The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of the following draft document for public comment entitled “Current Intelligence Bulletin: Update of NIOSH Carcinogen Classification and Target Risk Level Policy for Chemical Hazards in the Workplace.” To view the notice, document and related materials, visit http://www.regulations.gov and enter CDC-2013-0023 in the search field and click “Search.” Additional information is also located at the following Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/cancer/policy.html. Comments may be provided to the NIOSH docket, as well as given orally at the following meeting.
Public Comment Period: Comments must be received by February 13, 2014.
Public Meeting Time and Date: December 16, 2013, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Eastern Time. Please note that public comments may end before the time indicated, following the last call for comments. Members of the public who wish to provide public comments should plan to attend the meeting at the start time listed.
Place: Surface Transportation Board Hearing Room, Patriots Plaza One, 395 E Street SW., 1st Floor, Room 120, Washington, DC 20201.
Status: The meeting is open to the public, limited only by the space available. The meeting space accommodates approximately 150 people. In addition, there will be an audio conference for those who cannot attend in person. There is no registration fee to...
|
Copyright
(c) 2010-2024 Jon L Gelman, All Rights Reserved.
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query niosh. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query niosh. Sort by date Show all posts
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Draft Current Intelligence Bulletin “Update of NIOSH Carcinogen Classification and Target Risk Level Policy for Chemical Hazards in the Workplace”
Monday, September 15, 2014
Thank You Truck Drivers!
Today's post is shared from cdc.gov and was authored by W. Karl Sieber, Ph.D.:
When you eat lettuce from California or purchase a new couch, consider how these goods got to your local grocery store or home. Nearly 2 million heavy or tractor-trailer truck drivers cross the nation every year to bring us the goods we are used to finding on our store shelves or to deliver our online purchases [BLS 2012]. In honor ofTruck Driver Appreciation Week(September 14-20), we want to thank all truck drivers for their hard work and dedication.
Truck drivers are essential to the United States. It is important that safety and health professionals and truck drivers and their employers work together to keep truck drivers safe and well. A recent NIOSH survey found that when compared to the U.S. adult working population, more long-haul truck drivers (heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers whose freight delivery routes require them to sleep away from home) were obese, cigarette smokers, and diabetic. For example, obesity and current smoking were twice as prevalent.
These results suggest that the job itself, which can include long hours sitting, stress factors like traffic and demanding schedules, and limited access to healthy foods, may contribute to a higher chance for health problems. This gives our partners and us an opportunity to use the work setting to identify and stimulate changes that can lead to better health. To do so, it is essential that we communicate effectively with truckers and trucking companies.
NIOSH is exploring different ways to share health information with the trucking industry. We are seeking your input to help us determine:
- What is the best way to get our information out to long-haul truck drivers?
- Who would long-haul truck drivers listen to?
- What health and safety topics are important to long-haul truck drivers?
W. Karl Sieber, Ph.D.
Karl Sieber is a NIOSH Research Health Scientist with the Surveillance Branch of the Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies. He is the Project Officer for the National Survey of U.S. Long-Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury. The survey was supported by NIOSH with partial funding from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
Related articles
- Truck Driver Safety and Health (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Truckers say new HOS rule has increased their fatigue: survey (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Safety Video MOVE IT! (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Truck Drivers Not Revved Up About New Safety Rules (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Fact Sheet: NIOSH Approval Labels - Key Information to Protect Yourself (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Big Judgement Against Carrier Over Deadly 2011 Nevada Train Crash (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH to Establish a National Workers' Compensation Data/Analysis Center (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH To Review Underreporting of Occupartional Injuries and Illnesses by Workers (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Monday, December 9, 2013
Workplace Safety and Health Topics
OverviewPrimary themes in the NIOSH job stress research program:
Job Stress and NORAIn 1996, NIOSH established an interdisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners from industry, labor, and academia to develop a national research agenda on the "organization of work." Work organization refers to management and supervisory practices, to production processes, and to their influence on the way work is performed. (In... |
Related articles
- Violence Occupational Hazards in Hospitals (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Draft Current Intelligence Bulletin "Update of NIOSH Carcinogen Classification and Target Risk Level Policy for Chemical Hazards in the Workplace" (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- CDC - Storm/Flood and Hurricane Response - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- CDC - NIOSH Update - NIOSH Study of Firefighters Finds Increased Rates of Cancer (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Truck Driver Safety and Health (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Securing the Right to a Safe and Healthy Workplace | Center for Effective Government (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- OSHA proposes more than $460,000 in fines against Long Island, NY, contractor for repeat fall and scaffolding hazards (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Thursday, July 24, 2014
