Victim of Fatal Forklift Mishap Called ‘Great Guy' Jun 9, 2007
Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicate that in the United States, 1,021 workers died from traumatic injuries suffered in forklift-related incidents from 1980 to 1994. The percentage of fatalities were due to the following circumstances: 22%, fork lift overturned; 20% worker on foot was struck by a fork lift; 16%, victim was crushed by a fork lift; and 9%, the victim fell from a fork lift. (Honesdale Wayne Independent, PA)
Assembly passes bill banning trans fat foods Jun 8, 2007
The bill, approved on a 22-18 vote, blames the chemical used to artificially flavor popcorn for a respiratory disease known as "popcorn lung." Last year, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reported that employees at a Missouri microwave popcorn plant were diagnosed with a severe obstructive lung disease after inhaling the butter flavoring. A similar measure has passed the Assembly. (Fresno Bee -- State)
Assembly, Senate act on dozens of bills as deadline approaches Jun 5, 2007
- Legislation that would ban the food flavoring agent diacetyl, a chemical used to artificially flavor popcorn that has been linked to a respiratory disease known as "popcorn lung." Last year, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health issued a report that found several employees at a Missouri microwave popcorn plant were diagnosed with a severe obstructive lung disease after inhaling the butter flavoring. The measure by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, would ban the... (Fresno Bee -- State)
Addicted to work? There may be help Jun 4, 2007
Stress related to work can lead to heart disease and mental health problems such as depression, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. But Karissa Thacker, a management psychologist and president of consulting firm Strategic Performance Solutions, disagrees that employees who engage in extreme work are necessarily suffering. (AZCentral -- Business)
Hi, I'm Joan, and I'm a workaholic May 24, 2007
Stress related to work can lead to heart disease and mental health problems such as depression, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The Harvard Business Review article found that more than two-thirds of those they defined as extreme workers don't get enough sleep, and half don't get enough exercise. (USA Today -- Jobs)
Sago explosion continues to force changes May 20, 2007
Despite rising costs, the pace of change since Sago has been impressive to the likes of Jeff Kohler, associate director for Mine Safety and Health Research at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. "If you step back and think about where we were a year ago we have made more progress in all of these areas," he said, "than we've made in the last two decades.". (International Herald Tribune)
W.Va. mine disaster forces changes May 19, 2007
Despite rising costs, the pace of change since Sago has been impressive to the likes of Jeff Kohler, associate director for Mine Safety and Health Research at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ... The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates there's 14,000 seals in underground coal mines across the country. (USA Today)
Appealed MSHA fines often slashed, GAO says May 17, 2007
MSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health do not properly coordinate their enforcement and research efforts on mine safety. Currently, the agencies have no formal memorandum of understanding to spell out how they will work together. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- Business)
3M gets FDA OK on respirator May 10, 2007
The FDA also said that 3M's respirators are similar to those already approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which certifies the effectiveness of work-related equipment. FDA is requiring all companies who want to market respirators for use in public health emergencies to have them certified by the institute, to insure adequate filtration without hampering people's ability to breathe. (Twin Cities Business Journal, MN)
First Emergency Facemasks for the Public Cleared May 10, 2007
They've been certified by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as N95 filtering facepiece respirators, fitting tightly over the nose and mouth and designed to trap at least 95 percent of very small airborne particles, the FDA said. While other companies make N95 devices for the workplace, the 3M products are the first to be cleared for public use during health emergencies such as a flu epidemic, the agency said. (Forbes)
