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Volume 15 Number 4 August 2017 | ||
From the Director’s DeskJohn Howard, M.D., Director, NIOSH The Dogs Days of Summer are HereThe dog days of summer are upon us, but what does that actually mean? This phrase refers to the hottest, most uncomfortable part of the summer, usually ranging from July through August. In ancient times, the return of Sirius (the Dog Star), which is the brightest star in the night sky, would be a forerunner of the hottest phase of the summer. For many, the month of August may mean the end of summer vacation is approaching, but for outdoor workers, these dog days mean dangerously hot temperatures. Extreme heat causes more deaths than any other weather-related hazard; each year more than 65,000 people seek medical treatment for extreme heat exposure. According to OSHA, in 2014 there were 2,630 workers who suffered from heat-related illness, and 18 died from heat stroke and related causes on the job. Heat-related illnesses are not the only concern; work-related exposure to heat can also result in reduced productivity and growing risk of injuries, such as those caused by sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, and cognitive impairment.AIHA Highlights NIOSH Young Worker Safety TrainingA recent article by the president of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) highlights a 1-hour, interactive training module called Safety Matters, which was developed by NIOSH for AIHA. The goal of the training is to raise awareness among young people about workplace safety and health and to provide an understanding of the skills they need to become active participants in creating safe and healthy work environments. The materials presented in this module are based on a full curriculum from NIOSH called Talking Safety. New Web Page Provides Resources for Fire ServiceNIOSH recently launched a new web page with resources for fire service personnel. The web page includes information about the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, which conducts independent investigations of select fire fighter line-of-duty deaths to provide recommendations to prevent similar deaths and injuries. As part of the investigations, NIOSH staff also assist in the evaluation of self-contained breathing apparatus. New Jersey Adopts Hazardous Drug Safe Handling ActOn May 11, the New Jersey Legislature adopted Bill No. 837, Hazardous Drug Safe Handling Act, which requires promulgation of standards and regulations concerning safe handling of hazardous drugs by certain healthcare personnel. The NJ Legislature determined that it is the public policy of the state to provide for the appropriate regulation of the handling of hazardous drugs consistent with the 2004 NIOSH alert as well as any updates to the NIOSH list of hazardous drugs. New Jersey is the fourth state to pass similar legislation following Washington, California, and North Carolina. Several other states have proposed similar legislation. More information on preventing exposure to hazardous drugs is available here. Call for Abstracts Now Open for 2018 Total Worker Health SymposiumThe call for abstracts for the NIOSH-sponsored 2nd International Symposium to Advance Total Worker Health® is now OPEN. The upcoming symposium, focused on the theme Work & Well-Being: How Safer, Healthier Work Can Enhance Well-Being, will congregate scientists and practitioners engaged in innovative research and programs aligned with Total Worker Health approaches. The symposium will be held May 8–11, 2018, on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, just minutes from Washington, DC. NIOSH is seeking abstract submissions for poster presentations, plenary sessions, concurrent sessions (symposia and brief scientific paper or practice/intervention sessions), and pre-conference workshops. The deadline for abstract submission is October 31. Study Looks at Effects of Organizational Safety Practices and Perceived Safety Climate on the Safe Administration of Liquid Antineoplastic DrugsA web-based survey conducted by NIOSH looked at how organizational factors and perceived safety climate might affect use of personal protective equipment and engineering controls as well as the likelihood of spills, leaks, or skin contact during administration of liquid antineoplastic drugs. Antineoplastic drugs, also known as chemotherapy, cytotoxic, and oncology drugs, are used to treat cancer, as well as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other non-cancer medical conditions. This study was published in the July issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene and is currently available as an e-pub. Read more. NIOSH and Workforce Tulsa Partner to Promote Workplace Safety and Health Among Young, Temporary WorkersNIOSH and Workforce Tulsa recently announced a collaboration to develop and pilot test a new training program, Developing Work Safety Skills, to promote workplace safety and health practices among young adults seeking career services and temporary employment opportunities through Workforce Tulsa. The training will include a variety of activities that highlight hazard recognition and prevention strategies relevant to workplaces where young people are often employed, such as retail or food service. Additionally, program participants will receive a certificate of completion when they finish the Developing Work Safety Skills training program. Learn more. NIOSH Visits US Air Force BaseNIOSH engineers recently visited the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio to discuss current Air Force research and to present engineering control solutions for respirable crystalline silica dust and other ongoing NIOSH engineering control research. NIOSH thanks the Air Force for the visit and looks forward to future research collaborations. Learn more about the NIOSH engineering controls research program here. NIOSH MSD Program Updates Key Ergonomics GuideThe NIOSH Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Program recently updated the NIOSH document Elements of Ergonomics Programs – a step-by-step guide to create, implement, and maintain an ergonomics program. The guide provides basic information useful for employers, workers and others in designing an effective ergonomics program to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders. | ||
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