NIOSH Fact Sheet: NIOSH Approval Labels—Key Information to Protect Yourself
Today's post was shared by Safe Healthy Workers and comes from www.cdc.gov
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2011-179 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) specifies minimum approval requirements for respiratory protective devices in Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 84. NIOSH reviews respirator approval applications, which contain technical specifications, drawings, and other related information. NIOSH also inspects, examines and tests the respirators to determine that the applicable requirements are met for individual, completely assembled respirators, as described in §84.30(a). |
Related articles
- Danger is in the Air: Choosing the Right Respirators (emedco.com)
- Silica hazards in fracking continued: Where did NIOSH find unsafe dust levels? [The Pump Handle] (scienceblogs.com)
- OSHA - NIOSH Hazard Alert - Worker Exposure to Silica during Hydraulic Fracturing (ehssafetynews.com)
- Frac sand exposure study FOIA: 13 months and still no response from CDC [The Pump Handle] (scienceblogs.com)
- Reaching Towards a Healthier, Safer Workplace:NIOSH looks at healthcare worker familiarity with recommended respiratory protection practices (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Death by pet food (poisonedpets.com)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
NIOSH Makes Ladder Safety Easier Through an App
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announces the availability of a new Ladder Safety smart phone application (app). This new app uses visual and audio signals to make it easier for workers using extension ladders to check the angle the ladder is positioned at, as well as access useful tips for using extension ladders safely. The app is available for free download for bothiPhone and Android devices.
Falls from ladders are a common source of preventable construction injuries. Misjudging the ladder angle is a significant risk factor for a fall. If the ladder is set too steep it is more likely to fall back or away during use, and if it is set too shallow then the bottom can slide out.
“The ladder safety app is an innovative way to help keep workers safe and a tool to reduce these preventable injuries,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “The development of this smart phone app also demonstrates how we are constantly working to make science-based practical information accessible to workers and employers in a way they need and can easily use.”
The app provides feedback to the user on positioning the extension ladder at the optimal angle. It also provides references and a safety guide for extension ladder selection, inspection, accessorizing, and use. It was developed with input from the ANSI A14 committee on Ladder Safety, the American Ladder Institute, and other stakeholders.
NIOSH collaborated with DSFederal on the final development and testing of the app before release. The app is based on a multimodal inclination indicator for ladder positioning that has been recently awarded a US patent. To learn more and download the Ladder Safety app visithttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/ and to learn about the campaign to prevent falls in construction go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/stopfalls.html. NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. For more information about our work visithttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/.
.Related articles
Falls from ladders are a common source of preventable construction injuries. Misjudging the ladder angle is a significant risk factor for a fall. If the ladder is set too steep it is more likely to fall back or away during use, and if it is set too shallow then the bottom can slide out.
“The ladder safety app is an innovative way to help keep workers safe and a tool to reduce these preventable injuries,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “The development of this smart phone app also demonstrates how we are constantly working to make science-based practical information accessible to workers and employers in a way they need and can easily use.”
The app provides feedback to the user on positioning the extension ladder at the optimal angle. It also provides references and a safety guide for extension ladder selection, inspection, accessorizing, and use. It was developed with input from the ANSI A14 committee on Ladder Safety, the American Ladder Institute, and other stakeholders.
NIOSH collaborated with DSFederal on the final development and testing of the app before release. The app is based on a multimodal inclination indicator for ladder positioning that has been recently awarded a US patent. To learn more and download the Ladder Safety app visithttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/ and to learn about the campaign to prevent falls in construction go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/stopfalls.html. NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. For more information about our work visithttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/.
.Related articles
- Protecting Healthcare Workers is a Goal of NIOSH
- The International Call for Fashion Safety - Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh
- OSHA Moves to Protect Temporary Workers
- Buying a Cheap Shirt at Wal-Mart? Consider the real cost (in lives).
- US Publishes Guidelines to Minimize Distracted Driving
Thursday, July 5, 2012
NIOSH Seeks Occupational History for Inclusion in Electronic Health records
NIOSH logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The instructions for submitting comments can be found at www.regulations.gov. Written comments submitted to the Docket will be used to inform NIOSH with its planning and activities in response to the 2011 letter report “Incorporating Occupational Information in Electronic Health Records” written by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Occupation and Electronic Health Records.
