Principles of Air Monitoring Health
Effects of Welding North
American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NAACT) 2005 Advanced
Personal Protective Equipment - Challenges in Protecting First Responders Attendees will learn about the hazards posed by emerging threats, the application of personal protective equipment (PPE) technology to these threats, and associated challenges with selecting and interfacing different PPE items. The emphasis of the conference will be on practical issues of threat accommodation, standards, regulations, applications of best practices, manufacturing and distribution issues, PPE decision-making and purchasing, and multi-PPE integration. More information on the conference can be found at http://www.conted.vt.edu/appe or by contacting Tom Fisher at TFisher@cdc.gov. Internoise
2005 Work,
Stress and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace |
Control
banding: a semi-quantitative risk analysis and management
approach to address workplace hazards and provide control-focused solutions. |
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