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Volume 5 Number 3
July 2007
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NIOSH
has a long history of working with partners to achieve our mission of
protecting workers from illness and injury. The Research to Practice (r2p)
initiative has confirmed NIOSH’s commitment to partnership involvement
throughout the research process promoting the adoption of technologies,
interventions, and knowledge in the workplace.
Since
being introduced in 2004, r2p has demonstrated its effectiveness through new
formal partnership agreements, collaboration with standard setting
organizations, dissemination, and commercialization of NIOSH products. The
establishment of formal partnerships allows NIOSH and partnering
organizations to build on each others strengths, resulting in optimal
utilization and deployment of resources to help protect workers safety. A
recent partnership agreement between NIOSH and The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board (CSB) reflects a commitment to cooperate in the
protection of the American public from exposure to hazardous chemicals. Also,
our partnership with the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has
given us the opportunity to disseminate information to health and safety
professionals. Furthermore, AIHA provides input and feedback on relevance and
reaching workers.
In
addition to combined resources, NIOSH researchers provide technical expertise
to consensus standards setting bodies. This aspect of r2p adds a proactive
dimension to the long tradition of partnership by NIOSH researchers in
helping to craft scientifically sound benchmarks for workplace safety and
health. NIOSH, in collaboration with ISEA (International Safety Equipment
Association) and manufacturers, AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene
Association) and industrial hygienists, and ASTM (American Society for
Testing and Materials), developed the Permeation Calculator which is a
computer tool for automating the permeation testing data analysis. It is
intended to help industrial hygienists avoid labor intensive hand
calculations while preventing experimenter bias, thus ensuring identical
results to be obtained from a given data file. The Permeation Calculator is
completing the ASTM process to become a standard practice entitled
"Standard Practice for Permeation Testing Data Analysis by Use of a
Computer Program."
Another example of our efforts with consensus standards setting bodies
includes NIOSH’s combined effort with partners to validate a
standardized portable fluorescence method for determining trace beryllium in
workplace air and wipe samples. Accreditation is available for this
field-portable technique through the American Industrial Hygiene Association
(AIHA) Laboratory Accreditation Program.
Equally
as important as the research we do, is making sure that our research findings
are disseminated to those who can use them in a manner that is most useful to
them and adopted in the workplace. A partnership with the National Safety
Council (NSC) has led to a series of web-based seminars called, webinars,
highlighting NIOSH research on the occupational health and safety
implications of nanotechnology, Prevention Through Design, and prevention of
occupational injuries and illnesses among young workers, starting this July
and running through August. These provide an opportunity for NIOSH in
conjunction with the NSC to disseminate information to occupational safety
and health professionals throughout the U.S. To learn more about the
different webinars, visit www.nsc.org .
Not
only is it important to disseminate our research findings, it also important
to transfer the technologies into the market place and ultimately into the
workplace by fostering partnerships with commercial entities. NIOSH
researchers developed a new method to quickly access the location and levels
of methamphetamine contamination on surfaces to protect police officers,
public health, safety and security professionals from this significant health
risk. In partnership with SKC, Inc., two commercial available products
resulted: MethAlertTM and MethCheckTM. (Mention of any
company name or product does not constitute a commercial endorsement by
NIOSH.)
The
value of r2p is being seen beyond NIOSH. It is encouraging to see that
research to practice is now a theme in many conferences. The Western
Agriculture Safety Conference last fall and the National Institute for Farm
Safety Conference last month placed emphasis on moving research into
practice. Upcoming conferences with a similar theme include:
- WorkLife Symposium: Bethesda, MD, September 10-11, 2007
- Building the Science of
Dissemination and Implementation in the Service of Public Health: Bethesda, MD, September 10-11, 2007
- Work, Stress, and Health
2008: Health and Safe Work Through Research, Practice, and Partnerships:
Washington, DC, March 6-8, 2008
Over the last three and half
years, NIOSH has been dedicated to ensuring that all research places a high
value on relevance and results in impact. The success of r2p can be seen by
the substantial increase in formal partnership agreements and the numerous
innovations that have been moved into the workplace. As r2p moves forward, we
continue to expand NIOSH’s partnership base and the utility of
NIOSH-funded research in the workplace. Please see the article in “r2p
Corner” elsewhere in this issue for links to further information on the
initiatives mentioned above, and please visit our r2p topic page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/r2p/ for
ongoing developments.
