Volume
2 Number 6 October 2004 |
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eNews Surpasses 20,000 Subscribers NIOSH Mine Safety Product Receives 2004 Industry R&D Award NIOSH, Partners set Steps
to Healthier Workforce Symposium Requiring Safety Belt Use is Key Employer Policy for Preventing Job Vehicle Deaths In
Memoriam: John M. Dower International
Labor Organization Releases Fact Sheets on Work Economic Security |
NIOSH Hosts International Visiting Scientists Preliminary
Results From NIOSH-Supported WTC Screenings Issued Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board 2004 Women of the Year Awards MMWR: National Occupational Respiratory Mortality System NIOSH
Offers Lead Removal Handwipe Method for Licensing Nancy Bollinger Retires After Notable NIOSH Service Proposals Requested for Joint Nanotechnology Research Grants |
NIOSH and diverse partners will sponsor a national conference on November 15-17 in Baltimore, Md., to stimulate strategic workplace violence research and prevention efforts. Participants will share the latest research findings, identify prevention strategies, challenges, barriers, information dissemination gaps, and explore roles that organizations and agencies can fill in achieving workplace violence prevention. Expert panel presentations and working sessions will be organized around four categories of workplace violence: 1) violence associated with criminal intent, 2) customer and client violence, 3) employee-on-employee violence, and 4) violence associated with personal relationships. The discussions will help guide the development of a strategic plan for workplace violence research and prevention. The conference, “Partnering in Workplace Violence Prevention:
Translating Research to Practice,” developed from NIOSH discussions
with stakeholders on the most important research and prevention needs
across diverse work settings and types of workplace violence. Co-sponsors
include the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, the Corporate
Alliance to End Partner Violence, the Injury Prevention Research Center
at the University of Iowa, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health, Liz Claiborne, State Farm Insurance, and Verizon Wireless. Further
information on the conference, including on-line registration, is available
at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-144/. |
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NIOSH Mine Safety Product Receives 2004 Industry R&D Award |
NIOSH is the recipient of the prestigious R&D 100 Award for
the development of the Personal Dust Monitor (PDM). The PDM measures respirable
coal mine dust mass to provide accurate real-time exposure data which can be
used by the coal miner to prevent overexposure. The award recognizes the 100
most technologically significant new products of the year as judged by R&D
Magazine. The award was also given to Rupprecht and Patashnick Co., Inc.
(the instrument manufacturer) and to the partnership (United Mine Workers of
America, Bituminous Coal Operators Association, and the National Mining Association)
that cooperated and helped guide the research for the development of a successful
instrument. While not an official member of the partnership, the Mine Safety
and Health Administration assisted by funding initial development, facilitating
the safety approvals for the device, and participating in the underground testing.
News of the award was published in the September 2004 issue of R&D Magazine,
and the award will be presented on October 14, 2004 . For more information on
the PDM, contact Jon Volkwein, NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, at JVolkwein@cdc.gov. |
NIOSH
will convene a symposium with diverse partners on October 26-28 in
Washington, D.C. to examine new opportunities for advancing workplace
health and productivity by better integrating worker and workplace
health protection and healthy lifestyle promotion. The symposium, which
is co-sponsored by 22 industry groups, labor groups, corporations,
professional organizations, and government organizations, will mark
the official launch of NIOSH’s “Steps to a Healthier Workforce” initiative.
The new initiative will encourage workplace safety and health programs
that focus on both the prevention of work-related illness, injury,
and disability, and the promotion of healthy living and lifestyles
to reduce and prevent chronic disease. Further information on the symposium
can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/steps/2004/symposium.html.
Due to overwhelming response, the symposium is currently oversubscribed.
