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Volume 5 Number 1 May
2007
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4th
Anniversary of NIOSH eNews
As we celebrate the 4th anniversary of NIOSH eNews, we want to thank you,
our readers, for your continued interest. We value your input and do our best
to be responsive to your ideas and suggestions. As we look ahead to future
issues, we invite you to share your thoughts on how we can continue to meet
your needs.
- What do you like about eNews?
- What would you like to see changed in eNews?
- What topics or issues would you like for us to
address?
Please
share your thoughts and ideas by emailing us at NIOSHeNews@xxxxxxx. We look forward to
hearing from you!
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One
of NIOSH’s priorities has always been good communication in various
meanings of the term. From the time we opened shop in 1971, we have prided
ourselves on our vigorous development and dissemination of scientific
information – the one-way street of communication, if you will. We have
been equally proud of our record in fostering and maintaining a dialogue with
an ever-expanding audience of stakeholders on the parallel, two-way avenue of
interaction.
For
the first 25 years of our existence, we relied on the instruments available
at the time: the printing press, the hard-wire telephone, and the
face-to-face meeting. Then came the Information Revolution. Having become
accustomed so quickly to Web sites, cell phones, blogs, memory sticks, and
other fixtures of modern communication, it is sometimes difficult to realize
that many of these standbys have been around for less than a decade.
Thanks
to this explosion of capabilities, communication can engage more people more
effectively than ever before. We in NIOSH have tried to take advantage of
those opportunities to better serve our partners in occupational safety and
health. This month’s issue of eNews points up some
examples:
- Thanks to the computer
technology underlying NIOSH eNews, we can keep you
updated regularly on new developments at NIOSH with an electronic
bulletin that comes directly to your desktop. This month marks the fourth anniversary of eNews, and as we note
elsewhere in this issue, we welcome your suggestions for keeping this
Web-based bulletin fresh and engaging.
- The word “docket”
summons an image of heavy, bulging binders on a bookshelf, but NIOSH has
overhauled its docket room for the 21st Century. We are now
providing on-line access to many of our docket materials, with more to
be added.
- With Web-based seminars, the size of an audience is
no longer limited by the size of a room. More information follows
elsewhere in this issue about an upcoming “Webinar”
that teams the National Safety Council and NIOSH.
In
times past, the flow of information usually ceased for the day when the
printing press was shut down, the lights in the office were turned off for
the night, and everybody went home. Thanks to modern technology,
communication from and with NIOSH is no longer limited by circumstances to
eight hours a day, five days a week. It is 24/7.
As also noted elsewhere in this
issue, NIOSH lost a valued colleague in last month’s tragedy at
Virginia Tech. Dr. Kevin Granata was a respected scientist
and a good friend of NIOSH. As an instructor, a mentor, an innovator, and an
internationally recognized expert in biomechanics, he was a shining light of
our professional community. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and
associates.
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MMWR Observes
Workers Memorial Day 2007
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 In observance of Workers Memorial
Day, April 28, the latest issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
highlights new data from NIOSH research in three areas: lung disease among
flavor-manufacturing workers, nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses,
and lead exposure among women of childbearing age. The April 27 issue can be
viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5616.pdf.
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NIOSH
Recognizes Excellence and Dedication in Occupational Safety and Health
Research
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On
May 1, NIOSH presented the annual Alice Hamilton Award, James P. Keogh Award,
and Bullard-Sherwood Research-to-Practice Award.
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In Memoriam:
Dr. Kevin Granata
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 NIOSH remembers
Dr. Kevin Granata, Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia
Tech. Dr. Granata was one of 32 victims of the April 16 shootings. Professor
Granata was a NIOSH research grantee for over 10 years and his research
focused on the biomechanics of lifting, including the effects of posture,
spinal cord stability, and exercise on the risk for occupational lower back
injuries. One of the chief findings from his research was that the benefit of
exercise for reducing injuries is related to an improvement in neuromuscular
control and spinal stability, a valuable finding for the development of
personal and industry-sponsored exercise programs intended to reduce lower
back disorders. NIOSH honors Dr. Granata for his contributions to reducing occupational
injuries and for his heroic actions on that day to save his students. To read
more about Dr. Granata’s outstanding career, visit the VT Web page, http://www.esm.vt.edu/php/newsItem.php?item=151.
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Two Research
Articles Address Obesity and the Workplace
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“Work,
Obesity, and Public Health” discusses key areas in which work, obesity
and occupational safety and health may intersect, based on available
scientific evidence, and highlights the ethical, legal, and social issues
related to the topic. The article, co-authored by 11 NIOSH scientists and one
external partner, appears in the March 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/full/97/3/428.
Results from a NIOSH-funded study
by Duke University researchers of the relationship between obesity and
workers’ compensation claims and costs appear in the April 2007 Archives of Internal Medicine.
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/167/8/766.
