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‘Twas the Week before Christmas: Safety and Health at the North Pole
‘Twas the week before Christmas, Santa’s elves work long shifts, Everyone’s exhausted, but there have to be gifts; Their work schedule leaves them tired and sleepy, But a mistake with the toys will make children weepy; Exercise, diet and relaxation techniques, Can help the elves get a better night’s sleep; And workshop policies friendly to Read More >
Posted on by 13 Comments‘Tis the Season for Shopping and Safety
‘Tis the season for shopping and for working—specifically in retail. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015, 4.6 million Americans worked in retail sales while 3.4 million more worked as cashiers, making up almost six percent of total U.S. employment. This holiday season, many retail employees are working longer hours and to meet Read More >
Posted on by 5 CommentsThe New ANSI Nail Gun Standard is a Lost Opportunity for Safety
Pneumatic nail guns have (PNGs) caused injury and death to both workers and consumers. These easy-to-use tools are designed to quickly drive nails into work surfaces. Commercially available first in the 1960s, PNGs are now the most popular type of nail gun in use. These tools are able to drive any size nail into wood Read More >
Posted on by 4 CommentsOccupational Safety and Health Economics Workshop
In early September 2016, researchers from Canada and the U.S. convened a workshop in Montreal to analyze current and emerging issues in the economics of worker safety and health, and to formulate potential collaborative research aiming to improve and standardize economic metrics of worker injury and illness, including metrics of the under-recognized burden for workers Read More >
Posted on by 4 CommentsNever fear! NEAT 2.0 is here! – How to perform nanomaterial exposure assessment in the workplace
Please see the Technical Report: Occupational Exposure Sampling for Engineered Nanomaterials released in July 2022. Do you think you might have exposure to nanomaterials in your workplace? Never fear! NEAT 2.0 is here! Engineered nanoparticles are unique. They are generally smaller than both red blood cells and viruses, don’t weigh much, and have a great amount Read More >
Posted on byNIOSH’s State-of-the-Art Facility in Morgantown Celebrates 20 Years
Next week marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the L building in Morgantown, West Virginia, an addition to the existing facility which was dedicated in 1971. This state-of-the-art National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) facility represents a commitment to occupational safety and health. The creation of the new building created over 200 new jobs in Read More >
Posted on by 3 CommentsReducing Whole Body Vibration to Improve the Safety and Health of Bus Drivers
On the road every day, transportation workers are responsible for the safe delivery of passengers, materials and goods across the United States. Bus drivers ensure our kids and family members arrive safely. Bus drivers are vital to our economy, but their job can put them at increased risk for health problems. In 2014, musculoskeletal disorders Read More >
Posted on by 12 CommentsCapturing Work-related Injuries from Emergency Department Data
Work-related injuries frequently occur, despite the fact that many are preventable. It is critical that we accurately describe and monitor these injuries in order to improve prevention efforts. Because there is no comprehensive data source that captures all work-related injuries, the occupational injury community relies on multiple sources to describe the problem. The occupational supplement Read More >
Posted on byShift Work and Sleep
In today’s competitive economy, an increasing number of U.S. businesses operate to meet customer demand for 24/7 services. These around-the-clock operations are required in order to maintain a place in the global market where transactions with clients, suppliers, and colleagues can span multiple time zones. Consequently, for many men and women, the workday no longer Read More >
Posted on by 11 CommentsDeepwater Horizon
With last week’s premier of the movie Deepwater Horizon, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) remembers the workers who were killed and injured in the explosion as well as the tens of thousands who worked on containment and clean up activities. NIOSH played an important role in protecting and monitoring the health and Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsNational Employ Older Workers Week is a Chance to Reflect on the Safety and Health Needs of Older Workers
This last full week of September is National Employ Older Workers Week. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the week “recognizes the vital role of older workers in the workforce … and aims to increase awareness of this labor segment and develop innovative strategies to tap it.” In observance of this event, join us Read More >
Posted on by 5 CommentsCelebrating National Farm Safety and Health Week: Farm Safety: A Legacy to Be Proud Of
September 18-24, 2016, is National Farm Safety and Health Week (NFSHW). This annual event, begun by the National Safety Council in 1944, promotes safe and healthy practices on farms and ranches around the U.S. Agriculture is among our most hazardous industries, with a work-related fatal injury rate of 25.6 deaths per 100,000 workers annually, according Read More >
Posted on by 16 CommentsUsing Occupation and Industry Information to Better Serve Your Patient Population
Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. On average, American workers spend close to half their waking hours at work. As a result, work can have significant impacts on health. As electronic health records (EHRs) are replacing paper medical records in most Read More >
Posted on by 4 CommentsN95 Day 2016: Proper Use, Filtration, and Fit – The Three-Legged Stool of Respiratory Protection
Dear N95 Day enthusiast – We want to thank you for joining us for another year of N95 respiratory protection information celebration. We know – today is 9/6, not 9/5. But we hope that many of you enjoyed the Labor Day holiday yesterday and are rested and ready for our annual N95 Day holiday today! Read More >
Posted on by 7 CommentsLabor Day 2016: A Statement by NIOSH Director John Howard, MD
To many, Labor Day signifies the end of summer vacations, the beginning of a new school year or a time to find bargains. It’s important to remember Labor Day is much more than just a retail holiday or a day off of work. We must not forget it is a day to celebrate workers—from teachers Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsKeeping Workers Safe on the Road
Reducing deaths due to motor vehicle crashes has been one of the greatest public health achievements of the last 50 years. In 2014, the rate of crash deaths in the United States, based on miles driven, was one-fifth the rate for 1966. And, the number of deaths decreased from 50,894 in 1966 to 32,675 in Read More >
Posted on by 6 CommentsWhere do you get your information? A survey of occupational safety and health practitioners
CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training receives NIOSH funding under a competitively awarded cooperative agreement that supports an extensive research program in occupational safety and health for the building industry. CPWR-supported researchers pursue original research in fields such as safety culture and climate, engineering controls for airborne silica and welding fumes, Read More >
Posted on by 3 CommentsCardiovascular Health Status by Occupational Group
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for 1 out of every 3 deaths in the United States, making it the leading cause of death. CVD illness and death accounts for an estimated $120 billion dollars of lost productivity in the workplace. With approximately 55% of Americans employed, the workplace is an important factor to consider in Read More >
Posted on by 3 CommentsOlympic Work
As Olympic fever takes hold, we would like to take the opportunity to highlight research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that relates directly or indirectly to the athletes or their events. NIOSH has the responsibility of conducting research and making recommendations to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. Although Olympic competition Read More >
Posted on by 7 CommentsWorkplace Medical Mystery Solved: Influenza-like Illness strikes Worker at Wildlife Refuge
Just before entering veterinary school, Michelle found a summer job at a wildlife refuge. She spent most of her time caring for Asian and African elephants until she came down with what she thought was the flu. Read more about her symptoms here. Had she been around anyone who was sick? Had she travelled anywhere Read More >
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