For further information about “Steps
to a Healthier Workforce,” visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/steps. |
Requiring Safety Belt Use is Key Employer Policy for Preventing Job Vehicle Deaths |
Employers
should implement and enforce the use of safety belts in company and
agency vehicles. This recommendation was made by NIOSH Director John
Howard, M.D. at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration/National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration Motor Vehicle Safety (NHTSA)
Symposium held September 14. Among the general population, the use
of safety belts saved nearly 12,000 lives in motor vehicle crashes
in 2000 and could have prevented an additional 9,000 fatalities had
the victims been wearing safety belts. NHTSA estimates injuries from
non-use of safety belts cost employers more than $1 billion each year
in health insurance and other direct costs. More information on NIOSH
recommendations to prevent work-related motor vehicle fatalities and
injuries can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumamv.html. |
NIOSH
mourns the loss of John M. Dower, who passed away on September 8. John
retired from NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology
Laboratory in October 2003 after a distinguished 30-year career with
NIOSH, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
An industrial hygienist, John was instrumental in conducting research
and developing criteria to protect emergency responders, miners, and
other workers from occupational respiratory hazards. Among other accomplishments,
he led the NIOSH team that developed new criteria in 2002 for testing
and certifying respirators to protect emergency responders from chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear agents. He also contributed substantially
to federal efforts to promote the standardization and interoperability
of personal protective equipment for emergency responders. In research
to prevent occupational illnesses among miners, John developed standards
for testing coal mine dust personal sampling devices and contributed
to the development of mine ventilation standards. |
International Labor Organization Releases Fact Sheets on Work Economic Security |
The International
Labor Organization has released fact sheets based on their new report, “Economic
Security for a Better World.” The fact sheets, divided into 13
topic areas, provide bulleted lists of major study findings. NIOSH
serves as an information center for the ILO and works actively with
the ILO through the World Health Organization Global Network of Collaborating
Centers. The report and associated fact sheets can be accessed on the
ILO web site at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/ses/index.htm. |
Two
scientists from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA)
currently work at the NIOSH Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations
and Field Studies as part of an exchange program between NIOSH and
KOSHA. Bu-Hyan Kwon works with the NIOSH Ergonomics Upper Limb study
making significant contributions to the exposure assessment process
through testing and validating a NIOSH developed computer program for
upper limb postural analysis. Eun A. Kim participates in numerous NIOSH
Health Hazard Evaluations and assists NIOSH researchers in data management.
Initiated in 1996, NIOSH and KOSHA collaborate through the exchange
of researchers, technical information and materials, and by conducting
joint research projects. |
Preliminary Results From NIOSH-Supported WTC Screenings Issued |
Preliminary
results of the NIOSH-supported health screenings of 1,138 rescue and
recovery workers and volunteers from the World Trade Center attack
indicate high rates of persistent upper and lower respiratory effects
and persistent psychological effects associated with the responders’ work
at the disaster site, according to reports by the Mt. Sinai School of
Medicine in the Sept. 10 issue of CDC’s Morbidity & Mortality
Weekly Report. Mt. Sinai is part of a consortium that was awarded
federal funding through NIOSH grants to conduct health screenings for
the WTC workers and volunteers. The article on the physical health status
of the rescue and recovery workers can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5335a1.htm,
and the article on psychological effects can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5335a2.htm.
More information on the support for the screening program can be found
at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/hhs-03-18-04.html. |
Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board 2004 Women of the Year Awards |
Congratulations to the following NIOSH employees who were recently recognized during the 2004 Women of the Year Ceremony sponsored by the Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board.
The awards are designed
to focus attention on female employees who have exemplified a high
degree of character, job interest and performance, and who have evidenced
a substantial contribution to women in the Federal Government. |
The
National Occupational Respiratory Mortality System (NORMS) has
recently been added to the CDC’s web site. NORMS is a data
storage and data retrieval system containing national mortality
data from the National Center for Health Statistics for respiratory
diseases including asthma and pneumoconiosis. The user can generate
statistics for U.S. residents by age, race, and gender at the national,
state or county level. Occupational mortality data is available
by industry at the national and state levels. NORMS data are available
at http://webappa.cdc.gov/ords/norms.html. |
NIOSH
is soliciting a partner to refine development of a novel cleansing
and removal method for lead contamination on the skin. This novel
method is designed to eliminate lead exposures detected by the earlier
NIOSH developed “Lead Surface Sampling Full Disclosure Kit.” Preliminary
research has shown that this method is highly effective and performs
better than traditional handwashing with soap and water and other
commercial handwashing products. Licensing information may be obtained
from Suzanne Seavello Shope at sshope@cdc.gov.
Cooperative
Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) information
may be obtained from Kathleen Goedel at kgoedel@cdc.gov. |
Nancy
Bollinger, a long-time member of the NIOSH family, retired October 1
after a 32-year career as an outstanding scientist, administrator, and
mentor. Nancy began with NIOSH in 1972 with the Testing and Certification
Laboratory in Morgantown, W.Va., working in the respirator certification
program. Her adept performance helped to establish this new program as
a widely respected center of technical excellence. It also led to her
becoming chief of the Certification and Quality Assurance Branch in the
Division of Safety Research in 1984. In 1991, Nancy was selected as the
deputy director for the Division of Respiratory Disease Studies (DRDS).
