NIOSH Research Rounds - November, 2018

NIOSH Research Rounds - November, 2018

Volume 4, Number 5 (November 2018)

Inside NIOSH: Workers' Compensation Insurance Could Provide Valuable Research Information When thinking of workers’ compensation insurance, we typically think of the money and other benefits provided to workers injured on the job. When public health researchers think of this same insurance, they may also see a potential opportunity to learn more information about work-related health and safety hazards. Read More... Level of Soot Particles in Diesel Exhaust Varies on Oil & Gas Worksites On oil and gas worksites, diesel engines power machines ranging from drilling rigs to high-powered hydraulic fracturing pumps, to generators and lighting equipment. The diesel exhaust from these engines, however, is a toxic mix of chemicals that includes small particles of carbon, or soot, which can be accidentally inhaled. Read More... Outside NIOSH: Link Found Between Prescription Drug Use Before and After Injury Workers taking opioids or benzodiazepines (anxiety medications) prior to a work-related injury were more likely than other workers to continue taking the drugs after the injury, according to a NIOSH-funded study at the University of Washington in Seattle. In addition, these workers were also more likely to receive workers’ compensation, reports the study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Read More... Long-haul Trucking Survey Describes Common Injuries The combination of long hours of sitting punctuated by periods of loading and unloading heavy goods makes long-haul trucking one of the highest-risk occupations for musculoskeletal injuries. In fact, these injuries occur nearly four times more often among long-haul truck drivers than among other workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Read More...