SurfWax News Index  |  Track News  |  Save/Exchange Information |  About Us

    News and Articles on NIOSH

    Archives: NIOSH

    Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology  Aug 29, 2008
    NIOSH Director's Award for Scientific Achievement In Occupational Safety and Health ... The NIOSH Director's Award is awarded annually to a NIOSH grantee to recognize outstanding scientific research achievement in the field of occupational safety and health that has made a major impact or has the potential of making a major impact on worker safety and health. (Nature News Service)

    Will Respirators Help Our Olympic Athletes?  Aug 8, 2008
    Some doctors, however, worry that NIOSH doesn't test for even smaller, "ultrafine" particles. A recent suggested NIOSH-certified masks weren't reaching the 95 percent-protection level for ultrafine matter, but the best masks did score well enough to suggest the USOC's goals are within reach ... NIOSH that workers exposed to ozone concentrations higher than 0. (Slate)

    PROTECTING THOSE WHO PROTECT US  Jul 20, 2008
    In 2007, NIOSH published a study noting 44 percent of firefighter deaths between 1995 and 2004 were attributed to sudden cardiovascular events. Both the multi-year NIOSH study and Logan City Fire Chief Mark Meaker agree on the same thing a firefighter s heart can be worked to death ... The NIOSH study recognizes a range of causes for coronary artery disease but emphasizes this unique physiological effect in firefighting. (Logan Herald Journal, UT)

    CDC chief criticized for pushing safety director out  Jul 13, 2008
    Dr. John Howard's six-year term as director of CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will expire Monday ... Lacking any stated performance reason for Howard's ouster, lawmakers and others who work with NIOSH said they believe that politics or personal animosity are at the root of Gerberding's action ... Maloney and other Congressional Democrats have been particularly vocal in their support for Howard, who as NIOSH director has been responsible for federal health... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)

    Fight Sickness At Work With Moving, Wipes  Jul 13, 2008
    In fact, NIOSH research psychologist Jeannie A. S. Nigam estimates that businesses lose $300 billion annually to lost productivity. "From a management perspective, it's important not to blame workers for the problems and to provide opportunities for employees to provide ideas," Nigam said. (Click2Houston, TX)

    Federal Agencies to Launch $8 Million Effort to Study Libby, Montana Asbestos Exposure  Jun 12, 2008
    -- Continuation of a study by ATSDR and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that compares film and digital chest x-rays in an effort to determine which is best for assessing the status or conditions of lungs. More information on the Libby Amphibole Health Risk Initiative can be found at and. (PR Newswire)

    Germs on a plane not so scary after all  May 13, 2008
    The study was headed by Dr. Lauralynn McKernan of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ... Ground air is more contaminatedWe have been working with NIOSH for over a decade, Merida said. (MSNBC -- Travel)

    Niosh to check safety at NS camps  Apr 11, 2008
    He said the department was seeking a second opinion from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to conduct an audit on the safety of the facilities and equipment in these camps ... Abdul Hadi signed the contract on behalf of the department while NIOSH was represented by its executive director Amir Yahya ... Present was NS Training Council chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who is also the chairman for NIOSH.. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)

    Schoolkids' mental health at stake  Feb 17, 2008
    "Our education system is examination-orientated and even if parents don't put pressure on the kids, children themselves pick up on their parents' high expectations," National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said. "This leads to high expectations for themselves, which if they do not achieve, they take very badly," he said in a statement issued Sunday. (The Star Online, Malaysia)

    Certain Toys May Permanently Damage Children's Hearing If Used Improperly, Study Suggests  Dec 6, 2007
    According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), prolonged exposure to loud sound can cause permanent hearing damage. For comparison, OSHA notes that it s safe to listen to a 100 decibel sound for up to two hours a day, while NIOSH recommends less than 10 minutes daily for the same sound. (Science Daily)

    Foss Co.'s eco-technology is health friendly  Nov 4, 2007
    Sunday November 4, 2007 CURRENT CONDITIONS: SUNNY 39. Members of the Foss Manufacturing Co. LLC management team - James Magruder, principal; Mike DeGrace, president; and Executive Vice President of Marketing Dave Cicchinelli - stand along side a breathing mask made with Fosshield, an antimicrobial material made from recycled plastic bottles. (Seacoast New Hampshire)

