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Showing posts with label NIOSH. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NIOSH. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Workers’ Compensation Insurer Responses to COVID-19


This free NIOSH Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies (CWCS) webinar will highlight the ways that many insurers are responding to COVID 19:
  • Communicating prevention programs
  • Providing funding for engineering controls and PPE
  • Providing remote risk control services

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Chairwoman Adams Opening Statement at Workforce Protections Subcommittee Hearing on Protecting Workers from COVID-19

Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing entitled, “Examining the Federal Government’s Actions to Protect Workers from COVID-19.”

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

House Appropriations Committee Releases Discretionary Labor-HHS Funding Bill


Worker safety and health is a focus of the just released House Committee on Appropriations. The Legislation increases discretionary funding by $11.7 billion from the 2019 level, investing in education, health care, medical research, and job training so people have a better chance at a better life; Bill funds firearm injury and mortality prevention research at CDC for first time in more than 20 years.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

CDC has requested comments for the feasibility of a mesothelioma registry

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has announced the opening of a docket to obtain information on the feasibility of a registry designed to track mesothelioma cases in the United States, as well as recommendations on enrollment, data collection, confidentiality, and registry maintenance. The purpose of such a registry would be to collect information that could be used to develop and improve standards of care and to identify gaps in mesothelioma prevention and treatment.

Monday, October 1, 2018

Rand Study Urges National Workers’ Compensation Reforms

A national study by the Rand Corporation is urging changes to the workers’ compensation system. The study was commissioned by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and approaches necessary improvements inorder to make the nation’s workplaces safer.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Zika: The Next Compensable Infectious Disease - Benefit Challenges Begin




Workers' Compensation insures for the consequences of infectious diseases arising out of and in the course of employment. Is the system ready for a potential onslaught of Zika claims?

The line in the sand has been drawn in the State of Florida, where an infected Miami Beach police officer has been denied benefits. The union has actively supporting the municipal employee in an effort to rule the claim compensable.

The NJ Supreme Court in establishing compensability in an occupational disease cited Justice Learned Hand, “Few adults are not diseased … an infection mastered, though latent, is no longer a disease, industrially speaking, until the individual's resistance is again so far lowered that he succumbs.” Bober v. Independent Plating Corp., 28 N.J. 160, 145 A.2d 463 (1958).

Friday, August 19, 2016

NIOSH to Hold Meeting on Motor Vehicle Safety

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking input on the progress and future direction of its Center for Motor Vehicle Safety

Monday, December 28, 2015

NJ company cited by OSHA for willfully exposing workers to diacetyl


A Somerset County New Jersey flavoring and fragrance manufacturer exposed workers to respiratory and other workplace safety and health hazards. These exposures have created a new wave of occupation litigation by injured workers and their families.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Public Comment Sought on Draft Document for Workplace Tobacco Policies

NIOSH is seeking public comment on a draft Current Intelligence Bulletin,Promoting Health and Preventing Disease and Injury through Workplace Tobacco Policies. The public comment period is open for 30 days, closing on September 15. Occupational safety and health practitioners, healthcare professionals, and the general public are encouraged to review the document and provide comments. https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-19384.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

NIOSH Fact Sheet: NIOSH Approval Labels—Key Information to Protect Yourself

Today's post was shared by Safe Healthy Workers and comes from www.cdc.gov
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2011-179

cover of 2011-179
cover of 2011-179

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) specifies minimum approval requirements for respiratory protective devices in Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 84. NIOSH reviews respirator approval applications, which contain technical specifications, drawings, and other related information. NIOSH also inspects, examines and tests the respirators to determine that the applicable requirements are met for individual, completely assembled respirators, as described in §84.30(a).
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Monday, December 9, 2013

Workplace Safety and Health Topics

NIOSH tries to stay ahead of the curve with workplace health and safety research. Today's post was shared by Safe Healthy Workers and comes from www.cdc.gov

