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Volume
7 Number 7 November 2009
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From the Director's Desk
--John Howard, M.D. Director, NIOSH
November eNews 2009
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Occupational Safety and Health and International Happenings
NIOSH has
a long and accomplished history as a leader in international partnerships to
prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. We take these
responsibilities very seriously. We are proud to contribute our share to U.S.
leadership in the global economy, and to use the knowledge that we gain, in
turn, to support our domestic mission.
As part of
our international outreach NIOSH works closely with the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). I would
like to recognize two recent developments that illustrate the value and
endurance of those partnerships.
I am
privileged to serve as the Chair of the World Health Organization (WHO)
Network of Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health and am happy to
report that the Network?s 8th meeting held October 18-23, drew 230
participants from Collaborating Centres around the world to WHO Headquarters
in Geneva, Switzerland. The Collaborating Centres, of which NIOSH is one, met
in plenary and working groups to focus on ways forward in implementing the
Global Plan of Action for Workers' Health (GPA).
The World
Health Assembly, the forum governing the WHO, endorsed the Global Plan of
Action for Workers? Health (2008-2017) in 2007. The plan is a follow up of
the ?WHO Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All?, which was endorsed
by the World Health Assembly in 1996.
The main
objectives of the GPA are to:
- Devise
and implement policy instruments on workers? health.
- Protect
and promote health at the workplace.
- Improve
the performance of and access to occupational health services.
- Provide
and communicate evidence for action and practice.
- Incorporate workers? health into non-health
policies and projects.
WHO has
developed a global workplan in collaboration with the WHO Network of
Collaborating Centres, based on the objectives of the GPA for 2009-2012. The
workplan organizes the activities of the Collaborating Centres into 14
priority areas.
Outcomes
of the meeting include: a sharper focus on priorities to be achieved by 2012,
gaps in current workplan projects, and communication strategies such as the
Wikipedia site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO_collaborating_centres_in_occupational_health,
and a Twitter group called ?WHOWorkerHealth?.
Another
significant event in 2009 is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the
ILO International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre
(ILO-CIS). CIS is the knowledge management arm of the ILO's Program on Safety
and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork). CIS continuously monitors
world literature on occupational safety and health with 140 CIS Centres at
the national or regional level. The Network of CIS Centres contributes to the
exchange of information among persons responsible for the establishment and
implementation of national policies and programs. I am privileged to serve as
the Chair of the Steering Committee for the 5th Edition of the Encyclopedia
of Safety and Health, one of the widely used products of the ILO Centre.
The ILO
also collaborated with the WHO in several sessions at the October meeting in
Switzerland. Workshops on capacity building, health workplaces, and
occupational health of healthcare workers rounded out the successful meeting.
I invite you to learn more about NIOSH?s international
partnerships, and to consider ways in which you might join us. For more
information on the WHO Network of Collaborating Centres in Occupational
Health go to http://www.who.int/occupational_health/network/en/
or for more information on the ILO-CIS go to http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/index.htm.
To subscribe to the Collaborating Centre Connection, the e-newsletter for the
WHO group, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ccc/.
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NIOSH Seeks Information Associated With H1N1 and
Healthcare Workers
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On October 16, NIOSH issued a statement on
the risks of serious illness among healthcare workers associated with H1N1 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/H1N1flu/healthcare-risk.html.
NIOSH continues to work with its partners to gather more information about
deaths and serious illness among healthcare personnel associated with 2009
H1N1 influenza.
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Material Handling Guide Wins CICMHE Award
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Occupational Safety and Health Has Never Looked So Good
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NIOSH recently unveiled a new look for its home page.
It has the same comprehensive menu of occupational safety and health
information but is reorganized to be more user friendly. Check it out at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/.
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National Day of Remembrance Honors Nuclear Workers
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October 30 was recognized nationwide at
many sites, and by many agencies and organizations, including NIOSH, as the
designation of a National Day of Remembrance honoring nuclear workers,
uranium miners, and those who served in creating our country?s nuclear
deterrent. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-10-29-09-b.html.
