Volume 7 Number 7 November 2009

NIOSH eNews Web page To subscribe, click here

From the Director's Desk

Occupational Safety and Health and International

Happenings

NIOSH Seeks Information Associated With H1N1

and Healthcare Workers

Material Handling Guide Wins CICMHE Award

Occupational Safety and Health Has Never

Looked So Good

National Day of Remembrance Honors Nuclear

Workers

NIOSH, Partners Sign Roadway Work Zone

Safety Agreement

Seeking New Editor For Journal of

Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

Living with Nanotechology Workshop

Morbidity and Mortality @

Work

Average rate of fatal occupational

injuries by Industry, 2003-2007.

NORA

New NIOSH WorkLife Manager Named

ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Standards Committee

Meeting

NIOSH Extends Comment Period for Respirator

Standards Development

NIOSH Announces Fall Prevention Conference

Spring 2010

Global Happenings

NIOSH Researchers Address Mold Problem at

Nassau Hospital

NIOSH, Partners Address Latin American,

Caribbean Healthcare Worker Needs

NIOSH Seeks Your Feedback

One New Health Hazard Evaluation Report Now

Available

New Fire Fatality Investigation

Report Related to Cardiac Death

NORA Award Winners

Announced Fire Away! Two new NIOSH

Resources on Firing Ranges are

Now Available in Spanish National Wholesale and Retail

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News from Our Partners Trade Agenda

Call for Abstracts

Kentucky's Worker Safety

Program

r2p Corner

NIOSH Pocket Guide Now

Available for the iPhone

NIOSH Science Blog

Body Art Topic of New NIOSH

BLOG

Communication Products

NIOSH Transition Report 2009

Upcoming Conferences

& Workshops

Word of the Month

Worklife

Structural Testing Data for Coal

Mine Seals

From the Director's Desk

--John Howard, M.D. Director, NIOSH

November eNews 2009

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).

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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

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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/.

NIOSH Seeks Information Associated With H1N1 and Healthcare Workers

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.

Material Handling Guide Wins CICMHE Award

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Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling, a joint product from NIOSH, the California Division of

Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), CNA Insurance, and the Ergonomic Assist Systems and

Equipment Council of the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), was announced October 12 as firstplace winner of the College Industry Council on Material Handling Education's (CICMHE) 2009 Outstanding

Material Handling Logistics Content Award Competition. The award recognizes informational products that

make a strong contribution to the material handling and logistics industry. More information on the award can

be found at http://www.mhia.org/news/mhia/9159/college-industry-council-announces-the-winners-of-the-2009-

outstanding-material-handling-logistics-content-award. The collaborative guidelines can be found at

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-131/.

Occupational Safety and Health Has Never Looked So Good

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/.

National Day of Remembrance Honors Nuclear Workers

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.

NIOSH, Partners Sign Roadway Work Zone Safety Agreement

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 Spanishspeaking 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

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.

Living with Nanotechology Workshop

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 crosssector research program. http://nano.gov/html/meetings/humanhealth/index.html.

New NIOSH WorkLife Manager Named

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

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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. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/TWH/

ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Standards Committee Meeting

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@cdc.gov) or go to

http://www.asse.org/publications/standards/z359/info.php.

NIOSH Extends Comment Period for Respirator Standards

Development

NIOSH is extending the stakeholder comment period through November 19 for the following topics. This

follows the September 17 public meeting on current respirator standards development projects

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/resources/pressrel/letters/lttr-091709.html). For more information, contact

Jonathan V. Szalajda (JSzalajda@cdc.gov).

Supplied-air respirators http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/083-B/

Air-fed ensembles http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/148A/

Total inward leakage (for respirators other than filtering facepieces and half masks)

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/168/

NIOSH Announces Fall Prevention Conference Spring 2010

On May 19-20, 2010, NIOSH will host the International Conference on Fall Prevention and Protection in

Morgantown, West Virginia. Email mDSR-PAA@cdc.gov or go to

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/ICFPP/2010/ for more information.

Global Happenings

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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@cdc.gov). 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@cdc.gov).

NIOSH Seeks Your Feedback

To view a comprehensive list of NIOSH docket items currently open for comment, go to

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/.

One New Health Hazard Evaluation Report Now Available

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

Morbidity and Mortality @ Work

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Average rate of fatal occupational injuries by Industry, 2003-2007. See chart for more details:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/enewsv7n7chart.html

News from Our Partners

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.

r2p Corner

NIOSH Pocket Guide Now Available for the iPhone

The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG) is now available as a mobile application for the

iPhone and iPod touch. The information found in the NPG helps users recognize and control chemical

hazards. All 667 chemicals in the NPG, including resources, are now immediately accessible for safety

professionals in the application, NIOSH Pocket Guide 1.0, at http://www.dangerousdecisions.com/apps.html.

For more information go to http://press-releases.techwhack.com/42232-dangerous-decisions or contact Mike

Barsan (MBarsan@cdc.gov).

NORA

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.

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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@cdc.gov) with any questions

or suggestions or to join others to work on these goals.

NIOSH Science Blog

Body Art Topic of New NIOSH BLOG

Read and join the discussion on body art and safety and health for tattooists and piercers.

https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2009/10/27/tattoo/

The October 14, NIOSH Science Blog N-95 Respirators and Surgical Masks is also still open for comment

at https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2009/10/14/n95/

Communication Products

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

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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/

Call for Abstracts

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

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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

Upcoming Conferences & Workshops

A comprehensive list of upcoming conferences can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/exhibits.html.

Word of the Month

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.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/TWH/

NIOSH eNews on the Web: www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/

NIOSH eNews is Brought to You By:

Director John Howard, M.D.

Editor in Chief Max Lum

Story Editor Tanya Headley

Copy Editor Cathy Rotunda

Public Affairs Officer Fred Blosser

Technical Lead Glenn Doyle

Technical Support Kevin Whaley

Please send your comments and suggestions to us at

nioshenews@cdc.gov.

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