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Public
Comments on Draft Asbestos Research Roadmap are Posted
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On July 3, NIOSH posted public
comments on the draft document, "Asbestos and Other Mineral Fibers: A
Roadmap for Scientific Research," along with presentations from a May 4,
2007, public meeting on the draft document. The public comments and
presentations will be considered by NIOSH in developing a final version of
the document. The public comments and presentations are online at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/NIOSHdocket0099.html.
The draft document is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/099/
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NIOSH
Scientists Recognized for Collaborative Efforts
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On
June 14, Tim Merinar and Nancy Stout of the NIOSH Division of Safety Research
received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Leveraging/Collaboration
Award for their participation in an interagency team. The team was recognized
“for dedicated and exceptional performance in determining and
implementing actions that address the postmarket adverse events associated
with oxygen regulator fires.”
NIOSH and FDA teamed in
identifying a risk of spontaneous ignition and fire associated with improper
use of plastic gaskets on oxygen resuscitator regulators stored on emergency
vehicles and in healthcare facilities. The agencies issued a joint bulletin
in June 2006, alerting healthcare and fire and emergency medical service
personnel to the danger of fires due to the incorrect use of these types of
gaskets. Since the bulletin was released, the FDA has received feedback from
health care, fire safety professionals, and patient caregivers about its
positive impact. The notice can be viewed at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/042406-o2fires.html.
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Understanding
and Reducing Health Disparities
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The NIOSH Office of Extramural
Programs announces a new funding opportunity to encourage behavioral and
social science research on the causes of, and solutions to, health and
disabilities disparities in the U.S. population. PAR-07-379 was
released on June 7 and applications are due by September 19, 2007. The
announcement focuses on health disparities between three groups
(racial/ethnic populations, lower socioeconomic classes, and rural residents)
and the overall U.S.
population. Emphasis is placed on research in three broad areas: public
policy, health care, and disease/disability prevention. Particular attention
is given to reducing “health gaps” among groups. Proposals that
utilize an interdisciplinary approach, investigate multiple levels of
analysis, incorporate a life-course perspective, and/or employ innovative
methods such as system science or community-based participatory research are
particularly encouraged. The announcement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-379.html.
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Update:
International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Luekemia
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NIOSH and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry recently cosponsored an international
workshop on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and
monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL). Physicians, laboratory scientists, and
epidemiologists gathered to revisit CCL in light of the most recent
discoveries about its pathogenesis. Two major considerations prompted the
workshop: renewed questions about environmental risk factors and increased
attention to a precedent condition most often referred to as monoclonal
B-cell lymphocytosis. The workshop was convened to reassess laboratory and
epidemiologic strategies for determining the role of environmental exposures
in B-cell lymphoprolipherative diseases. A special issue of British Journal of Haematology
(http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0007-1048)
will be devoted to the proceedings of this conference.
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NIOSH Says
Goodbye to Two Outstanding Scientists
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On
June 24, Dr. James Stephens was named Associate Director for Science for the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Stephens previously
served as the NIOSH Associate Director for Science. Dr. Stephens came to
NIOSH in 1992 as a research chemist and later served as a senior scientist in
the NIOSH Office of the Director.
After 30 years of service at
NIOSH, Dr. Mary Lynn Woebkenberg will retire effective August 3. Dr.
Woebkenberg has been with NIOSH since 1976, serving in numerous capacities, including
conducting research on personal sampling methodologies for nitrogen dioxide,
leading the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Exposure Assessment
Methods Team, and serving as a senior scientist in the NIOSH Office of the
Director. Since 2004 she has served as the Director of the NIOSH Division of
Applied Research and Technology.