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NIOSH, Partners Sign Roadway Work Zone Safety Agreement
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NIOSH and
partners have renewed an alliance to improve the safety of workers and
motorists in roadway construction zones. The alliance will develop hazard
awareness training and education programs for Spanish-speaking and other
vulnerable highway construction workers about safe practices in roadway work
zones. The Alliance focus will be on flagger safety, safer deployment of
traffic control devices, positive protection, night work, work zone speeding,
and runovers/backovers. More information is available at http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/roadway/roadway.html.
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Seeking New Editor For Journal of Occupational and
Environmental
Hygiene
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AIHA® and ACGIH® are searching for an
editor-in-chief for the Journal
of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, a joint publication
operated by the two associations. For details and an application form, please
go to http://www.aiha.org/JOEHeditor.
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Living with Nanotechology Workshop
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NIOSH invites stakeholders to participate in a national
workshop sponsored by the National Nanotechnology Initiative?Nanomaterials
and Human Health & Instrumentation, Metrology, and Analytical Methods?on
November 17?18 in Arlington, VA. Invited experts include Dr. Paul Schulte,
manager of the NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center and Dr. Charles Geraci,
coordinator for NIOSH's nanotechnology cross-sector research program. http://nano.gov/html/meetings/humanhealth/index.html.
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New NIOSH WorkLife Manager Named
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Effective October 26, L. Casey Chosewood, M.D., joins
NIOSH as manager of the Institute?s WorkLife Initiative
Program. Dr. Chosewood previously served as the director of the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention?s (CDC) Office of Safety and Health and,
also, as senior medical officer in the Office of Strategy and Innovation in
the Office of the CDC Director. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/worklife/
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ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Standards Committee Meeting
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Dr. Hongwei Hsiao will represent NIOSH on the ANSI Z359
Fall Protection and Related Systems Standards Committee meetings to be held
November 10?12 in Chicago, IL. The committee is charged with developing
recommended standards for the design and test of fall protection equipment
and systems for fall hazard operations that are related to recent NIOSH
research. Participation on this committee provides NIOSH with the opportunity
to further partnerships with the fall protection professional community. The
meetings are open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Hsiao (hhsiao@xxxxxxx) or go to http://www.asse.org/publications/standards/z359/info.php.
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NIOSH Extends Comment Period for Respirator Standards
Development
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NIOSH Announces Fall Prevention Conference Spring 2010
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NIOSH Researchers Address Mold Problem at Nassau Hospital
At the
request of the Pan American Health Organization and the Bahamian Ministry of
Health, NIOSH researchers conducted a field evaluation to help resolve mold
contamination at the 1,900-employee Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau.
They found that the primary cause of the mold was moisture from both internal
and external sources. A comprehensive report identifying all findings and
recommendations will be issued. For more information on this study, contact
Todd Niemeier (TNiemeier@xxxxxxx). For
information on mold in the workplace, go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/mold.html.
NIOSH, Partners Address Latin American, Caribbean Healthcare
Worker Needs
In September, NIOSH and partners participated in the
First Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on Health
Protection for Healthcare Workers in Venezuela. Nearly 150 participants from
12 countries and 15 Venezuelan states attended this regional meeting to share
their experiences and plan for implementing prevention of occupational
transmission of bloodborne pathogens among healthcare workers in South
America and the Caribbean. For more information, contact Ahmed Gomaa (AGomaa@xxxxxxx).