Caption from theme options
Caption from theme options

Overview

Primary themes in the NIOSH job stress research program:
  1. To better understand the influence of what are commonly-termed "work organization" or "psychosocial" factors on stress, illness, and injury
  2. To identify ways to redesign jobs to create safer and healthier workplaces
Examples of research topics at NIOSH within these two broad themes:
  • Characteristics of healthy work organizations
  • Work organization interventions to promote safe and healthy working conditions
  • Surveillance of the changing nature of work
  • Work organization interventions to reduce musculoskeletal disorders among office operators
  • Work schedule designs to protect the health and well-being of workers
  • The effects of new organizational policies and practices on worker health and safety
  • Changing worker demographics (race/ethnicity, gender, and age) and worker safety and health
  • Work organization, cardiovascular disease, and depression
  • Psychological violence in the workplace
In addition, the NIOSH program also includes:
  • Sponsorship of conferences on work, stress and health
  • Publication of educational documents on work, stress, and health

Job Stress and NORA

In 1996, NIOSH established an interdisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners from industry, labor, and academia to develop a national research agenda on the "organization of work." Work organization refers to management and supervisory practices, to production processes, and to their influence on the way work is performed. (In...
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Thursday, November 21, 2013

Draft Current Intelligence Bulletin “Update of NIOSH Carcinogen Classification and Target Risk Level Policy for Chemical Hazards in the Workplace”

Today's post was shared by Safe Healthy Workers and comes from www.federalregister.gov

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of the following draft document for public comment entitled “Current Intelligence Bulletin: Update of NIOSH Carcinogen Classification and Target Risk Level Policy for Chemical Hazards in the Workplace.” To view the notice, document and related materials, visit http://www.regulations.gov and enter CDC-2013-0023 in the search field and click “Search.” Additional information is also located at the following Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/cancer/policy.html. Comments may be provided to the NIOSH docket, as well as given orally at the following meeting.
Public Comment Period: Comments must be received by February 13, 2014.
Public Meeting Time and Date: December 16, 2013, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Eastern Time. Please note that public comments may end before the time indicated, following the last call for comments. Members of the public who wish to provide public comments should plan to attend the meeting at the start time listed.
Place: Surface Transportation Board Hearing Room, Patriots Plaza One, 395 E Street SW., 1st Floor, Room 120, Washington, DC 20201.
Status: The meeting is open to the public, limited only by the space available. The meeting space accommodates approximately 150 people. In addition, there will be an audio conference for those who cannot attend in person. There is no registration fee to...
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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Truck Driver Safety and Health

Transportation accidents are a significant cause of injuries for workers. Today's post was shared by NIOSH Transportation and comes from blogs.cdc.gov


semi truck

Truck drivers face a disproportionately high risk for fatal crash-related injuries and for serious health disorders. The 2004 fatality rate for U.S. heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was 48.2 per 100,000 workers, approximately 11 times the rate for the general worker population. The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses estimated 63,570 non-fatal injuries among heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in 2004—the second highest number among all occupations.
We know this industry faces a high risk of illness and injury but the prevalence of specific health problems, and the relative contributions of occupation and health behaviors to the increased risk of injury and illness, is largely unknown. Some research associates the risk of crash-related deaths with job-related fatigue. Other studies suggest that the risks of cancer, heart attacks, and other disorders may be associated with aspects of long-haul driving such as loading and unloading cargo, irregular schedules, long hours of driving, a sedentary lifestyle, and the nature of drivers’ food choices on the road.
To help address these research gaps and better understand the risks faced by truck drivers, NIOSH is undertaking a national survey of truck driver safety and health. The survey, which grew out of stakeholder identified needs, will focus specifically on gathering baseline safety and health information among a large, representative national sample of truck drivers. We are seeking...
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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Mesothelioma, Other Cancers Higher Among Firefighters

Today's post was shared by Linda Reinstein and comes from ohsonline.com

Mesothelioma, Other Cancers Higher Among Firefighters

A new study involving 30,000 firefighters strengthens the scientific evidence for a relation between firefighting and cancer, the researchers said.

