NIOSH eNews - June, 2016

NIOSH eNews - June, 2016

In This Issue

Director’s Desk Jon Stewart Creates PSA for WTC Health Program NIOSH and NSC Co-host #DriveSafe4Life Twitter Chat on June 28 NIOSH To Seek Primary Care Settings to Evaluate CDS Tool Preparation and Use for Managing Diabetes In Patient Work Environments NIOSH in the News NIOSH Communication Product Spotlight OSHA Renews Prestigious VPP Star Designation for NIOSH Cincinnati Taft North Facility

Volume 14 Number 2 June 2016

From the Director’s Desk John Howard, M.D., Director, NIOSH School’s Out, But Safety Should Always Be In Research indicates that more than 80% of high-school-aged youth work, often during the summer months. A recent White House press release highlights the positive impact of work on U.S. youth. A job provides opportunities to gain independence, build self-esteem, explore vocational interests, and to learn critical life skills that serve young people now, and in the future. Although work has benefits, it also can have risks. Every minute a young worker is hurt on the job. Youth (age 15–24 years) suffer about twice the rate of workplace injuries as older workers. Younger workers are likely to be inexperienced, and they often enter the labor force unprepared for hazards they may face. To address this critical need, NIOSH conducts research and recommends how to protect young workers. Read More... Jon Stewart Creates PSA for WTC Health Program Entertainer and advocate Jon Stewart recently lent his voice to encourage those affected by 9/11 to enroll in the World Trade Center Health Program. He joined John Feal of the Feal Good Foundation to film a Public Service Announcement for the program. NIOSH and NSC Co-host #DriveSafe4Life Twitter Chat on June 28 NIOSH and the National Safety Council (NSC) are co-hosting a road safety Twitter chat on June 28 from 1-2 p.m. ET. The chat is part of National Safety Month, the annual June observance focused on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the roads, and in homes and communities. Tweet using the #DriveSafe4Life hashtag to join the conversation, and follow @NIOSH_MVSafetyand @NSCsafety for road safety tips during the chat. NIOSH To Seek Primary Care Settings to Evaluate CDS Tool Preparation and Use for Managing Diabetes In Patient Work Environments NIOSH is seeking primary care clinic/clinical organizations to evaluate the implementation, use, and perceived value of integrated clinical decision support (CDS) in primary care settings that address management of diabetes mellitus in patient work environments. The pre solicitation announcement "Clinical Decision Support for Working Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in a Primary Care Clinical Setting" is posted at www.fbo.gov (solicitation number: 2016-N-17759). The complete request for proposals, including reference materials, is anticipated to be available for downloading at www.fbo.gov on or about June 15 and proposals are anticipated to be due on or July 15. Contact Diane Meeder at DMeeder@cdc.gov or (412)386-4412 for more information. NIOSH in the News NIOSH Scientist Talks Work Health to U.S. News Capt. Leslie MacDonald, a senior scientist at NIOSH, was interviewed for an April online article in U.S. News & World Report about how work can be related to cardiovascular risk. Throughout the article, “How to Make Heart Health Job No. 1,” Capt. MacDonald talks about her research to recognize and address the impact of work on lifestyle and heart health. ESPN Podcast Includes NIOSH study: Suicide Mortality among Retired NFL Players In a recent ESPN radio podcast Dr. Doug Trout of NIOSH, in his role as Deputy Director of the Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, joined Andy Katz and Rick Klein to summarize findings from a study that looked at suicide rates among a cohort of retired NFL players. Other guests on the podcast were Senator John McCain as well as The Undefeated's Domonique Foxworth talking about brain injury education, research and prevention for NFL players. NIOSH Communication Product Spotlight NIOSH Releases Ergonomic App to Evaluate Mining Activities NIOSH Mining recently released ErgoMine, a new Android app that helps users evaluate the ergonomics of certain common mining activities at their work sites and receive recommendations for improvement. These activities include bagging, maintenance and repair, and haul truck operations. ErgoMine poses questions to guide mine workers through an audit of their workplaces to find ergonomics issues. Based on the user’s responses during the audit, ErgoMine suggests how to improve the work site. The suggested improvements can be reviewed through the app on a user’s Android device, or they can be emailed to anyone for further consideration of the findings and recommendations. Better ergonomics could help prevent work-related musculoskeletal injuries and promote health, safety, and efficiency. NIOSH Releases PPE Database For Identifying Standards How do you know if your personal protective equipment (PPE) will protect you as a worker or your employees if you are an employer? NIOSH developed the PPE-INFO database to help determine which PPE standards must be met by equipment. The database compiles federal regulations and consensus standards for respirator and non-respiratory PPE. The database is a tool for standards developers, certification organizations, manufacturers, purchasers, end users, safety and health professionals, and researchers. The information in the database can be used to determine whether a product meets a certain standard, and whether the performance requirements of that standard meet their need. NIOSH and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Release Report A new report, “Improving Workers' Health Around the World: Advancing the WHO Global Plan of Action on Workers’ Health” has been published by NIOSH and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The publication gives examples of the activities and achievements of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centers for Occupational Health. It also marks the 25th anniversary of the Global Network, which was formed in 1990. OSHA Renews Prestigious VPP Star Designation for NIOSH Cincinnati Taft North Facility OSHA has renewed NIOSH Cincinnati Taft North’s acclaimed Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification. The VPP program encourages employers to voluntarily go above and beyond promoting effective safety and health programs by making safety a fundamental part of the culture. Taft North first received VPP Star status certification (the highest certification level granted by OSHA) in 2012, and it has maintained the certification ever since. “VPP Star is OSHA’s highest recognition for rigorous safety and health practices, as well as an extremely prestigious achievement that few federal faculties have attained,” said Kim Reeves, NIOSH Cincinnati management and operations official. For more information, contact David Back at (513) 533-8594 or DBack@cdc.gov. Read More...