    Illness follows buttery-flavored trail  Oct 28, 2007
    It's often mistaken for asthma or emphysema, and though doctors have become more aware, they might not necessarily think exposure to a food additive is risky or ask many questions about a patient's job, says Dr. Richard Kanwal, a NIOSH medical officer who has investigated the illness since 2001 ... Over the years, NIOSH investigators have identified or reviewed medical records of dozens of cases in microwave popcorn plants in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio and flavor-making plants... (USA Today)

    American Society of Safety Engineers' President Comments on 2006 U.S. Workplace Injury and Illness Rates  Oct 20, 2007
    "Our members represent all industries located globally. They are the experts in this field making sure that their employees/coworkers return home from work to their families safely every day. "We continue to do this and urge employers of all sizes to look to the many free resources available to them aimed at creating a safe and healthy workplace," Thompson continued. "They can go to the many government web sites such as those for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the... (PR Newswire)

    Falling beams at highway: Action must be taken, says Lam Thye  Sep 29, 2007
    PETALING JAYA: Action should be taken against those responsible for negligence at road construction sites to ensure lives are not lost, says National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. Lee was commenting on the collapse of huge beams of an uncompleted flyover near Nilai on Thursday night, which narrowly missed a motorist and his aged parents. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)

    Engineers Offer Farm Safety Tips to Prevent Agricultural Injuries, Illnesses  Sep 21, 2007
    "We urge farmers to contact their state or local Cooperative Extension, Farm Bureau office or National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Center, which provide programs such as farm safety camps, resources, training and more aimed at preventing farm-related injuries.". There were 646 workplace fatalities for the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industries in 2006, according do the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (Agri-View, WI)

    NIOSH reports black lung rates double since '97  Sep 14, 2007
    Earlier this week, Petsonk released NIOSHs latest black lung study data during the National Coalition of Black Lung Respiratory Disease Clinics meeting in Wheeling ... 5 percent to about 6 percent, over the same period, according to NIOSH data ... Since NIOSH began its miners X-ray study program in 1970, black lung rates had consistently declined. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- News)

    Popcorn maker to use safer 'butter'  Aug 30, 2007
    A 2002 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) claims a connection between diacetyl and lung disease ... "Seven years after the first cases of popcorn lung were identified, five years after NIOSH published its first report, it is stunning that OSHA has failed to issue a standard protecting American workers from exposure to this chemical," Miller said, according to a hearing transcript. (AZCentral -- Business)

    Govt wants to reduce workplace accidents  Aug 20, 2007
    "We have a ratio of 5.83 cases of workplace accidents for every 1,000 workers, which is actually quite commendable when compared to other countries. "However, we must strive to be like other developed countries where there are only two cases for every 1,000 workers," he said, adding that the Ministry hoped to achieve this by 2020. Speaking after opening the 10th Conference on Occupational Safety and Health here Monday, Dr Fong said that nationwide efforts were being undertaken by the National... (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)

    Next Safety's Respirator Outperforms 3M's N95 Respirator  Aug 8, 2007
    However, a study conducted by the CDC, in conjunction with NIOSH and OSHA, has determined that N95 respirators are ineffective in disasters and pandemic events. This study, involving 538 participants in New Orleans, following Hurricane Katrina, found that 76% of participants could not correctly fit the mask. (Canada Newswire)

    Pillar Collapse Traps 6 Utah Miners  Aug 7, 2007
    " But Bruce Hill, president of UtahAmerican Energy Inc., which operates and co-owns the mine, called it a safe practice. "It's been done for the last 70 years and been very successful for those years," Hill said in a news conference. "It's something that the government approves and signs off on. Coal operators have been able to prove it's safe all along. (Tampa Bay Online, FL -- News)