A new study involving a total of 30,000 firefighters from three large cities found they had higher rates of several types of cancers, and of all cancers combined, than the U.S. population as a whole. The findings are consistent with earlier studies, but because this one followed a larger study population for a longer period of time, the results strengthen the scientific evidence for a relation between firefighting and cancer, the researchers said.

The findings by NIOSH researchers and colleagues were reported online Oct. 14 by the peer-reviewed journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The article is available at http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2013/10/14/oemed-2013-101662.full.

The researchers found that cancers of the respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems accounted mostly for the higher rates of cancer in the study population. The firefighters had a rate of mesothelioma two times greater than the rate in the U.S. population as a whole. The researchers said it was likely that the findings were associated with exposure to asbestos, and NIOSH noted this is the first study ever to identify an excess of mesothelioma in U.S. firefighters.

The study analyzed cancers and cancer deaths through 2009 among 29,993 firefighters from the Chicago,...
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Thursday, October 3, 2013

Government Shutdown

Todays' post is from USA.gov and it reflects the impact of the shutdown on workers' compensation programs, both directly and indirectly, throughout the nation.

Below, find an overview of some of the government services and operations that will be impacted until Congress passes a budget to fund them again. For detailed information about specific activities at Federal agencies, please see federal government contingency plans.
  • Vital services that ensure seniors and young children have access to healthy food and meals may not have sufficient Federal funds to serve all beneficiaries in an extended lapse.
  • Call centers, hotlines and regional offices that help veterans understand their benefits will close to the public.
  • Veterans’ compensation, pension, education, and other benefits could be cut off in the case of an extended  shutdown.
  • Every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, will be immediately closed.
  • New applications for small business loans and loan guarantees will be immediately halted.
  • Research into life-threatening diseases and other areas will stop, and new patients won’t be accepted into clinical  trials at the National Institutes of Health.
  • Work to protect consumers, ranging from child product safety to financial security to the safety of hazardous waste facilities, will cease. The EPA will halt non-essential inspections of chemical facilities and drinking water systems.
  • Permits and reviews for planned energy and transportations projects will stop, preventing companies from working on these projects. Loans to rural communities will...
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Friday, September 27, 2013

OCCUPATIONAL VIOLENCE

Today's post was shared by Safe Healthy Workers and comes from www.cdc.gov

Violence on the Job - image of shattered glass

The magnitude of workplace violence in the United States is measured with fatal and nonfatal statistics from several sources. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reported 13,827 workplace homicide victims between 1992 and 2010. Averaging over 700 homicides per year, the largest number of homicides in one year (n=1080) occurred in 1994, while the lowest number (n=518) occurred in 2010.

From 2003 to 2010 over half of the workplace homicides occurred within three occupation classifications: sales and related occupations (28%), protective service occupations (17%), and transportation and material moving occupations (13%).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) reported an estimated 130,290 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work during the 2003 to 2010 time period. The Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry accounted for 63% of these injuries and illnesses each year.

Data collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commissions’ National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) that is collected in collaboration with NIOSH (NEISS-Work Supplement) estimated more than 137,000 workers were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal assaults in 2009.

The Bureau of Justice StatisticsNational Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) estimated the number of nonfatal violent crimes occurring against persons 16 or older while they were at...
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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

What is Total Worker Health™?

Today's post was shared by WCBlog and comes from www.cdc.gov


niosh logo
Total Worker Health™ is a strategy integrating occupational safety and health protection with health promotion to prevent worker injury and illness and to advance health and well-being.

Today, emerging evidence recognizes that both work-related factors and health factors beyond the workplace jointly contribute to many health and safety problems that confront today’s workers and their families. Traditionally, workplace health and safety programs have been compartmentalized. Health protection programs have focused squarely on safety, reducing worker exposures to risk factors arising in the work environment itself. And most workplace health promotion programs have focused exclusively on lifestyle factors off-the-job that place workers at risk. A growing body of science supports the effectiveness of combining these efforts through workplace interventions that integrate health protection and health promotion programs.