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NIOSH Welcomes
Dr. Christine Branche
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Dr. Christine Branche has accepted
the position of NIOSH Principal Associate Director effective July 23. In this
capacity, Dr. Branche will ensure coordination within the NIOSH Office of the
Director (OD) and between the OD and NIOSH divisions, laboratories, and
regional offices.
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 Several notable partnerships and initiatives under NIOSH’s
Research to Practice (r2p) program are discussed elsewhere in this issue, in
“From the Director’s Desk.” More information on these
accomplishments is available from the following sources:
- The recent partnership agreement between NIOSH
and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB): Matt
Gillen, NIOSH, at Mgillen@xxxxxxx.
- Partnership with the American Industrial
Hygiene Association (AIHA): DeLon Hull, NIOSH, at Dhull@xxxxxxx.
- Partnership in developing the new Permeation
Calculator: Pengfei Gao, NIOSH, at PGao@xxxxxxx.
- NIOSH’s combined effort with partners to
validate a standardized portable fluorescence method for determining
trace beryllium in workplace air and wipe samples: Kevin Ashley, NIOSH,
at KAshley@xxxxxxx.
- The new method to quickly access the location
and levels of methamphetamine contamination on surfaces to protect police
officers and public health, safety, and security professionals from this
significant health risk: Eric Esswein, NIOSH, at Eesswein@xxxxxxx.
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 NORA Sector Council
Workgroups
Want to get involved in setting the National Occupational Research Agenda
(NORA)? Volunteer to become a Corresponding Member on one of the workgroups
of a NORA Sector Council. The NORA Sector Councils have been defining
priority topics in preparation for drafting strategic plans for their sector.
The small council workgroups have been charged with defining the scope of the
problems and identifying research gaps and opportunities. To join, simply
look at the lists of topics being considered by each Council under
“Activities” on the NORA Sector Council Web pages (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/councils),
contact the Coordinator listed, and volunteer to become a Corresponding
Member and serve on a workgroup to which you could contribute. Send a note to
NORACoordinator@xxxxxxx to
discuss any NORA-related issue.
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CDC’s Injury
Center summarizes the cost of violence in the U.S.
A new fact sheet from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s National
Center for Injury
Prevention and Control estimates that costs associated with nonfatal injuries
and deaths due to violence totaled more than $70 billion in 2000. Estimates
for lost productivity and medical costs, and ways to reduce the economic
burden of these injuries, are also included in the fact sheet, http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/CostOfViolence.htm
Learn more about NIOSH’s research to reduce violence in the workplace
at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/violence.
$10.1 Million Available from OSHA for New Safety and Health
Training Grants
Proposals are currently being accepted for safety and
health training and educational programs under the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration’s (OSHA) Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.
Fourteen training topics were selected for the announcement and include
driver safety, roofing hazards, and preparing small businesses for influenza
pandemic. Details on the grant application, including a link to the Federal
Register announcement, can be found on the OSHA Web page, http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/sharwood.html.
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Call for Papers
- “12th US/North American Mine
Ventilation Symposium,” June 11-18, 2008, in Reno, NV.
Deadline is August 1. http://www.unr.edu/ventsymp2008
- “International Association of Fire
Chiefs Fire Rescue International 2008,” August 14-16, 2008, in Denver, CO.
Deadline is September 1. http://www.iafc.org
- American Society of Safety
Engineer’s “SAFETY 2008” Professional Development
Conference and Exposition, June 9-12, 2008, Las Vegas, NV.
Deadline is July 31. http://www.asse.org/speakerpage08
"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.
“International
Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Rescue International 2007”
The conference will take place August 23-25 in Atlanta, GA.
http://www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=356
“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.
“American
Association of Occupational Health Nurses”
The conference will be held April 25-May 2, 2008, in Salt Lake City, UT.
http://www.aaohn.org/education/symposium-expo/index.cfm
“Fire Department Instructors Conference 2008”
The conference will be held April 7-12, 2008, in Indianapolis, IN.
http://fdic08.events.pennnet.com/fl//index.cfm
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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): A form
of leukemia in which abnormal cells multiply and replace normal lymphocytes
in the body’s marrow and the lymph nodes. The profusion of abnormal
cells compromises the body’s immune system.
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