NIOSH Science Blog Posts
Research Day 2016 Brings Together Students, Alumni, and Professionals
The 8th Annual Occupational and Environmental Health Research Day took place on March 3rd with a record number of almost 200 attendees. Research Day is a yearly tradition, showcasing innovative graduate student research in occupational and environmental health and safety, as well as highlighting alumni experiences and connecting community members working in health and safety to students and Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsPi at Work
It’s Pi Day. Do you use π (3.14) in the course of your work? If so, please tell us how in the comment section below. You are probably aware that the traditional way to celebrate this holiday, which also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday, is by eating pie. As you enjoy your delicious desert know that Read More >
Posted on by 6 CommentsDaylight Saving: Suggestions to help workers adapt to the time change
Spring forward Fall back. We all know the saying to help us remember to adjust our clocks for the daylight saving time changes (this Sunday in case you are wondering). But, what can we do to help workers adjust to the effects of the time change? A few studies have examined these issues but Read More >
Posted on by 15 CommentsWearable Exoskeletons to Reduce Physical Load at Work
Robotic-like suits which provide powered assist and increase human strength may conjure thoughts of sci-fi and superhero film genres. But these wearable exoskeleton devices are now a reality and the market for their applications in the workplace is projected to increase significantly in the next five years. As with any technologic innovation some of the Read More >
Posted on by 15 CommentsNIOSH Ladder Safety App Evolves with User Feedback
The award-winning NIOSH Ladder Safety App is now updated based on our users’ feedback. First introduced in 2013, the app has received much positive feedback. As of the end of 2015, it has more than 52,000 downloads. Among those promoting the app are state officials, industry leaders, and safety professionals. Many companies have even Read More >
Posted on by 9 CommentsBlack History Month: Saluting Two NIOSH Pioneers of Diversity
During Black History Month, we celebrate the men and women of African-American heritage who have contributed so much to our nation’s leadership in the global community. At NIOSH, we recognize the importance of a diverse scientific workforce that mirrors the diversity of today’s workforce as a whole. As we approach the third decade of Read More >
Posted on by 7 CommentsOccupational Exposure Limits – State of the Science
The process of developing and using occupational exposure limits is a cornerstone of industrial hygiene practice, with a history dating back to the 1880s. Occupational exposure limits, known as OELs, have not—until recently—evolved enough to reflect the advances in related sciences of toxicology, risk assessment, and exposure assessment. Much of the pioneering effort to Read More >
Posted on by 6 CommentsHow to Put Leading Indicators into Practice
The use of leading indicators is a growing hot topic in occupational and environmental health and safety. The Campbell Institute at the National Safety Council has been studying leading indicators for the past two years to help more organizations take advantage of their predictive power. The Institute defines leading indicators as proactive, preventive, and Read More >
Posted on by 12 CommentsThe Importance of High Standards: A Valentine’s Day Message about Closed-Circuit Escape Respirators
We here at NIOSH LOVE respirators. That’s why every Valentine’s day, we blog about important respirator considerations. It’s our version of an information-packed love letter. In 2014 we discussed essential maintenance tips for self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs), also known as closed-circuit escape respirators (CCERs). Since that blog entry, the implementation of a new CCER standard Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentHow to Make Safer, More Knowledgeable Drivers—On and Off the Job
This blog was originally posted on MyCarDoesWhat.org As an employer, what can you do to help workers understand and learn how to use safety features built into vehicles they drive for work—whether you provide these vehicles, or workers drive their own vehicles? Newer vehicles have advanced safety features most of us could not have imagined Read More >
Posted on by 9 CommentsUnderstanding Noise Exposure Limits: Occupational vs. General Environmental Noise
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is 100% preventable; however, once acquired, it is permanent and irreversible [NIOSH 1998]. Understanding and minimizing the risks associated with noise exposures are the keys to preventing noise-related hearing loss. NIOSH has a long history of leadership in conducting research, advancing control measures, and recommending noise-exposure limits to prevent job-related hearing Read More >
Posted on by 51 CommentsCoffee Workers at Risk for Lung Disease
Obliterative bronchiolitis, an irreversible form of lung disease in which the smallest airways in the lung (the bronchioles) become scarred and constricted, blocking the movement of air, was previously identified in flavoring manufacturing workers and microwave popcorn workers who were occupationally exposed to diacetyl (2,3-butanedione) or butter flavorings containing diacetyl. Now, NIOSH research finds Read More >
Posted on by 11 CommentsNew NIOSH Study Supports the OSHA Annual Fit Testing Requirements for Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Results of a recently completed NIOSH study confirm the necessity of the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) respirator fit testing requirement, both annually and when physical changes have occurred. The study’s conclusions emphasize that respirator users who have lost more than 20 pounds should be re-tested to be sure that the current Read More >
Posted on by 14 CommentsThe Opioid Overdose Epidemic and the Workplace
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released troubling statistics on the growing epidemic of drug and opioid overdose deaths in the United States. The origins of this epidemic have been linked to prescription opioids. While it is unknown how many drug and opioid overdose deaths are associated with workplace injuries and Read More >
Posted on by 42 CommentsHoliday Gifts from NIOSH
If you are lucky enough to get some time off over the holidays, you may find yourself looking for something to listen to, watch, or read. Our gift to you this holiday season is a compilation of the songs, movies and books with workplace safety and health themes that we have collected through the NIOSH Science Read More >
Posted on by 9 CommentsMovies with Workplace Safety and Health Themes
The 33 2015, Patricia Riggen IMDb rating: 7.0 From IMDb: Based on the real-life event, when a gold and copper mine collapses, it traps 33 miners underground for 69 days. 42nd Street 1933, Lloyd Bacon IMDb rating: 7.7 From our readers: The film has an interesting final image: a drawing of a theatre curtain that Read More >
Posted on byBooks with Workplace Safety and Health Themes
Ahab’s Wife Sena Jeter Naslund (1999) From our readers: A novel written about the wife of Ahab of Moby Dick. She disquises herself as a cabin boy and works on a whaling ship. Animal’s People Indra Sinha– (2007) From our readers: A fictional novel about a boy who was born just before the Bhopal environmental Read More >
Posted on bySongs with Workplace Safety and Health Themes
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton Allentown – Billy Joel Anthracite Fields – Julia Wolfe Banana Boat Song – Harry Belafonte Bread & Roses – James Oppenheim- performed by Joan Biaz Brother Trucker – James Taylor The Chemical Worker’s Song– Ron Angel Coal Miner’s Grave – Hazel Dickens Coal Mining Women Read More >
Posted on by 34 CommentsPreventing Wood Chipper Fatalities
Last week, a 19-year-old North Carolina teen was killed after being pulled feet first into a wood chipper (see news report). It was his first day on the job. Self-feeding mobile wood chippers commonly used during tree trimming operations consist of a feed mechanism, knives mounted on a rotating chipper disc or drum, and Read More >
Posted on by 13 CommentsNIOSH Co-hosts Motor Vehicle Safety Webinar
Earlier this month, the NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety, together with the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research, hosted a webinar on Occupational Research in Motor Vehicle Safety. The webinar grew out of interest generated at the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium, and featured presentations on organizational-level approaches to improving work-related Read More >
Posted on by 6 Comments