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NIOSH Seeks Your Feedback
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One New Health Hazard Evaluation Report Now Available
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 The HHE Program
evaluated hospital employees? exposure to an enzymatic cleaner and a
sterilant used to clean and sterilize endoscopes. Investigators found that
air samples did not contain detectable concentrations of acetic acid;
concentrations of peracetic acid were thought to be low but could not be
measured. Investigators recommended increased ventilation in the
sterilization room and use of appropriate PPE to prevent eye, face, hand,
arm, and body contact with concentrated peracetic acid and contaminated
equipment.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2006-0298-3090.pdf
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Morbidity and Mortality @ Work
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Kentucky?s Worker Safety Program
The University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Department for
Public Health?s Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance (KOSHS) Program,
and partners have developed a presentation on worker safety programs geared
toward small businesses. The presentation contains information on workers?
compensation, the basic elements of a worker safety plan, and how workers?
compensation premiums are impacted by the variation in the quality or absence
of a worker safety plan. New businesses or those small business owners
without worker safety programs can download this presentation at http://www.kiprc.uky.edu/projects/KOSHS/Presentation/index.html.
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NORA Award Winners Announced
NIOSH
recently announced the winners of the intramural National Occupational
Research Agenda (NORA) competition for FY2010. Thirteen projects were awarded
based on their high level of technical and scientific merit. These proposals
focused on moving research into practice, focusing on priority needs in the
NORA sectors.
National Wholesale and Retail Trade Agenda
The National Wholesale and Retail Trade Agenda is now
available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/.
The agenda highlights research and partnership needs in six strategic areas
to improve the safety and health of more than 21 million workers. Contact the
NORA coordinator (noracoordinator@xxxxxxx)
with any questions or suggestions or to join others to work on these goals.
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NIOSH Transition Report 2009
This
document illustrates the ways in which NIOSH continues to drive progress in
occupational safety and health and has successfully impacted workplaces and
the working population. It includes updates on NIOSH efforts in such areas as
the National Occupational Research Agenda, research-to-practice, emergency
response, partnership, nanotechnology, global collaborations, and other
cross-cutting programs. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-144/
Structural Testing Data for Coal Mine Seals
This
document summarizes data collected for the past 10 years from NIOSH mine
explosion studies on certain seals and concrete-block ventilation stoppings.
The document is intended to facilitate the analysis and design of coal mine
seals to meet the new standards set by the U.S. Department of Labor?s Mine
Safety and Health Administration. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid3268.htm
New Fire Fatality Investigation Report Related to Cardiac
Death
This new
report provides a report summary and recommendations after the death of a
fire fighter trainee who suffered sudden cardiac death during maze training
in Virginia. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200902.html
Fire Away! Two new NIOSH Resources on Firing Ranges are Now
Available in Spanish
NIOSH
Topic Page: Campos de Tiro (Firing Ranges) http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/topics/tiro.html
NIOSH
Alert: Prevención de la exposición ocupacional al plomo y al ruido en campos
de tiro cubiertos (Preventing Occupational Exposures to Lead and Noise at
Indoor Firing Ranges) http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2009-136_sp/
More…
To see other new NIOSH communication products,
including documents and new and updated topic pages, go to the NIOSH ?What?s
New? page. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/whatsnew.html
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11th Biennial Kentucky Conference on Health Communication
Call for papers, posters, and panel proposals related to issues in health
communication. Deadline for submission is December 13.
http://comm.uky.edu/kchc/
International Conference on Fall Prevention and Protection
Call for abstracts for presentations related to falls from elevation; slips,
trips, and falls; the practical application of prevention and intervention
tools and methods; and global strategic goals on fall prevention. Deadline
for submission is December 21.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/ICFPP/2010/
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM),
International Symposium on Surface and Dermal Sampling
Call for papers for the ASTM International Symposium on Surface and Dermal
Sampling. Deadline for submission is January 14, 2010.
http://www.astm.org/d22symp1010.htm
NIOSH and International Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Health
Call for papers on nanotechnology exposure assessment. Deadline for
submission is January 15, 2010. http://www.ijoeh.com/index.php/ijoeh/information/callforpapers
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Upcoming Conferences & Workshops
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WorkLife - The NIOSH
WorkLife Initiative began in 2005 and its goal is to sustain and improve
worker health through better work-based programs, policies, and practices.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/worklife/
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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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Tanya
Headley
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Copy
Editor
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Cathy
Rotunda
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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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Kevin
Whaley
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Please send your comments and suggestions
to us at nioshenews@xxxxxxx.
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