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Public
Comments Accepted for Endicott-Study Draft Feasibility Report, Draft Asbestos
Research
Roadmap
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Endicott-Study Draft Feasibility
Report: Deadline May 28
NIOSH is inviting public comment by May 28 on a draft report addressing the
scientific feasibility of conducting a cancer study among former employees of
an IBM facility in Endicott, N.Y. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/103/default.html.
Draft
Asbestos Research Roadmap: Deadline May 31
A reminder: NIOSH will accept public comments on the draft
document, Asbestos
and Other Mineral Fibers: A Roadmap for Scientific Research,
until 5:00 p.m., EDT, May 31. NIOSH is encouraging public comment through the
Web page, and through a May 4 public meeting. The draft document and contact
information for sending comments by email, fax, and mail are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/099/.
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NIOSH will hold a public meeting
on May 22 in Arlington, VA for the public to provide input regarding issues
related to safety, health and best practices for injury and illness
prevention in the horse racing industry. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-7855.htm.
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NIOSH, OSHA
Issue Safety Bulletin on Blunt-Tip Needles
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NIOSH and the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration have jointly published a Safety and Health
Information Bulletin (SHIB) designed to help protect surgical personnel from
needle stick injuries while using suture needles. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-132.
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NIOSH-Developed
System Targets Fire Prevention and Suppression in Mining Equipment Cabs
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MMWR: Nail-Gun
Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments
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A report by a NIOSH scientist and
a colleague in the April 13 issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
provides findings and recommendations on preventing nail-gun injuries to
workers and consumers in the United States. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5614a2.htm.
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Join the NIOSH
Director at the “AIHce Morning Show”
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Attendees
of the “2007 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo
(AIHce)” will have the opportunity to participate in the “AIHce
Morning Show.” During this unique general session, NIOSH Director John
Howard, M.D., and Edwin Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA,
will answer attendees’ question. Attendees are encouraged to submit
questions to aihcemorningshow@xxxxxxxx
by May 7.
While attending the “AIHce
Expo 2007,” be sure to check out the NIOSH pavilion featuring audiology
demonstrations (#1335) and the NIOSH exhibit booth (#1329) for the latest
safety information. For more information on AIHce, visit http://www.aiha.org/Content/CE/aihce.
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Latest Numbers
from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)
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 During March 2007, the Technology
Evaluation Branch (TEB) of NPPTL closed a total of 60 projects. Twenty-three
products were granted approvals while 32 received denials, and five
applications were withdrawn by the manufacturer. Of the approvals, eight were
new products, 12 were modifications of products that had been previously
approved, and two were certified product investigations. During the month of
March, TEB received 26 applications for extensions of approval and three
applications for new approvals. The Engineering Evaluation team conducted two
quality assurance manual audits to evaluate the quality assurance process and
manufacturing practices. There was one new approval or modification of
approval for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN)
respirators.
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NIOSH has developed a new NIOSH
Web page for the NIOSH Docket, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket.
The Docket is a repository of NIOSH policy products, including Federal
Register Notices, transcripts of public meetings and external peer review
comments.
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Launch of New
CDC Homepage
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On April 19, CDC unveiled a new
Web design and format designed to improve the usability and performance of
the CDC web page, http://www.cdc.gov. NIOSH
is part of CDC. Included in the redesign is an updated workplace safety and
health site, http://www.cdc.gov/Workplace,
featuring NIOSH safety and health information.
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Early Registration
for WorkLife 2007
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NIOSH
congratulates the following employees on their recent accomplishments:
 Kim Clough-Thomas had the
winning logo design for the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services’ Energy Program. Kim is a Visual Information Specialist
in the NIOSH Health Effects Laboratory Division.- The journal article,
"Causes and Prevention of Symptom Complaints in Office Buildings:
Distilling the Experience of Indoor Environmental Quality
Investigators," was selected as a Highly Commended Paper winner at
the 2007 Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence. The article was
co-authored by Ken Wallingford of the Division of Surveillance, Hazard
Evaluations, and Field Studies.
- John L. McKernan of the
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies was
selected as the recipient of the 2007 U.S. Public Health Service’s
Edward (Ted) Moran Award for the Environmental Health Category.
- Mark Methner of the Division of Surveillance, Hazard
Evaluations, and Field Studies was selected as the 2007 Public Health
Service Young Scientist of the Year for the Scientist Category.
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 National Safety Council Webinar
The National Safety Council (NSC) presents “Putting Research into
Practice: Innovations in Safety at Work,” a series of four Webinars or
Web-based seminar broadcasts covering current workplace safety and health
issues. Each webinar features NIOSH scientists and industry experts
connecting the latest research findings with applications and actions that
address risks found in many workplaces. The series begins May 8. http://www.nsc.org/email/79499niosh.
NIOSH and EPA MOU
To advance research concerning environmental microbiology in the area of
Homeland Security, NIOSH and the National Homeland Security Research Center of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) on February 20 to work collaboratively. To learn more
about this MOU contact Ken Martinez at KMartinez@xxxxxxx.
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 What’s Happening in NORA?