Nail gun, ladder injuries rising May 9, 2007
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that nail gun injuries increased threefold in the past 15 years, with 13,400 nail-gun users seeking hospital treatment in 2005, compared with 4,200 in 1991. Injuries included puncture wounds on hands and fingers, eye and nerve damage, fractured bones, and in severe cases, nails embedded in the head. (Akron Beacon Journal, OH -- Living)
New mine seal regulations not yet in draft stage Apr 29, 2007
Before the draft is due, MSHA hopes to be able to review a final report on seal construction from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH published its draft in February, and hope to issue its final version sometime in May. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- News)
Rare Lung Disease Found in Food-Flavoring Workers Apr 27, 2007
"Bronchiolitis obliterans is a severe lung disease that can be prevented with appropriate measures, such as engineering controls, work practices, medical surveillance, and a respiratory protection program," said report co-author Dr. Rachael Bailey, an epidemic intelligence service officer at the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ... Bronchiolitis obliterans is a rare disease, said Dr. Richard Kanwal, a medical officer in CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety... (Forbes)
OSHA Leaves Worker Safety in Hands of Industry Apr 26, 2007
Scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which investigates the causes of workplace health problems, moved quickly to examine patients, inspect factories and run tests. Within months, they concluded that the workers became ill after exposure to diacetyl, a food-flavoring agent. (Foster's Daily Democrat)
Government to increase inspections at some plants that make microwave popcorn Apr 26, 2007
Last year, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, issued a report that found several employees at a microwave popcorn plant were diagnosed with a severe obstructive lung disease, the Labor Department said. NIOSH determined that inhaling the butter flavoring put workers at risk for the lung disease, the department said. (North County Times)
Ills at popcorn plant turn light on OSHA Apr 25, 2007
Scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which investigates the causes of workplace health problems, concluded that the workers became ill after exposure to diacetyl, a food-flavoring agent. But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, charged with overseeing workplace safety, reacted with less urgency. (Boston Globe)
Obesity Increases Workers' Compensation Costs Apr 25, 2007
The study was supported by a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. "Given the strong link between obesity and workers' compensation costs, maintaining healthy weight is not only important to workers but should also be a high priority for employers," Ostbye said. (Science Daily)
Obese Workers Cost Bosses More, Study Says Apr 25, 2007
The study, appearing in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine, got funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Copyright 2007 by. (Click2Houston, TX)
Dry cleaning brand presses ahead with new solvent Apr 23, 2007
The use of perc has been criticized by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency has regulated perc use and disposal for years. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
U.S. Labor Department Proposal Will Update Child Labor Rules for the 21st Century Apr 18, 2007
This proposal is the second in a series of updates to the child labor regulations and stems from the department's enforcement experience, a statutory change, and a 2002 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) review of the child labor HOs. In December 2004, the department issued final regulations that, among other modifications, expanded protections for youth working in roofing and restaurant cooking. (PR Newswire)
Consumer nail gun injuries spike Apr 14, 2007
In fact, the number of weekend carpenters treated each year for nail gun injuries in emergency rooms in U.S. hospitals more than tripled between 1991 and 2005, increasing to about 14,800 per year, according to an analysis by researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ... For her analysis, Lipscomb used data collected from emergency departments across the country by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the CDC's National... (EurekAlert!)