    'Room-and-pillar' method often turns deadly  Aug 7, 2007
    Three of the nine roof fatalities in 2001 were from retreat mining, according to a 2003 NIOSH paper ... A NIOSH study six years earlier found the same thing ... NIOSH said that during retreat mining nearly half of those fatal accidents happened during the removal of the final pillar, which miners call the "suicide pillar," said J. Davitt McAteer, former head of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration and now vice president of Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia. (USA Today)

    Lab workers, volunteers put safety equipment to the test  Jul 22, 2007
    Manufacturers run many of the same tests on their respirators before submitting them to the NIOSH lab. "The [NIOSH] tests are very expensive if you don't pass, so we want to have a very high confidence level that we have something that is going to pass," says George Blank, manager of protection products for Draeger Safety in Findlay ... Based on recent scans of 3,400 human heads, NIOSH hopes to help the industry produce "designer" respirators fitted to the size of the user. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

    Surgery Is More Effective Than Other Treatments For Common Back Problem, Study Shows  Jul 3, 2007
    Additional support was provided for this research by the NIH Office of Research on Women s Health and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by NIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. (Science Daily)

    Proposal for tax rebate to firms using certain safety devices  Jun 26, 2007
    BANGI: Companies providing goggles, gas masks, respiratory devices and others for their workers may get a tax rebate if a proposal by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) is given the nod by the Finance Ministry ... Niosh chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said a memorandum was submitted to the Treasury during a pre-Budget meeting recently proposing for a tax rebate ... Often, small and medium industries cite high cost as the reason for not using protective personal... (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)

    Nanotechnology: consumers must be convinced risks outweigh benefits  Jun 26, 2007
    In his remarks, Maynard proposed a significant increase in research funding for agencies responsible for oversight and related researchthe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food Administration (FDA), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety h (NIOSH), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). He called for creation of a better decision-making and coordination mechanism among government agencies to implement a strategic... (EurekAlert!)

    Major increase in federal research needed to determine size of US coal reserves  Jun 21, 2007
    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) should lead an initiative involving the Mining Safety and Health Administration and industry -- an effort that will require additional federal funds of approximately $35 million annually, the committee said ... DOE's Office of Fossil Energy should lead this initiative, with participation by the National Science Foundation, Office of Surface Mining, NIOSH, academic institutions, and industry. (EurekAlert!)

    Buttery flavor might be harmful to your health  Jun 2, 2007
    If there are exposures in Connecticut, which seems likely based on the 50 Connecticut businesses that received the NIOSH alert, those workers will remain unprotected. There are concerns by consumers about exposure, as well. (Orange Bulletin, CT)

    Shepard Medical Products Introduces CareMates Infection Protection Product Line -- Consumer Health Products Help Protect from Communicable Diseases Li  Jun 1, 2007
    "When families are in the position of taking care of ill family members at home, or when travelers are on long flights, there seemed to be a gap in what consumers had available in infection protection. Shepard Medical is filling that gap with the same types of the best products available to medical facilities, meeting or exceeding the top standards set by NIOSH, ASTM International, and the CDC". " * Shepard Medical Products' Infection Protection Line includes the following products: CareMates... (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)

    Obesity Increases Risk Of Injury On The Job  May 17, 2007
    Association between Body Mass Index and Acute Traumatic Workplace Injury in Hourly Manufacturing Employees was supported by grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the NIOSH Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health at the JHSPH, the Donaghue Foundation and the Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Support was also... (Science Daily)

    Safety agency can do better, report says  May 3, 2007
    On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, the reports rated NIOSHs mining research arm as a 4 for both the relevance and impact of its work on the coal industrys safety performance. Despite a sharp decrease in available funds between 1998 and 2005, the NIOSH Mining Program has made major contributions to the engineering control of hazards in the workplace and the development and transfer of new knowledge to the mining industry, the academys report said ... But the 235-page report... (Charleston Gazette, WV -- News)

    OSHA and NIOSH Jointly Publish a Safety and Health Information Bulletin to Help Protect Surgical Personnel From Needle Stick Injuries  Apr 12, 2007
    WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have jointly published a Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) designed to help protect surgical personnel from needle stick injuries while using suture needles. "Surgical personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne... (PR Newswire)

