NIOSH eNews

In This Issue

Monthly Features

Volume 13 Number 8 December 2015
From the Director’s Desk John Howard, M.D., Director, NIOSH Using Video to Highlight NIOSH Research In today's world of online visual communication, video is a critical medium for informing and engaging the public on all matters, including science. As the public relies more and more on smart phones and computers for authoritative information, it becomes increasingly important for scientists and scientific organizations to help the public navigate science's complex terrain with content presented in direct and digestible ways. Video has become a key means for providing such content. Read More... NIOSH Announces Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies NIOSH announces the launch of its new Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies. The ocean environment presents many challenges to those who protect seafaring workers' safety and health. The Center will promote safety and health for this high-risk worker population by coordinating research and intervention studies across NIOSH. CAPT Jennifer Lincoln of NIOSH will lead the new Center. NIOSH Releases Inaugural Podcast on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Learn more about how to protect yourself from noise-induced hearing loss in this new podcast featuring information from the NIOSH Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention team. Concussion Movie Coincides with NIOSH Research The issue of risk from concussion in professional football will be highlighted in the new movie "Concussion," scheduled for release on December 25. The issue also gained attention recently when the family of Frank Gifford announced pathology findings which they said confirmed that the NFL great suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy before his death in August 2015. The body of scientific evidence on neurodegenerative disease among professional football players includes peer-reviewed NIOSH researchpublished in 2012. For other information on the NIOSH research, see the NIOSH Science Blog. Update on NIOSH Construction Twitter Feed This just in: The NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health has reached more than 15,000 followers on Twitter,the largest following of any NIOSH-related Twitter account, growing with an average 200 followers a month. Follow@NIOSHConstruct to receive real-time information on construction safety and health research, partnerships, and practice that addresses the safety and health challenges construction workers face. We just keep growing. Free NIOSH/NIH Total Worker Health Workshop/Webinar The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NIOSH invite you to a workshop called "Pathways to Prevention: Total Worker Health®—What's Work Got to Do With It?" The workshop will be held December 9–10, at NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. It is free and available by webcast. Register today by visiting theworkshop website to attend in person or by webcast. Cooperative Agreements Fund NIOSH FACE Program NIOSH recently announced funding for cooperative agreements with 26 organizations for occupational injury and illness surveillance. As part of these agreements, the following seven states will participate in the NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program: California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Washington. The NIOSH FACE and state FACE programs investigate factors associated with worksite fatalities and develop recommendations to prevent similar deaths. NIOSH and Partners Provide Technical Guidance for Pulmonary Function Testing Laboratories NIOSH recently partnered with The Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS) in France and the University of Palermo, Italy, to translate the NIOSH document "Get Valid Spirometry Results EVERY Time" for French- and Italian-speaking pulmonary function testing laboratories around the world. The technical information can be used to improve spirometry test quality in occupational health, clinical diagnostic, and clinical research settings. NIOSH Launches Motor Vehicle Safety eNewsletter, Behind the Wheel at Work Preventing work-related motor vehicle crashes is the drive behind the NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety's research and communication efforts. To receive research updates, links to motor vehicle safety resources, practical tips on workplace driving, and news about upcoming events, subscribe to Behind the Wheel at Work, the NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety quarterly eNewsletter. Sign up here to receive the first issue soon. Save the Date: Understanding Small Enterprises Conference October 2017 NIOSH and the Colorado School of Public Health's Center for Health, Work & Environmentwill host the Understanding Small Enterprises(USE) Conference in Denver, October 25–27, 2017. This will be the first-ever international small business occupational safety and health conference held in the United States. The 2017 USE theme is "Worker Well-being and Sustainable Business Health: From Ideas to Achievable Reality." The conference seeks to provide solutions and methods to small businesses for improvements in worker well-being and productivity, while reducing injuries and illnesses. For more information, contact the NIOSH Small Business Outreach and Assistance Program Coordinator, Tom Cunningham. NIOSH Noted in Safety Bill In a November 18 announcement of state Senate and House passage of a Pennsylvania state safety bill to prevent aggressive and distracted driving in work zones, the bill's sponsors, State Senators Jay Costa and Camera Bartolotta noted NIOSH's statistics on the high toll of work zone deaths and injuries. NIOSH Looks at Precautionary Practices of Respiratory Care Practitioners Who Administer Aerosolized Medications A recent article from NIOSH found that safe handling of aerosolized medications is not always universally practiced in healthcare settings, placing workers, co-workers and even family members at risk. The article was published in the October issue of Respiratory Care and is available online. Improving Worker Safety and Health Among American Indians/Alaska Natives: A Partnership Workshop Workshop presentations are now available for a partnership workshop held August 17-18 which convened representatives from tribes, tribal organizations, academia and state and federal government to advance worker safety and health among American Indians and Alaska Natives. NIOSH, working with the Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC) hosted the workshop to 1) discuss worker safety, health and wellness issues and solutions; 2) learn about tribal resources, data sources and surveillance systems,; and 3) identify opportunities to work together. View workshop presentations here. For more information, contact Elizabeth Dalsey at 303-236-5955, or Edalsey@cdc.gov. Read More...