The cyclist's tight spot Apr 7, 2007
In 2000, a group of bicycle patrol officers in Long Beach, suspecting that bike-riding was causing sexual problems, contacted Steven Schrader, a reproductive health expert at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Cincinnati. Schrader studied the bike cops and reported in the Journal of Andrology in 2002 that although none of the men were impotent, they had decreased erectile quality and genital numbness compared with nonbiking officers. (Los Angeles Times)
Protective Masks Often Not Worn Properly Apr 7, 2007
Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health tested 538 people in New Orleans who used a cup-shaped face mask called the N95 respirator after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the city in 2005. People were advised to use the masks -- designed to filter out fine particles and germs -- when cleaning up flooded homes because of mold, which can cause respiratory irritation. (MEDLINEplus)
Respirator Use and Practices in Primary Metal Operations Mar 31, 2007
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health researchers study employer-survey data to determine the application of respirators and discover a widespread need for improvements in the manufacturing sector ... In 2001 the U.S. Labor Dept.'s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted the Survey of Respirator Use and Practices among 40,000 randomly selected U.S. establishments ... Disclaimer: The findings and... (33Metalproducing)
Healthcare Workers Have Greatest Pathogen Exposure Mar 29, 2007
"Bloodborne pathogen exposure is a significant occupational safety and health problem in U.S. healthcare settings," Dr. Guang X. Chen from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia told Reuters Health. "It is preventable.". (MEDLINEplus)
U.S. firefighters face high risk of dying of heart problems while battling blaze Mar 24, 2007
The study was funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Massachusetts Public Employees Retirement Administration Commission. Kales and another author have served as paid expert witnesses in workers' compensation cases, including some involving firefighters. (North County Times)
Co-op has a deal for cleaners' helpers Mar 22, 2007
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health now funds the education program. The co-op has also attracted cleaners who own their schedules. (Boston Globe -- Local)
Workplace violence, bias hard to define in Nev. case Mar 4, 2007
The attorney general in Hawai'i issued a workplace violence manual that uses the definition of violence by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which includes "displays of violence, threats of violence, intimidation, harassment, bullying, damage to property and other inappropriate or disruptive behavior." The manual was issued after Byran Uyesugi fatally shot seven co-workers at Xerox Corp. in Honolulu in 1999. Berry left it to the jury to decide what constituted... (Honolulu Advertiser)
Report: Health office air quality safe Mar 2, 2007
The air quality now meets standards recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the American National Standards Institute, according to the EarthCon report ... The air quality now meets standards recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the American National... (Enterprise-Journal)
Obesity's vulnerable cycle Mar 1, 2007
In rats fed methamphetamine, the obese animals died at twice the rates of the thin ones, says James O'Callaghan of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Morgantown, W. Va. O'Callaghan speculates it may be the same type of increased toxicity seen in some prescription drugs described by other panelists. (USA Today -- News)
Understanding Occupational Safety & Health Issues of Nanotechnology: A Progress Report Feb 23, 2007
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is mandated by law to conduct research and develop guidance on worker safety and health. With limited resources over the past two years, NIOSH -- working in collaboration with partners in other federal agencies, countries, academia, industry, labor and NGOs -- has been conducting research and developing guidance to address the occupational safety and health of workers exposed to nanomaterials. (PR Newswire)
Take More Breaks to Avoid Back Injury on the Job Feb 22, 2007
With funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. William Marras and colleagues in the Biodynamics Laboratory at Ohio State University had four new and six experienced workers lift boxes onto conveyor belts for 8 hours, as one would do working in a shipping center. The boxes weighed 2, 11, and 26 pounds. (MEDLINEplus)
MSHA urged to act quickly on mine seals Feb 14, 2007
On Friday, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health released a draft report that found that current MSHA mine-seal rules are far too weak. Existing MSHA rules require the mine seals be able to withstand an explosive force of 20 pounds per square inch. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- News)
Take More Breaks To Avoid Back Injury At Work, Study Says Feb 10, 2007
This study was funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Ohio State University. (Science Daily)
Government calls for stronger mine seals Feb 10, 2007
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health draft report said the maximum pressure in a mine explosion could reach 640 pounds per square inch, far higher than previously thought. Government regulators have been grappling with questions about seals since 12 miners died in a January 2006 explosion at the Sago Mine. (Bakersfield Californian -- Nation)
Bird flu: Your questions answered Feb 8, 2007
A disposable mask that bears a label from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and is rated N-95 or higher and that fits tightly over your nose and mouth can prevent inhalation of virus-bearing droplets from a cough or sneeze. Packages of them are available in hardware and building-supply stores and cost about $12 to $25. (Consumer Reports)
