NIOSH eNews - January, 2019

NIOSH eNews - January, 2019

Volume 16 Number 9, January 2019

From the Director’s Desk John Howard, M.D., Director, NIOSH NORA Gains Momentum Into 2019 It’s a new year, and in many ways a fresh start; but not for the NORA (National Occupational Research Agenda) councils that continue to build on the efforts of the past two years. The ten sector councils from the second decade of NORA carried forward their work to improve occupational safety and health in industry sectors. Seven new cross-sector councils formed to focus on health and safety issues affecting workers across sectors. These councils are diverse and inclusive, with members from universities, large and small businesses, professional societies, government agencies, and worker organizations. Read More... NIOSH Announces Availability of $6 Million in Commercial Fishing Safety Research and Training Grants NIOSH, in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, recently announced the availability of $6 million dollars in grant funding for commercial fishing safety research and training. Those interested in applying for a grant can view both funding opportunities on the Grants.gov website. The research and training grant funding opportunities are listed as RFA-OH-19-004 and RFA-OH-19-005, respectively. The deadline to submit an application for both grants is February 21. Stay Safe Working in Cold This Winter! Winter is here and that means it is time to take precautions to make sure you stay safe and healthy while working in the cold or cold environments. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest information, all winter long! New Study Finds Higher than Expected Number of Suicide Deaths Among U.S. Veterinarians Veterinarians in the U.S. are at an increased risk of suicide, a trend that has spanned more than three decades, according to a new CDC study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). Female veterinarians are at particularly high suicide risk. Learn more in this CDC press release. Report Explores New Types of Respiratory Protection for Use in Health Care A new report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine explores the potential for use of half-facepiece elastomeric respirators in the U.S. health care system with a focus on the economic, policy, and implementation challenges and opportunities. The report examines two circumstances, routine and surge use, in which half-facepiece reusable elastomeric respirators could be considered in health care settings. A free prepublication copy of the report is available online. The study was done at the request of NIOSH and the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, both at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NIOSH Extramural Research and Training Program Annual Report Released The FY2017 NIOSH Extramural Research and Training Program Annual Report is now available. This document provides information on how NIOSH invested in its multidisciplinary centers, investigator-initiated research projects, and cooperative research agreements. It also reports on NIOSH training project grants, state surveillance programs, small business innovation research, and global health initiatives. For the latest information on NIOSH-funded extramural activities, visit the NIOSH Extramural Research and Training Programs web page. Rear Admirals Visit NIOSH Cincinnati In December, RADM Edward Dieser, United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps Chief Engineer Officer, and RADM Kelly Taylor, USPHS Commissioned Corps Chief Environmental Health Officer, met with commissioned officers from the Cincinnati Commissioned Officers Association (COA) for an overview of NIOSH research and service programs. During the visit, they participated in a commissioned officers recognition event and toured the Engineering Controls and Impulse Noise research areas and the Health Hazard Evaluation service program. NIOSH and the Cincinnati COA thank RADMs Dieser and Taylor for the visit. NIOSH looks forward to future collaborations to advance response capability, serve the underserved, and drive occupational safety and health research innovation. Read More...