The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora, has
been updated to give a brief overview to newcomers and provide detailed
information to experts. Visit the site to learn about the sector approach,
submit comments, or volunteer. Want to know who is on the NORA Sector
Councils or what topics are under consideration by each Council? Click on the
“Councils” link. Information about NORA Symposium 2006, the Town
Hall meetings or accomplishments in the first decade is still readily accessible.
As always, send a note to NORACoordinator@xxxxxxx
to discuss any issue.
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Partners Release
Handbook for Criminal and Epidemiological Investigations
A new handbook will assist public health and law enforcement personnel in
understanding each other’s information requirements and investigation
procedures during an epidemiological or criminal terrorist investigation. The
“Criminal and Epidemiological Investigation Handbook” is a joint
effort by CDC, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of
Justice and the U.S. Army Soldier Biological Chemical Command. http://www2a.cdc.gov/phlp/docs/CrimEpiHandbook2006.pdf.
Youth Job Safety Campaign Focuses on Construction
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G.
Foulke, Jr., and key construction industry stakeholders launched the agency's
2007 Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign (http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=14107)
during an April 17 event at Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver
Spring, Md. Now in the second year of a five-year campaign, OSHA is striving
to reduce work-related injuries among teenagers by teaching them on-the-job
safety early in their careers. This year’s campaign focuses on construction.
More details and resources are available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/construction/index.html.
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NIOSH has released
the following new publications:
NIOSH Health Hazard
Evaluation Reports
The Service Sector
- Work stress.
NIOSH responded to a request from management and union representatives
to evaluate work in a 911 emergency response and dispatch center. NIOSH
recommended improving supervisory training, enhancing working
relationships among different groups of employees, and further
evaluation of job satisfaction. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1997-0137-3026.pdf.
- Polychlorinated biphenyls and metals exposure.
NIOSH responded to a request from employees at a facility that recycles
transformers. NIOSH recommended changes to engineering and work
processes and providing personal protective equipment. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2006-0006-3039.pdf.
The
Manufacturing Sector
- Chemical
exposures. NIOSH responded to a union
request to evaluate various exposures at a plant manufacturing steel
bars and coils. NIOSH recommended engineering improvements, hearing
conservation and other medical surveillance programs, and other changes
to better protect the health of employees. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2003-0175-3033.pdf.
- Sudden hearing loss.
NIOSH responded to an employee request to investigate the occurrence of
sudden hearing loss in one ear among three employees. NIOSH did not
identify any workplace exposure that could explain the sudden hearing
loss, which was more likely viral in origin. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2005-0188-3038.pdf.
The
Health Care and Social Assistance Sector
- Indoor
environmental quality. NIOSH responded to a union
request to evaluate concerns at a medical center and methadone clinic.
NIOSH recommended improving ventilation to correct identified deficiencies
and implementing a violence prevention program. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2003-0205-3032.pdf.
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“NSTI Nanotech
2007”
The conference will be held May 20-24 in Santa Clara, CA. http://www.nsti.org/Nanotech2007/.
“Occupational
and Environmental Exposures of Skin to Chemicals”
The conference will be held June 17-20 in Golden, CO and is cosponsored by
NIOSH and the Colorado School of Mines. http://www.mines.edu/outreach/cont_ed/oeesc.
"2007 Johnson
Conference: Workplace Aerosol Sampling to Meet ISO Size-Selective
Criteria"
The conference will be held July 16-20 in Burlington, VT and is sponsored by
ASTM International. Information can be found at http://www.astm.org
under Symposia and Workshops.
“3rd
International Symposium on Nanotechnology, Occupational and Environmental
Health”
The conference will take place in Taipei, Taiwan on August 29-September 1.
NIOSH is a cosponsor of the conference. http://nano-taiwan.sinica.edu.tw/EHS2007/index.htm.
“WorkLife
2007: Protecting and Promoting Worker Health Symposium”
The Symposium will be held by NIOSH and partner agencies and organizations
September 10-11, in Bethesda, MD. http://www.worklife2007.com/home.asp.
“International Roofing Expo 2008”
The International Roofing Expo, 2008 will be held February 21-23, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. http://www.theroofingexpo.com/Roofing07/public/Content.aspx?ID=6980&left=0&Nav=0.
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Dual Cab Fire-Inerting System: A technology
for preventing and suppressing fires inside the cabs of mining equipment to
protect employees who are operating the equipment. When a fire is detected in
the cab or in the engine of the equipment, an inert gas mixture is discharged
into the cab through nozzles. The mixture reduces the oxygen concentration in
the cab to a level low enough to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors
evolved during engine hydraulic fluid and fuel fires and/or to suppress
combustion, but high enough to remain breathable.
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NIOSH eNews on the Web:
www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/
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NIOSH eNews is Brought to
You By:
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Director
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John Howard, M.D.
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Editor in Chief
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Max Lum
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Story Editor
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Tara Hartley
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Public Affairs Officer
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Fred Blosser
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Technical Lead
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Glenn Doyle
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Technical Support
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Joseph Cauley
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Please send
your comments and suggestions to us at nioshenews@xxxxxxx.
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