Input from primary care providers, occupational and public health specialists, EHR vendors and others with interest in the topic is sought on the questions listed below pertaining to the collection and use of work information in the clinical setting. NIOSH is interested in input both from those who are currently using EHRs as well as those who are not.
(1) For providers of primary health care: When do the clinicians in your practice setting currently ask patients about their work?Show citation box
Specifically, what information on patients' work is collected?Show citation box
If you currently use an EHR:Show citation box
Where in the health record (either paper or electronic) is patient work information stored and/or viewed? For example, is the work information entered in the `social history' section of an EMR? Where would you prefer patient work information to be stored and/or viewed in the EHR?Show citation box
Does your EHR maintain a history of the information so that you can identify how long and when a patient was in a given occupation?Show citation box
If you currently do not use an EHR, where do you record this information in the paper record? Is it available to the care provider during the patient encounter? Is there a history of the patient's work information available to the care provider?Show citation box
In your clinical practice, who (which personnel) besides the clinicians collect patients' work information (e.g., registration personnel or nursing assistants)?Show citation box
Have those personnel been trained specifically in how to collect information about patient's work i.e., how to gain an accurate job title etc.?Show citation box
Do you collect work information from teenagers?Show citation box
Do you collect work information from retirees?Show citation box
Are questions about work routine question or triggered based on specific complaints?Show citation box
How is work information used to inform patient care?Show citation box
Please provide an example/description of the usefulness of patient work information in providing care to a patient.Show citation box
Please provide any additional comments you have about collection or use of patient work information in the clinical setting.Show citation box
(2) For providers of occupational (specialty) health care: At your clinical facility, how is the patient's work information collected?Show citation box
Specifically, what information on patients' work is collected?Show citation box
Is the work information entered in the administrative record used for billing purposes?Show citation box
Is patient work information collected on paper or in an EHR? Is it available to the care provider during the patient encounter?Show citation box
Is there a history of the patient's work information available to the care provider?Show citation box
If you use a standardized form to collection information about patients' work, please briefly describe its main elements.Show citation box
In your clinical practice, who (which personnel) besides the clinicians collect (e.g., registration personnel or nursing assistants)?Show citation box
Have those personnel been trained specifically in how to collect information about patient's work i.e., how to gain an accurate job title, etc.?Show citation box
Where in the health record (either paper or electronic) is the information stored? For example, is the work information entered in the `social history' section?Show citation box
What are the most important ways that clinicians can use to inform clinical care of patients?Show citation box
Please provide an example of the usefulness of work information in providing care to a patient.Show citation box
Do you have any other comments about collection or use of patient work information in the clinical setting?Show citation box
(3) For developers and vendors of EHR/software: Does your base/basic EHR product contain pre-ordained fields for Industry, Occupation, Employer or other information about patients' work? If not, have you been asked to provide these fields?Show citation box
Regardless of whether they are in the base system or added on request, how are the values in the fields for Industry, Occupation, or other work information formatted (e.g., narrative text, drop-down menus, other)?Show citation box
Are these values coded and if so, what coding schema are used (e.g., NAICS, SOC, Census codes, user defined)?Show citation box
To the best of your knowledge, how are the data captured in these fields used by end users of your EHR/product?Show citation box
Please share challenges you anticipate in managing a history of employer, industry and occupation (current and usual) for multiple employment situations as both text and coded fields in your system, if your system does not already perform these functions?Show citation box
Could your system access and retrieve information from another web-based system via web services (such as an automated coding system for coding industry and occupation)?Show citation box
Your comments are appreciated. They will be used to improve NIOSH's electronic health records efforts.
Related articles
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
CDC has requested comments for the feasibility of a mesothelioma registry
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has announced the opening of a docket to obtain information on the feasibility of a registry designed to track mesothelioma cases in the United States, as well as recommendations on enrollment, data collection, confidentiality, and registry maintenance. The purpose of such a registry would be to collect information that could be used to develop and improve standards of care and to identify gaps in mesothelioma prevention and treatment.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Preparing for Working In Cold
Today's post is shared from John Howard, M.D., Director, NIOSH cdc.gov/niosh
Don’t assume there is no need to prepare for working safely in the cold this year, because of the moderate temperatures in much of the country so far. According to the National Weather Service, the long-range weather forecast predicts chillier temperatures than average in January and February in the Southern Plains and the Southeast. Cold weather can bring on health emergencies for people who may be susceptible as a result of their working environment, such as those who work outdoors or in an area that is poorly insulated or without heat.