In June 2011, NIOSH launched the Total Worker Health™ (TWH™) Program as an evolution of the NIOSH Steps to a Healthier US. Workforce and the NIOSH WorkLife Initiatives, TWH™ is defined as a strategy integrating occupational safety and health protection with health promotion to prevent worker injury and illness and to advance worker health and well-being. The TWH™ Program supports the development and adoption of ground-breaking research and best practices of integrative approaches that address health risk from both the work...
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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Who Is Paying the Bills for Occupational Illnesses and Disease?

A recently published study from the US Department of Health and Human Services (NIOSH) reports that 45% of emergency room medical expenses for occupational illnesses and disease are not expected to be paid by workers' compensation insurance coverage.

Click here to read the complete report: Use of Workers’ Compensation Data for Occupational Safety  and Health: Proceedings from  June 2012 Workshop (May 2013) Identifying Workers’ Compensation as the Expected Payer in  Emergency Department Medical Records,  Larry L. Jackson, PhD, Susan J. Derk, MA, Suzanne M. Marsh, MPA, Audrey A. Reichard, OTR, MPH  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

NIOSH Makes Ladder Safety Easier Through an App

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announces the availability of a new Ladder Safety smart phone application (app). This new app uses visual and audio signals to make it easier for workers using extension ladders to check the angle the ladder is positioned at, as well as access useful tips for using extension ladders safely. The app is available for free download for bothiPhone and Android devices.

Falls from ladders are a common source of preventable construction injuries. Misjudging the ladder angle is a significant risk factor for a fall. If the ladder is set too steep it is more likely to fall back or away during use, and if it is set too shallow then the bottom can slide out. 


“The ladder safety app is an innovative way to help keep workers safe and a tool to reduce these preventable injuries,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “The development of this smart phone app also demonstrates how we are constantly working to make science-based practical information accessible to workers and employers in a way they need and can easily use.”

The app provides feedback to the user on positioning the extension ladder at the optimal angle. It also provides references and a safety guide for extension ladder selection, inspection, accessorizing, and use. It was developed with input from the ANSI A14 committee on Ladder Safety, the American Ladder Institute, and other stakeholders.

NIOSH collaborated with DSFederal on the final development and testing of the app before release. The app is based on a multimodal inclination indicator for ladder positioning that has been recently awarded a US patent. To learn more and download the Ladder Safety app visithttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/ and to learn about the campaign to prevent falls in construction go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/stopfalls.html. NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. For more information about our work visithttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/.

.Related articles

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

NIOSH to Establish a National Workers' Compensation Data/Analysis Center

The long wait is over, the Federal government in getting into the workers' compensation data collection and analysis business. NIOSH (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) has announced that it is entering into the arena, largely filled by the insurance industry  and NISOH will establish the NIOSH Center for Workers' Compensation Studies (CWCS).

In 2013,the NIOSH Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies (CWCS) was created to organize workers’
compensation data that are already being analyzed by NIOSH researchers in existing programs, such as the Economics ProgramSurveillance Program, and the Center for Motor Vehicle Safety. This is important because coordinated workers’ compensation research has been conducted mostly at large commercial insurers, state-based insurers, or organizations such as the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)External Web Site Icon, which cannot always widely distribute their research findings.
We are conducting analyses across a wide range of industry sectors, including:
  • Construction
  • Healthcare and social assistance
  • Manufacturing
  • Public safety
  • Services
  • Mining
  • Transportation
  • Warehousing
  • Wholesale and retail trade
The mission of the CWCS is to use workers’ compensation data to prevent and reduce the severity of workplace injuries and illnesses. We will work with public and private partners to maximize the use of their own workers’ compensation data.