    Compensation board's credibility questioned  Feb 26, 2007
    "There are definitely problems with the way Nevada Test Site workers are being handled by NIOSH," Reid spokesman Jon Summers said, referring to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. That is why Reid is working to expand special exposure coverage "and to also take this out of NIOSH's hands," Summers said ... Summers said Reid is aware of the conflict-of-interest association with Poston and other board members and has talked about it to officials with the Centers for Disease... (Las Vegas Review-Journal -- Nevada 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 ... Webcast LIVE at *** What: NIOSH... (PR Newswire)

    Niosh: Industrial accidents down, but don't be complacent  Feb 20, 2007
    PETALING JAYA: There is no room for complacency despite a significant reduction in reported industrial accident cases, said National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye ... "Niosh has introduced a safety passport programme to cater for the safety induction of workers engaged by various industries and to improve the safety practices and standard among workers, especially the workers of contractors," he added. (The Star Online, Malaysia)

    MSHA urged to act quickly on mine seals  Feb 14, 2007
    In last weeks report, NIOSH said that sealed-area explosions could carry forces of 640 pounds per square inch or more. NIOSH experts recommended a three-tier approach to toughening mine-seal rules. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- News)

    Government calls for stronger mine seals  Feb 10, 2007
    The new standard may have to be significantly revised if NIOSH is correct. "If we want to design a seal for a worst case condition, we should design the seal for 640" pounds per square inch, said Jeffrey Kohler, associate director for Mine Safety and Health Research at NIOSH. ... Currently, mines must check methane levels behind seals weekly, but NIOSH is suggesting continuous monitoring, Kohler said. (Bakersfield Californian -- Nation)

    Mine seals must improve  Feb 10, 2007
    NIOSH releases draft safety report ... But in some instances where large areas are being sealed and not closely monitored by mine operators seals need to be able to withstand far larger blasts with forces greater than 640 pounds per square inch, the new NIOSH report recommends ... Jeffrey Kohler, director of NIOSHs mining research programs, said that coal operators who dont want to closely monitor sealed areas, or gobs, need to be prepared to build much stronger seal walls. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- News)

    More of this story  Feb 9, 2007
    NIOSH has determined that Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) is potentially carcinogenic to occupationally exposed workers. Research on the toxicity and carcinogenic qualities of tobacco smoke has demonstrated that the health risk from inhaling tobacco smoke is not limited to the smoker, but also includes those who inhale ETS in the work environment. (LaGrange Oldham Era, KY)

    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)

    Fire investigations face long wait  Feb 7, 2007
    "An investigation by MSNBC.com shows that the CDC routinely takes as long as a month and sometimes as long as nine months to visit the scene of firefighter deaths. The CDC also:Doesn't investigate a death at all if the fire department or fire union raises an objection.Has cut back in the past three years on the number of investigations.Destroys information that could help identify patterns of hazards with firefighting equipment, training and tactics."Frankly I think the American... (MSNBC -- International)

    New CDC ombudsmen busy  Jan 23, 2007
    We are scheduled to visit the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Morgantown and Pittsburgh the week of January 22. Additional visits to other Atlanta and non-Atlanta CDC facilities are planned for the months ahead. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)

    Radiation-related compensation hard to come by  Jan 22, 2007
    The e-mail from Larry J. Elliott, director of compensation analysis and support for NIOSH, urged him to sign a form confirming that he has no more information to offer ... As for flaws in the test site's profile, Hatchett, the Labor Department spokeswoman, said NIOSH "is responsible for the site profiles, and if changes are made to the site profile that would affect the dose reconstruction, DOL would send the case back to NIOSH for a new dose reconstruction." ... A NIOSH spokeswoman in... (Las Vegas Review-Journal -- Nevada News)

    New quartz references for workplace safety  Jan 20, 2007
    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has estimated that at least 1 ... NIOSH has identified calibration errors as a significant factor in inconsistent results from different laboratories. (EurekAlert!)

    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!)