Don’t assume there is no need to prepare for working safely in the cold this year, because of the moderate temperatures in much of the country so far. According to the National Weather Service, the long-range weather forecast predicts chillier temperatures than average in January and February in the Southern Plains and the Southeast. Cold weather can bring on health emergencies for people who may be susceptible as a result of their working environment, such as those who work outdoors or in an area that is poorly insulated or without heat.
Friday, April 22, 2016
22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous occupational noise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data regarding injuries, deaths, and illness faced by millions every year in the workplace. This week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) issue is devoted to occupational health concerns, in acknowledgment of Workers Memorial Day (April 28th).
Thursday, August 18, 2011
NIOSH to Propose New Criteria for Diacetyl Exposure
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) invites public comment on a draft document, "Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione.”
For public review and comment, the draft document summarizes current scientific knowledge about the occupational safety and health implications of the food flavorings diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, and recommends occupational exposure limits and measures for controlling work related exposures to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, based on the current state of knowledge.
The draft document is available athttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/review/docket245/default.html for written public comment until Oct. 14, 2011. NIOSH will also hold a public meeting to discuss and obtain comments on Aug. 26, 2011, in Washington D.C.
"Occupational exposure to diacetyl has been associated with severe obstructive lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans, and decrease in lung function," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. "NIOSH has provided over a decade of research and leadership in this important scientific area. In addition to the recommended exposure limits (RELs), this draft document provides for public comment a comprehensive review of scientific literature, a quantitative risk assessment, and valuable guidance to reduce occupational exposures to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione. We invite public comment on the draft Criteria Document to help us develop final recommendations."
For public review and comment, the draft document summarizes current scientific knowledge about the occupational safety and health implications of the food flavorings diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, and recommends occupational exposure limits and measures for controlling work related exposures to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, based on the current state of knowledge.
The draft document is available athttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/review/docket245/default.html for written public comment until Oct. 14, 2011. NIOSH will also hold a public meeting to discuss and obtain comments on Aug. 26, 2011, in Washington D.C.
"Occupational exposure to diacetyl has been associated with severe obstructive lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans, and decrease in lung function," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. "NIOSH has provided over a decade of research and leadership in this important scientific area. In addition to the recommended exposure limits (RELs), this draft document provides for public comment a comprehensive review of scientific literature, a quantitative risk assessment, and valuable guidance to reduce occupational exposures to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione. We invite public comment on the draft Criteria Document to help us develop final recommendations."
The draft document includes, for comment:
For Diacetyl, a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 5 parts per billion (ppb) as an eight-hour, time-weighted average, (TWA) during a 40-hour work week. To further protect against effects of short-term exposures, NIOSH recommends in the draft document a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for diacetyl of 25 ppb for a 15-minute time period.
For 2,3-pentanedione, a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 9.3 parts per billion (ppb) as an eight-hour, time-weighted average, (TWA) during a 40-hour work week. The REL for 2,3-pentanedione in the draft document is based upon the lowest level at which the substance reliably can be detected using the existing analytical method, and should not be misconstrued to imply that 2,3-pentanedione is of lower toxicity than diacetyl. Further, NIOSH recommends a STEL of 31 ppb to limit peak exposures for 2,3-pentanedione on the same basis of analytic method limitation.
For Diacetyl, a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 5 parts per billion (ppb) as an eight-hour, time-weighted average, (TWA) during a 40-hour work week. To further protect against effects of short-term exposures, NIOSH recommends in the draft document a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for diacetyl of 25 ppb for a 15-minute time period.
For 2,3-pentanedione, a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 9.3 parts per billion (ppb) as an eight-hour, time-weighted average, (TWA) during a 40-hour work week. The REL for 2,3-pentanedione in the draft document is based upon the lowest level at which the substance reliably can be detected using the existing analytical method, and should not be misconstrued to imply that 2,3-pentanedione is of lower toxicity than diacetyl. Further, NIOSH recommends a STEL of 31 ppb to limit peak exposures for 2,3-pentanedione on the same basis of analytic method limitation.
Related articles
- CDC Seeks to End NeedleStick Injuries (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- OSHA Issues Bulletin on the Hazards of Exposure to Flavoring Substance
- California Becomes the First State to Set Safety Guidelines for Flavoring Chemical
- $30.4 Million Verdict in Popcorn Flavoring Lawsuit
- Candy Makers Found to Have Popcorn Lung Flavoring Illness
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Asbestos Deaths Predicted to Continue for Decades
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released a draft Intelligence Report concerning asbestos and mesothelioma in an effort to create a "road-map for research."
