In This Issue |
Volume 14 Number 1 May 2016 | ||
From the Director’s DeskJohn Howard, M.D., Director, NIOSH Climate ChangeOn April 4, 2016, the U.S. Global Change Research Program released a new assessment of the growing public health threat of climate change. The report, “The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment,” identified the many ways in which climate change is already threatening the health of all Americans and the significant public health challenges it is expected to create. The health threats covered by the report were identified as increases in human risk related to temperature-related death and illness; air quality impacts; extreme events such as droughts, floods, and wildfires; vector-borne disease; water-related illnesses; food safety, nutrition, and distribution; and mental health and well-being. One key feature of the report was the identification of individuals and groups, including workers, most likely to experience the effects of climate change on their health and well-being.NIOSH contributed to the development of the report as part of a coordinated effort by more than 100 experts from eight federal agencies with different but complementary roles under this mandate. The impacts that climate change will have on workers were highlighted throughout the report and in a special section describing vulnerable occupational groups. Workers Memorial Day: Statement by John Howard, M.D., Director, NIOSHOn April 28, NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard released his annual Workers Memorial Day Statement. He noted in the statement that “this Workers Memorial Day, while we pay homage to those who have been hurt or killed on the job, we must also focus on the future of the workplace and continue to produce knowledge and solutions that are vital to reducing risks of injury and illness among the America’s workforce until the number of deaths is zero.” Annual Award Ceremony Recognizes Occupational Safety and Health ContributionsOn April 28, NIOSH recognized several NIOSH researchers and partners for their significant contributions to the field of occupational safety and health over the past year. The annual awards are an opportunity for NIOSH to honor researchers for excellence in science that informs and supports the prevention of work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. NIOSH Construction Releases Videos & Infographics; Learn More On TwitterJoin the now 16,000 other followers on Twitter @NIOSHConstruct and receive updates on new resources from the NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health. @NIOSHConstruct is the second most popular account in terms of followers, behind the main NIOSH account, @NIOSH. The office is currently featuring three new videos about safety practices at a roofing and solar company. Hear from safety directors as they give insight into their fall protection programs and how their companies help prevent fatal falls: Dave will tell you how fall protection is achievable, and Gustavo will share how fall protection allows his men to go home safely at the end of the day. (See Gustavo tell his story in Spanish.) See some of the risks construction workers face and what steps you can take to prevent falls with these new CPWR and NIOSH co-branded infographics. Latest Edition of NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) Now AvailableNIOSH has released the 5th edition of the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM). This latest edition of NMAM is the first electronic-only edition. The new electronic only format will still allow users to print copies of the methods as PDFs, but also allows for updates as new methods and guidance chapters are added.Learn more. Just Released: National Total Worker Health AgendaThe NIOSH Office for Total Worker Health recently launched the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) to advance Total Worker Health®research, practice, policy, and capacity-building for the next 10 years. The agenda for 2016–2026 was developed after responding to stakeholder input, expanding the definition of Total Worker Health, and fine tuning what it means for a workplace to put priority upon a hazard-free work environment that protects the safety and health of all workers. The Agenda includes four strategic goals, grouped into the following domains: Research, Practice, Policy, and Capacity Building. Learn About NIOSH Virtual Centers and Advisory CommitteesNIOSH recently two new topic pages. The first provides information on the NIOSH Virtual Centers and the second provides information on NIOSH Advisory Committees. White House Blog Recognizes NIOSH Contributions to Safe Nanotechnology DevelopmentNIOSH guidance and resources for supporting safe, sustainable nanotechnology were highlighted April 11 on the official White House blog. In particular, the blog by two lead officials of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative recognized NIOSH’s recent guide for small to medium-sized businesses as “provid[ing] business owners with the tools necessary to develop and implement a written health and safety program to protect their employees.” White House Designates Extreme Heat WeekThe White House has designated May 23–27 as Extreme Heat Week, during which federal agencies will take a number of actions to work with community planners and public health officials to enhance community preparedness for extreme heat events. NIOSH is planning to participate via social media and other informational activities. To learn more about heat stress and our latest heat activities, visit NIOSH Heat Stress. Cochrane Review Looks at Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Staff to Prevent EbolaA recent Cochrane Work report reviewed nine studies to examine the scientific quality of the available peer-reviewed evidence relevant to the question, “Which type or component of full-body PPE and which method of donning or removing [doffing] PPE have the least risk of self-contamination or infection for [healthcare workers], and which training methods most increase compliance with PPE protocols.” NIOSH researcher Selcen Kilinc-Balci contributed to the review. Nanotechnology Research Center Meeting HighlightsThe NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center held its biennial science meeting on April 13–15 in Morgantown, WV. This meeting brought together over 75 NIOSH scientists engaged in various aspects of nanomaterial research. The meeting had a special guest, Dr. Michael Meador, the Director of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Coordination Office. The meeting included talks on nanomaterials in advanced manufacturing, nanotoxicology, risk assessment, exposure assessments, epidemiology and surveillance, engineering controls, personal protective equipment, metrology, and measurement methods. This meeting, the sixth in its 10-year history, continues to provide an opportunity for cross collaborations among the many science disciplines involved with understanding and promoting the responsible development of nanomaterials. | ||
.png)
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario