NIOSH Science Blog Posts

Programa de Salud del World Trade Center: Más de una década de proveer monitoreo y tratamiento médico

En el 2022, más de 14 000 miembros del Programa de Salud del World Trade Center (WTC) se identificaron como hispanos. Este blog está dedicado a nuestra audiencia de habla hispana, como mensaje de alcance comunitario con una descripción general del Programa de Salud del WTC y de las investigaciones realizadas en la última década. Read More >

Posted on by Alejandro Azofeifa, DDS, MSc, MPH; Max Lum, Ed.D, MPA1 Comment

Setting Objectives for Fatigue Detection Technologies

This is the third blog in the series on fatigue detection technologies.   Work-related fatigue can have serious consequences for worker health and safety if not properly managed. One effective option for mitigating work-related fatigue is a well-designed fatigue risk management plan, which can be informed by many approaches and tools, such as fatigue detection technologies Read More >

Posted on by Tim Bauerle, PhD; Emanuele Cauda, PhD; Imelda Wong, PhD; and Kyla Hagan-Haynes, MPH

Seasoned Employees in the Landscaping Services Industry

As in many other industries, the average age for workers in the landscaping services industry* has been rising, from 38.1 in 2011 to 40.9 in 2019. While knowledge and skills generally improve with age, physical abilities such as strength, reaction time, and balance may decline. Typically, the injury rate for older workers is lower than Read More >

Posted on by Barbara M. Alexander, PhD, PE, CIH; Steven J. Wurzelbacher, PhD; Rachel J. Zeiler, BA; Steven J. Naber, PhD; Harpriya Kaur, PhD; James Grosch, PhD; and Asha Brogan, BA4 Comments

Statement From WTC Health Program Administrator John Howard, M.D. Commemorating 21 Years Since September 11, 2001

  Each year the country observes a National Day of Service and Remembrance to reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the lives lost, and the bravery and resilience shown on that day and in the years after. Twenty-one years later, we honor the thousands more who have tragically lost their lives to Read More >

Posted on by John Howard, MD

Highlights from a New Report on Indicators of Workplace Violence

  Federal agencies recently published a joint statistical report on workplace violence entitled Indicators of Workplace Violence, 2019. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) examined incidents of fatal and nonfatal violence that occurred against persons at work or on Read More >

Posted on by Erika Harrell, Jeremy Petosa, Nicole Dangermond, Susan Derk, Dan Hartley, and Audrey Reichard7 Comments

Respiratory Protection Week 2022: Staying Committed to Proper Respiratory Protection Practices

Happy Respiratory Protection Week! Our commitment to respiratory protection runs deep for us here at NIOSH. In fact, we’ve been dedicating an entire day or week to promoting proper respiratory protection practices since 2012. Our goal since the beginning has always been to highlight the importance of respiratory protection in the workplace and provide resources Read More >

Posted on by Marisa Fries and Meghan Kiederer2 Comments

Labor Day 2022: A Statement by NIOSH Director, John Howard, MD

On the first Monday of September, we have an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the incredible contributions and achievements of American workers. Labor Day is an important reminder of the impact of the U.S. workforce and of our vision for safer, healthier workers. Sometimes, the greatest threats to workers are ones we cannot see. Read More >

Posted on by John Howard, MD2 Comments

NIOSH Miner Health Program Addresses Substance Use and Work

  Drug overdoses have accelerated over the past two decades, and in 2017, the United States Department of Health and Human Services deemed the opioid crisis a public health emergency. In April of 2021, the U.S. surpassed 100,000 drug overdose deaths for the preceding 12-month period, marking a nearly 29% increase from the previous 12-months. Read More >

Posted on by Carol T. Nixon, PhD; Zoë J. Dugdale, MPH; Jamie C. Osborne, MPH, CHES®; and L. Casey Chosewood, MD, MPH

Pre-pandemic Mental Health and Well-being of Healthcare Workers

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers faced substantial work-related stress. Most research on the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers has focused on physicians and nurses, with less attention paid to other healthcare occupations. Recent research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated the pre-pandemic mental health and well-being Read More >

Posted on by Sharon Silver, MS; Jia Li, MS; Suzanne Marsh, MPA; and Eric Carbone, PhD7 Comments

Students Making Their Mark at NIOSH

Training the next generation of occupational safety and health specialists is a critical part of the NIOSH mission. Most training is done through the NIOSH supported Education and Research Centers (see related blog). In addition to these formal programs, each year NIOSH is fortunate to host student interns within the Institute. NIOSH staff give students Read More >

Posted on by Julie Tisdale-Pardi, MA4 Comments

Risk-Based Model to Resume Field Research and Public Health Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many workplaces across the world strictly limited or ceased in-person activities, including parts of the Federal government.  While much work continued remotely, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) needed to make decisions about allowing employees to travel to conduct workplace safety and health field research and public health Read More >

Posted on by Douglas Johns, PhD, MS; Kristin Yeoman, MD, MPH; Joshua Harney, MS; John Howard, MD; and Gerald Poplin, PhD, MS

Are Insurer Risk Control Services Effective?

Workers’ Compensation Risk Control Workers’ compensation insurance systems provide medical care and lost-time wage payments for workers who are injured or become ill due to work. Workers’ compensation insurers also provide employer risk control services including: Onsite risk assessment visits Video-based safety and ergonomic job analyses Industrial hygiene air/noise sampling, and physical hazard assessments Safety Read More >

Posted on by Steven J. Wurzelbacher, PhD; Stephen J. Bertke, PhD; Michael P. Lampl, MS; P. Timothy Bushnell, PhD, MPA; David C. Robins, AAS; and Steven J. Naber, PhD; Libby L. Moore, PhD;

NIOSH Education and Research Centers: Research

As discussed in a previous NIOSH Science Blog, NIOSH Education and Research Centers: Training, there are 18 NIOSH-funded Education and Research Centers (ERCs) that engage in meaningful research, training, and outreach activities across 17 states. In honor of the 45th anniversary of the ERCs, this blog will highlight research activities conducted by the ERCs. The Read More >

Posted on by Negar Omid, PhD and Michelle McDaniel, BS, CHES

Precarious Work, Job Stress, and Health-related Quality of Life

Quality of work is a central issue in understanding worker well-being [1]. Work is changing due to several factors including technology and demographics and so is the way work is organized and designed. These changes have led to non-standard work arrangements, like gig work, resulting in an increased prevalence of precarious work [2]. While there Read More >

Posted on by Anasua Bhattacharya, PhD, and Tapas Ray, PhD3 Comments

Strategies for Advancing Occupational Safety and Health: Examining Health Inequities

How can we improve occupational safety and health research to better address health inequities? The United States has a long history of occupational safety and health (OSH) research, policy, and intervention. Despite this, long-standing occupational health inequities continue, with underserved workers experiencing higher rates of injury and illness. Occupational Health Equity Program researchers at the Read More >

Posted on by Jacqueline Sivén, PhD, MA, MPH; Laura Syron, PhD, MPH; Andrea Steege, PhD, MPH; Pietra Check, MPH; Michael Flynn, MA

Día Mundial contra el Cáncer 2020. Reflexiones acerca de una década de investigación de NIOSH sobre el cáncer

  Este blog se publicó originalmente en inglés en el 2020. Contiene una gran cantidad de recursos que todavía son relevantes hoy en día; por eso estamos publicando el blog en español, para compartir esta información con una audiencia más amplia. El 4 de febrero del 2020 es el Día Mundial contra el Cáncer, y estamos reflexionando Read More >

Posted on by Raquel Velazquez-Kronen, Ph.D.; and Jasmine Nelson, B.S.

National Marble Day: A Look at the Manufacturing of Glass Marbles

  The blog content comes from the NIOSH Manufacturing Mondays series. July 23rd is National Marble Day.  There is much more to these little spheres than you might think. Although the game of marbles was originally played by children, it grew into a fun pastime for adults as well. There are treasure hunts to find Read More >

Posted on by Jenny Topmiller, MS; RJ Matetic, MS, PhD; Gary Roth, MS, PhD; Richard Current, PE; and Adam Smith, PhD,

Exposure Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Refined Coal Tar Sealant Applications

  Coal tar sealants are applied as a protective coating for paved surfaces. Many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are found in these sealants. Several of these PAHs are known or suspected to cause, or increase the risk of developing cancer, but to date there has been no published research on workplace exposures to coal-tar-based sealant. Read More >

Posted on by Seth McCormick, MPH; John Snawder, PhD, DAHB; I-Chen Chen, PhD; Marissa Alexander-Scott, DVM, MS, MPH; Michael Breitenstein, B.S.; Yuesong Wang, PhD; Lei Meng, MS; Juliana Meadows, PhD; Cheryl Fairfield Estill, PhD1 Comment

Education and Training Concerning Masks and Respirators for Construction Workers

Various types of masks and respirators are receiving increased attention in many workplaces, including on construction sites. Use of masks is part of a multi-layered prevention strategy for COVID-19, and many workplaces require or encourage employees to wear them. Masks are designed to cover a person’s mouth and nose to help contain large droplets or Read More >

Posted on by Aurora B. Le, PhD, MPH, CSP, CPH; Meghan Kiederer, BA; Adam K. Smith, PhD; Douglas Trout, MD, MHS; Scott Earnest, PhD, PE, CSP

ERCs Partner to Offer Webinar Series on Human Factors and Ergonomics and Industrial Hygiene

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the NIOSH Education and Research Centers (ERC) which are extramurally funded university-based centers that carry out multidisciplinary education and research training activities and offer graduate and postgraduate training in the core and allied fields of occupational safety and health. The ERCs serve as a resource for our nation’s Read More >

Posted on by Mitchel Rosen and Michelle Meyer1 Comment