"Asbestos has been a highly visible issue in public health for over three decades. During the mid- to late-20th century, many advances were made in the scientific understanding of worker health effects from exposure to asbestos fibers and other elongate mineral particles (EMPs). It is now well documented that fibers of asbestos minerals, when inhaled, can cause serious diseases in exposed workers. However, many questions and areas of confusion and scientific uncertainty remain. For instance, due to the mineralogical complexity of the asbestos minerals, the scientific literature contains various inconsistencies in the definition and application of the term asbestos for health protection guidance and regulatory purposes."
"The purpose of the Roadmap is to outline a research agenda that will guide the development of specific research programs and projects that will provide a broader and clearer understanding of the important determinants of toxicity for asbestos and other EMPs. NIOSH recognizes that results from such research may impact environmental as well as occupational health policies and practices. Many of the issues that are important in the workplace are also important to communities and to the general population.Therefore, NIOSH envisions that the planning and conduct of the research will be a collaborative effort involving active participation of multiple federal agencies, including the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), as well as labor, industry, academia, health and safety practitioners, and other interested parties, including international groups. This collaboration will help to focus the scope of the research, to fund and conduct research, and to develop and disseminate informational materials describing research results and their implications for establishing new occupational and public health policies."
Asbestos Deaths Predicted to Continue for Decades
"NIOSH has annually tracked U.S. asbestosis deaths since 1968 and malignant mesothelioma deaths since 1999 using death certificate data in the National Occupational Respiratory Mortality System (NORMS). NORMS data, representing all deaths among U.S. residents, show that asbestosis deaths increased almost 20-fold from the late 1960s to the late 1990s (Figure 6) [NIOSH 2007b]. Asbestosis mortality trends are expected to substantially trail trends in asbestos exposures (see Section 2.4.2) for two primary reasons: (1) the latency period between asbestos exposure and asbestosis onset is 2 typically long, commonly one or two decades or more; and (2) asbestosis is a chronic disease, so affected individuals can live for many years with the disease before succumbing. In fact, asbestosis deaths have apparently plateaued (at nearly 1,500 per year) since 2000 (Figure 3) [NIOSH 2007b]. Ultimately, it is anticipated that the annual number of asbestosis deaths in the United States will decrease substantially as a result of documented reductions in exposure. However, asbestos usage has not been completely eliminated, and asbestos-containing materials remain in place in structural materials and machinery, so the potential for exposure remains. Thus, asbestosis deaths in the United States are anticipated to continue to occur for several decades."Mesothelioma Strongly Linked to Occupational Exposures
"Malignant mesothelioma, an aggressive disease that is nearly always fatal, is known to be caused by exposure to asbestos and some other mineral fibers [IOM 2006]. The occurrence of mesothelioma has been strongly linked with occupational exposures to asbestos [Bang et al. 2006]. There had been no discrete International Classification of Disease (ICD) code for mesothelioma until its most recent 10th revision. Thus, only seven years of NORMS data are available with a specific ICD code for mesothelioma (Figure 4); during this period, there was a 9% increase in annual mesothelioma deaths, from 2,484 in 1999 to 2,704 in 2005 [NIOSH 2007b]. A later peak for mesothelioma deaths than for asbestosis deaths would be entirely expected, given the longer latency for mesothelioma [Järvholm et al. 1999]. One analysis of malignant mesothelioma incidence based on the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data found that an earlier steep increase in incidence had moderated and 1 that mesothelioma incidence may have actually peaked sometime in the 1990s in SEER-2 covered areas [Weill et al. 2004]. In contrast to NORMS data, which represents a census 3 of all deaths in the entire United States, the analyzed SEER data were from areas in 4 which a total of only about 15% of the U.S. population resides."NIOSH has invited Public Comment Until April 16, 2010 5:00pm EDT
Friday, April 29, 2011
Alice Hamilton Awards for Occupational Safety and Health Announced
The Alice Hamilton Awards for Occupational Safety and Health recognize the scientific excellence of technical and instructional materials by NIOSH scientists and engineers in the areas of biological science, engineering and physical science, human studies, and educational materials.
The Awards honor Dr. Alice Hamilton (1869 - 1970), a pioneering researcher and occupational physician, and are presented each year by NIOSH on the basis of rigorous reviews by panels of scientific experts from outside the Institute.
The top three finalists in each category are:
Engineering and Physical Sciences
Evans DE, Ku BK, Birch ME, Dunn KH. Aerosol monitoring during carbon nanofiber production: mobile direct-reading sampling. Ann Occup Hyg 54(5):514-531, 2010.