Working in a new and different setting, Nancy proved her managerial and
organizational skills in DRDS. During the construction of its expanded
facilities in Morgantown in the 1990s, NIOSH again called on Nancy's
leadership in designing the future mission and organization of the new
Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), and in providing key input
to the design teams working on the construction of the Morgantown expansion
project. In 1997, Nancy was selected as the deputy director of HELD,
where she also served with distinction. In addition to her outstanding
leadership, scientific knowledge, and management talents applied to the
efficient operations in HELD, Nancy continued to advance the field of
workplace respiratory protection. NIOSH offers its appreciation to Nancy
for her many contributions to occupational safety and health, and best
wishes on future endeavors. |
Proposals Requested for Joint Nanotechnology Research Grants |
NIOSH,
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Science
Foundation (NSF) are seeking applications proposing research on the
potential implications of nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials
on human health and the environment. Areas
of particular interest include the toxicology of manufactured nanomaterials;
the fate, transport, and transformation of manufactured nanomaterials; and human
exposure and bioavailability. The deadline for applications is January
5, 2005. Complete details of the request and the application submission
process are available on the EPA web site, http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2004/2004_manufactured_nano.html. |
NIOSH
is working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to
address potential occupational health concerns of employees who operate
baggage screening x-ray machines at airports. NIOSH is assessing employees’ work
practices, characterizing potential employee exposure to x-rays from
screening machines, and providing recommendations for TSA and their
employees. Since this study involves workers at several airports and
is conducted across seasonal changes, providing the latest study findings
to everyone is essential. Using the r2p approach, NIOSH developed a
web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/airportscreener,
to provide workers with effective techniques for reducing potential
exposure and TSA with preliminary research findings and recommendations
so that measures can be taken immediately. For additional information,
contact John Cardarelli, NIOSH Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations,
and Field Studies, at JCardarelli@cdc.gov. |
When the NORA Reproductive Health Research Team formed in 1997, few large studies included occupation as a risk factor for birth defects or infertility. And only a tiny fraction of the estimated 84,000 chemicals used in worksites had been tested for their reproductive toxicity. With so much research needed, team co-leader Barbara Grajewski explains, “just simple things, like getting occupational exposures on the map,” can be crucial first steps for reducing a worker’s risk of reproductive disorders. To begin to address this need, the team of NIOSH researchers and diverse partners published a national reproductive research agenda in the June 2003 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives. This agenda offers guidelines to better understand and prioritize reproductive risks and the populations they effect. The key components of the agenda, and accomplishments made in each area under the NORA initiative since the team was formed in 1997, include the following:
For further information,
visit the NIOSH NORA reproductive team’s
web site at http://www2a.cdc.gov/nora/noratopictemp.asp?rscharea=fpa . |
The
American Society of Safety Engineers released their updated Roadway
Crashes transportation safety brochure. The brochure provides
guidance on driving near and around commercial vehicles and work zones.
Employers can find information on ways to increase employees’ roadway
safety and parents can learn how to properly secure children riding
in vehicles. Key transportation safety contact information, including
links to NIOSH web sites, is also included in the brochure. The brochure
is accessible on the ASSE web site, http://www.asse.org/. |
Nanotechnology Workplace Safety and Health DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2004-175 is an easy-to-read fact sheet describing nanotechnology, how it is used and the role NIOSH is taking to study its use in workplace safety and health issues. NIOSH is part of an international effort of research groups, government agencies, and industry interested in understanding the health impact of nanotechnology and how to control potential risk. The fact sheet is accessible at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-175. Preventing Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2004-165 provides guidance to health care workers on ways to avoid exposure to hazardous drugs. Pharmaceutical agents are classified in the scientific literature as “hazardous drugs” if studies in human or animals indicate that they have the potential to cause cancer, to result in developmental or reproductive toxicity, or to harm organs at low dose exposures. The document can be accessed online at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-165 and will be issued later in print format. Two new Mining Publications are now available:
|
Workshop on
Reducing Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare: Converting
Theory to Practice First International Symposium on Nanotechnology and Occupational Health As an increasing number of nanotechnology-based materials and products enter commercial production, there is a need to understand the potential safety and health risks and how they can be controlled. NIOSH provides additional information on nanotechnology through the web site http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech. 17th International
Symposium on Epidemiology in Occupational Health 2nd International
Symposium on Work Ability University
of Cincinnati Education and Research Center's
Pilot Research Symposium Steps
to a Healthier Workforce Symposium Contact Dermatitis 2004-Blending Science with Best Practice Developing
Experimental Approaches for Evaluation of Toxicological Interactions
of Nanoscale Materials |
ICOH: The
International Commission on Occupational Health is an international
professional organization dedicated to fostering the scientific progress,
knowledge, and development of occupational health and safety. Founded
in 1906 in Milan, Italy, ICOH will celebrate its centennial International
Congress in 2006 in Milan. More information about ICOH at http://www.icoh.org.sg. |
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