Passive Smoke In Workplace Increases Lung Cancer Risk, Report Says Feb 3, 2007
Co-authors include James Bena of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Annie Sasco of the Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 University in France; Randall Smith of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati; Kyle Steenland of Emory University; Michaela Kreuzer of the GSF-National Research Centre for Environment and Health in Neuherberg, Germany; and Kurt Straif, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyons, France. Note: This story has been adapted from a news release... (Science Daily)
Cambridge considers nanotech curbs Jan 26, 2007
Meanwhile the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is studying whether exposure to nanoparticles poses a risk to factory workers. "We're looking at questions of exposure in real workplace settings," said institute spokesman Fred Blosser. (Boston Globe -- Business)
Safe Life to sell safety masks for first responders Jan 26, 2007
The N95 rating, developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, gauges how many large molecules can pass through the mask from the air or liquid. It is currently the standard recommended by the American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties for the masks people should stock in emergency preparedness kits. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
Officials debate link between Ground Zero work, deaths Jan 24, 2007
Last fall, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health scrapped autopsy guidelines for the nation's medical examiners weeks after drafting them. The institute made the decision after experts said the guidelines could lead to misinterpretation and false links to Ground Zero deaths. (CNN -- Health)
Official link to 9/11 illness debated Jan 22, 2007
Last fall, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also scrapped autopsy guidelines for the nation's medical examiners weeks after drafting them. The institute made the decision after experts said the guidelines could lead to misinterpretation and false links to ground zero deaths. (Newsday -- New York City)
Bennington office building problem goes before lawmakers Jan 18, 2007
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which surveyed the building's workers last fall, found higher-than-normal rates of sarcoidosis and asthma-like symptoms. But the state, which has performed air quality tests in the building, has found no direct link between the building and the illnesses. (WCAX.com, VT)
Research advances on nanotech workplace health and safety Jan 17, 2007
Before he joined the Wilson Center in 2005, Dr. Maynard worked at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he was instrumental in developing NIOSH's nanotechnology research program. Dr. David Y.H. Pui is a well-known researcher and Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the University of Minnesota's Department of Mechanical Engineering. (EurekAlert!)
From the Statehouse: A weekly update on issues from Jan 16, 2007
Rather, the legislation gives the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 18 months to study and issue a report on the safety of safety chambers. It only makes sense to cover this gap and ensure our miners come home alive. (West Frankfort Daily American, IL)
More of this story Jan 16, 2007
According to the latest statistics by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 844 workers were killed doing some type of roadside improvement or construction in the U.S. from 1995 to 2002. More than half of those fatalities involved a worker being struck by a vehicle or mobile equipment. (Brockton Enterprise, MA)
Forby-sponsored bill to extend mine safety legislation passes Senate Jan 12, 2007
"Federal legislation, passed this past June, does not require rescue chambers in an underground mine. Rather, the legislation gives the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 18 months to study and issue a report on the safety of safety chambers. It only makes sense to cover this gap and ensure our miners come home alive This bill helps make sure that in Illinois, regardless of what route the federal government takes, mine safety is a priority," Forby said. The bill now goes to... (Marion Daily Republican, IL)
UMR professor appointed to federal panel on mine ventilation Jan 12, 2007
Other who will be joining Tien on the panel include: Jurgen Brune, chief of disaster prevention and response for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Pittsburgh; Felipe Calizaya, associate professor at the University of Utah; Thomas Mucho, a mining consultant from Washington, Pa. Jan M. Mutmansky, professor emeritus of mining engineering at Penn State; and James Weeks, a mining consultant from Silver Spring, Md. (Rolla Daily News, MO)
What Makes Natural Gas Smell? Methyl Mercaptan Jan 9, 2007
The American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommend an occupational exposure limit of 1 mg/m for methyl mercaptan. The federal recommendations have been updated as of July 1999. (CBS New York, NY)
Harper's Index for November 2006 Jan 9, 2007
Minimum decibel level, on average, at which African Americans in a recent study could hear a high-pitched sound: 21 [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Cincinnati). Minimum decibel level for whites: 33 [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Cincinnati). (Harper's Magazine)
itune U out: Experts worry about hearing loss from MP3 players Jan 8, 2007
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health sets a safe exposure limit for workplace noise of 85 decibels spread over eight hours a day. The maximum volume on an iPod ranges from 115 to 125 decibels, depending on the model and who s doing the measuring. (Winona Daily News, MN)