Green JD, Yannaccone JR, Current RS, Sicher LA, Moore PH, Whitman GR. Assessing the performance of various restraints on ambulance patient compartment workers during crash events. Int J Crashworthiness 15(5):517-541, 2010.
NIOSH Report of Investigation (RI) 9679: Recommendations for a new rock dusting standard to prevent coal dust explosions in intake airways. By Cashdollar KL, Sapko MJ, Weiss ES, Harris ML, Man CK, Harteis SP, Green GM. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-151, 2010.
Biological Sciences
Sriram K, Lin GX, Jefferson AM, Roberts JR, Wirth O, Hayashi Y, Krajnak KM, Soukup JM, Ghio AJ, Reynolds SH, Castranova V, Munson AE, Antonini JM. Mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of Parkinson's disease-linked proteins contribute to neurotoxicity of manganese-containing welding fumes. FASEB J 24(12):4989-5002, 2010.
Leonard SS, Chen BT, Stone SG, Schwegler-Berry D, Kenyon AJ, Frazer D, Antonini JM. Comparison of stainless and mild steel welding fumes in generation of reactive oxygen species. Part Fibre Toxicol 7(1):32, 2010.
Wang LY, Mercer RR, Rojanasakul Y, Qiu AJ, Lu YJ, Scabilloni JF, Wu NQ, Castranova V. Direct fibrogenic effects of dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes on human lung fibroblasts. J Toxicol Environ Health, A 73(5-6):410-422, 2010.
Human Studies
Hanley KW, Petersen MR, Cheever KL, Luo L. Bromide and N-acetyl-S-(n-propyl)-l-cysteine in urine from workers exposed to 1-bromopropane solvents from vapor degreasing or adhesive manufacturing. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 83(5):571-584, 2010.
Connor TH, DeBord DG, Pretty JR, Oliver MS, Roth TS, Lees PSJ, Krieg EF Jr., Rogers B, Escalante CP, Toennis CA, Clark JC, Johnson BC, McDiarmid MA. Evaluation of antineoplastic drug exposure of health care workers at three university-based US cancer centers. J Occup Environ Med 52(10):1019-1027, 2010.
The following three articles were submitted as one nomination:
- Couch JR, Petersen MR, Rice CR, Schubauer-Berigan MK. Development of retrospective quantitative and qualitative job-exposure matrices for exposures at a beryllium processing facility. Occ Environ Med. Published online October 25, 2010. doi: 10.1136/oem.2010.056630.
- Schubauer-Berigan MK, Couch JR, Petersen MR, Carreón T, Jin Y, Deddens JA. Cohort mortality study of workers at seven beryllium processing plants: update and associations with cumulative and maximum exposure. Occ Environ Med. Published online October 15, 2010.doi:10.1136/oem.2010.056481.
- Schubauer-Berigan MK, Deddens JA, Couch JR, Petersen MR. Risk of lung cancer associated with quantitative beryllium exposure metrics within an occupational cohort. Occup Environ Med. Published online November 16, 2010. doi: 10.1136/oem.2010.056515.
Educational Materials
Slip, trip, and fall prevention for healthcare workers. By Bell J, Collins JW, Dalsey E, Sublet V. Morgantown, WV/Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2011-123, 2010.
Move it! Rig move safety for roughnecks. By: Cullen E, Hill R, Shannon J, Headding B. Spokane, WA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2011-108d, 2010.
Baron S, Stock L, Ayala L, Soohoo R, Gong F, Lloyd C, Haroon P, Teran S, Gonzalez P. Caring for yourself while caring for others: practical tips for homecare workers. In: Labor Occupational Health Program, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Service Employees International Union. Edited by United Long Term Care Workers. Oakland, CA: Public Authority for In-Home Supportive Services in Alameda County, 2010.
Related articles
- NIOSH Issues "Roadmap" Document Suggesting Asbestos Research Strategy (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Public Meeting on Implementation of the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Seeks Information About World Trade Center Cancer Claims (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Workers Memorial Day - April 28th (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Chronic Beryllium Sufferers Get Recognition (gelmans.com)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
NIOSH Reports on the Safety of Nanotechnology
The emerging area of nanotechnology has brought with it concerns over worker safety. NIOSH has now released a progress report concerning this technology. NIOSH's goals are:
1. Determine whether nanoparticles and nanomaterials pose risks of work-related injuries and illnesses.
2. Conduct research to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses by ap- plying nanotechnology products.
3. Promote healthy workplaces through interventions, recommendations, and capacity building.
4. Enhance global workplace safety and health through national and international collaborations on nanotechnology research and guidance.
"To date, NIOSH/OEP has committed about $5.3 million dollars to research on applications and implications of nanotechnology. Summaries of the projects funded by NIOSH/OEP are included in Appendix B. NIOSH/OEP plans to continue collaborative efforts with EPA/NCER, NSF, NIH/NIEHS, and other international agencies to support nanotechnology research with occupational safety and health implications. OEP will continue to confer with the NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center regarding issues, gaps, and future directions.
To read more about nanotechnology click here.
1. Determine whether nanoparticles and nanomaterials pose risks of work-related injuries and illnesses.
2. Conduct research to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses by ap- plying nanotechnology products.
3. Promote healthy workplaces through interventions, recommendations, and capacity building.
4. Enhance global workplace safety and health through national and international collaborations on nanotechnology research and guidance.
"To date, NIOSH/OEP has committed about $5.3 million dollars to research on applications and implications of nanotechnology. Summaries of the projects funded by NIOSH/OEP are included in Appendix B. NIOSH/OEP plans to continue collaborative efforts with EPA/NCER, NSF, NIH/NIEHS, and other international agencies to support nanotechnology research with occupational safety and health implications. OEP will continue to confer with the NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center regarding issues, gaps, and future directions.
To read more about nanotechnology click here.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Workplace Exposures and the National Action Plan for Infertility
Infertility is a significant health issue in the U.S. as well as globally. In addition to the large health and fiscal impacts of infertility, the inability to conceive can be devastating to individuals or couples. Research suggest that between 12% and 18% of couples struggle with infertility,[1] which may be caused by a wide variety of factors including genetic abnormalities, aging, acute and chronic diseases, treatments for certain conditions, behavioral factors, and exposure to environmental, occupational, and infectious hazards. However, many questions about infertility remain unanswered. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the National Public Health Action Plan for the Detection, Prevention and Management of Infertility. This plan was created in consultation with many governmental and nongovernmental partners. NIOSH contributed to this Action Plan, specifically related to reducing exposures to occupational agents that can harm reproductive health and fertility in women and men. Environmental and occupational hazards account for an unknown proportion of infertility cases, but are known to affect reproductive health and fertility in women and men, and suspected of causing declining human sperm quality in industrialized countries.[2], [3], [4] An evaluation conducted in developed countries in the 1980s by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 37% of infertility cases were attributable to female factors, 8% were attributable to... |
Related articles
- NIOSH Fact Sheet: NIOSH Approval Labels - Key Information to Protect Yourself (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Zadroga Fund Cancer Claims Info Sought by NIOSH (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Seeks Information About World Trade Center Cancer Claims (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- CDC - NIOSH Science Blog - Conducting Responder Health Research and Biomonitoring During and Following Disasters (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Protect American workers from exposure to silica on the job (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Issues "Roadmap" Document Suggesting Asbestos Research Strategy (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Backing Construction Vehicles and Equipment at Roadway Construction Worksites (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Friday, December 31, 2010
NIOSH Focuses On Safety of Nanotechnology
On Wednesday, April 8, 2009 [74 FR 15985], the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced in the Federal Register plans to evaluate the scientific data on carbon nanotubes and to issue its findings on the potential health risks. A draft Current Intelligence Bulletin entitled ``Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers'' has been developed which contains an assessment of the toxicological data and provides recommendations for the safe handling of these materials. NIOSH is seeking comments on the draft document and plans to have a public meeting to discuss the document. The draft document and instructions for submitting comments can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/review/docket161A/ default.html.
NIOSH has interest in:
(1) Identification of industries or occupations in which exposures to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers can occur;
(2) Trends in the production and use of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers;
(3) Exposure measurement data;
(4) Case reports or other health information demonstrating possible health effects in workers exposed to carbon nanotubes or nanofibers;
(5) Reports of experimental in vivo and in vitro studies that provide evidence of a dose-relationship between exposure to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers and biological activity;
(6) Reports of experimental data on the airborne characteristics of carbon nanotubes or nanofibers, including information on the amounts that are inhalable and respirable;
(7) Criteria and rationale for including workers in a medical surveillance and screening program;
(8) Description of work practices and engineering controls used to reduce or prevent workplace exposure to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers; and
(9) Educational materials for worker safety and training on the safe handling of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers.
This announcement follows an earlier conference by NIOSH in July 2010.
Related articles
- Workers Compensation and Nanotechnology - The New Frontier (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Carbon Nanotubes And Nanofibers: NIOSH Seeks Comment On Draft Recommendations, Research Needs (nanotech-now.com)
- Bio-Tech Worker Awarded $1.37 Million in Suit Against Pfizer
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Is There a Link Between Firefighting and Cancer? – Epidemiology in Action
Today's post is shared from cdc.gov/ Epidemiology is the art and science of using data to answer questions about the health of groups. In occupational epidemiology, we use that data to understand how work affects health. This blog entry is part of a series that shares the stories behind the data. Firefighters face numerous hazards in the line of duty. The risks of acute and potentially fatal injuries and stresses from the dangerous environment of a fire scene are well known. In addition to these hazards, fires generate toxic contaminants, including some agents known or suspected to cause cancer. Less is known about the potential long-term health effects firefighters may experience as a result of work-related exposures. In particular, do firefighters face a higher risk of cancer than is found in the general population? In 2010, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) embarked on a multi-year effort to conduct a large-scale study to better understand the potential link between firefighting and cancer. The research was a joint effort led by NIOSH researchers and conducted in collaboration with researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the University of California at Davis Department of Public Health Sciences and supported, in part, by the U.S Fire Administration. The study found that a combined population of firefighters from three large U.S. cities showed higher-than-expected rates of certain types of cancer... |
Related articles
- Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Backing Construction Vehicles and Equipment at Roadway Construction Worksites (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Fact Sheet: NIOSH Approval Labels - Key Information to Protect Yourself (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- CDC - NIOSH Update - NIOSH Study of Firefighters Finds Increased Rates of Cancer (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Public Comment Period Traumatic Injury Research and Prevention Program and Strategic Goals (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Safety Video MOVE IT! (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- The Age-Old Question: Which Workers Have the Greatest Risk for Hand Injuries? (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Sunday, April 24, 2011
NIOSH Correction: Asbestos is A Know Carcinogen
NIOSH has corrected it originally released report last month and has now inserted the text:
"NIOSH has determined that exposure to asbestos fibers causes cancer and asbestosis in humans and recommends that exposures be reduced to the lowest feasible concentration."
For more about this correction see The Pump Handle article.
Related articles
"NIOSH has determined that exposure to asbestos fibers causes cancer and asbestosis in humans and recommends that exposures be reduced to the lowest feasible concentration."
For more about this correction see The Pump Handle article.
Related articles
- Asbestos Contaminates 772 New York City Schools (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Seeks Information About World Trade Center Cancer Claims (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Zadroga Fund Cancer Claims Info Sought by NIOSH (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Proposes Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia As Compensable (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- WR Grace Asbestos Bankruptcy Plan Receives Initial Approval (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- CDC's NIOSH says WHAT about asbestos??? (scienceblogs.com)
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Reaching Towards a Healthier, Safer Workplace:NIOSH looks at healthcare worker familiarity with recommended respiratory protection practices
Every day healthcare workers (HCWs) make decisions about the best way to protect themselves. What would you do if you entered the room of a new patient and noticed symptoms such as fever and a mucus-producing cough? As a HCW, you must then ask yourself, “What type of disease does the patient have? What sort of precautions should I take to protect myself because the patient may have an infectious disease?” While it is your employer’s responsibility to provide policies, programs, training, and guidance on respirator use, it is the health care workers who implement these procedures. Do you know when to use respiratory protection? If so, do you understand what type of protection to choose and how to use it properly?NIOSH Research – the REACH II StudyResearchers at NIOSH conducted a study to determine HCW familiarity with recommended respiratory protection practices[i], [ii] including the selection of respiratory protective devices. NIOSH collaborated with several state health departments and universities for the Respirator Use Evaluation in Acute Care Hospitals (REACH II) study. REACH II involved 98 hospitals in six states, and surveyed over 1,500 HCWs, Hospital and Unit Managers. Research staff observed respirator donning (i.e., putting on) and doffing (i.e., taking off) demonstrations by more than 300 HCWs. To determine HCWs’ knowledge about which respiratory protection to use, both HCWs and managers were given six scenarios... |
Related articles
- NIOSH Announces the Top 10 Science Blog Posts in 2012 (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Alerts Home Healthcare Workers About Latex Allergies (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Why We're Still Killing Workers in the USA (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- NIOSH Focuses On Safety of Nanotechnology (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Now Available On-Line: Complete Letter Report On Incorporating Occupational Information in Electronic Health Records (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)