    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)

    Audio assault  Jan 8, 2007
    Sources: FDA, OSHA, DOE, NIOSH, League for the Hard of Hearing, dB Engineering, Noise Pollution Clearinghouse and Union-Tribune news sources. Clubs are loud. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

    Nanotech safety needs specific government risk research strategy and funding  Jan 4, 2007
    "Far harder is getting the federal government to take action in three critical areas: first, documenting what relevant risk research exists; second, ensuring that agencies responsible for oversight and related research--the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food Administration (FDA), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety h (NIOSH), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)--are adequately funded; and third, developing a... (EurekAlert!)

    Exposing the 'Phantom Epidemic' in Silica Litigation  Dec 29, 2006
    "[G]iven the sheer volume of claims -- each supported by a silicosis diagnosis from a physician one would expect the [Centers for Disease Control] or NIOSH to be involved, examining and responding to this enormous epidemic. One would expect local health departments and physician groups to be mobilized. One would expect a flurry of articles and attention from the media, such as what happened in 2003 with SARS. But none of these things happened." Id. at 572. (Law.com)

    Truckers' long hours, high stress take toll  Dec 12, 2006
    NIOSH ramped up its study of transportation workers' health after Dr. Belzer's 2003 conference. And he hopes that such research will shed light on the cost-benefits of healthier drivers. (FOX 11, AZ)

    A fight for freedom  Dec 10, 2006
    When scientists at NIOSH want to test an idea, they turn to him ... At NIOSH, she helped conduct research on sensitivity to chemicals in the workplace. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- News)

    Cleanliness and safety checks at all NS training camps  Dec 1, 2006
    "Health officers at the districts where the camps are located will carry out thorough inspection two weeks before the trainees enter the camps and twice more after the intake. "The officers will look at all safety and cleanliness-related aspects, including living quarters, kitchens, food, and even water pools used for water exercises," he said when visiting the Nasuha National Service Camp here on Friday. Lee said besides, the council had also asked the National Institute of Occupational Safety... (The Star Online, Malaysia)

    UC to host nanotechnology conference  Dec 1, 2006
    "For scientists," said Dr. John Howard, director of NIOSH, "this is a rare opportunity to meet in a dedicated forum to discuss new information, research strategies and pathways." ... Conference sponsors include the University of Cincinnati NIOSH Education & Research Center, U.S. Air Force Office for Scientific Research, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the National Science Foundation, Ohio State University, Ohio University and TSI.. (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)

    Scientists set 'Five Grand Challenges' for nanotechnology risk research  Nov 16, 2006
    Dr. Maynard formerly served at the National Institute of 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. He also was a member of the U.S. government's Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council, and co-chaired the Nanotechnology Health and Environmental Implications (NEHI) working group of... (EurekAlert!)

    First Comprehensive Survey of Nanotechnology Safety Practices Released UCSB, Nov. 13  Nov 14, 2006
    "The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is pleased to see the ICON report, which we will review with great interest in our ongoing efforts to further scientific research and provide interim recommendations on safe approaches to nanotechnology," said NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard. "We appreciate UCSB's partnership, early in their process, in inviting us to participate in the planning and design of the survey. This work will give researchers a better understanding of... (University of California Newswire, CA)

    RAVES, RANTS & ROSES, NOVEMBER 7  Nov 7, 2006
    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established an exposure limit for NOx at 25 ppm or 46 milligrams (1/1,000th of a gram) per cubic meter of air. Of course you're also producing a lot of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but I think I've made my point. (Tyler Morning Telegraph, TX)

    Edward Peeks  Oct 24, 2006
    West Virginia mine regulators and others in Central Appalachia are critical of NIOSH for sitting on the report a copy of which was obtained just the other day by The Associated Press and made public ... MSHA experts are reviewing the NIOSH studies, and it is premature to comment at this time on NIOSHs results, MSHA spokesman Dirk Fillpot told the AP. ... The exposed NIOSH report confirms problems with air packs found by West Virginia and Kentucky tests, among others, since Sago. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- Business)

    Nanotechnology: Next Big Thing, or Much Ado About Nothing?  Oct 23, 2006
    While initiatives such as the ORC Worldwide(TM) Nanotechnology Consensus Workplace Safety Guidelines, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) "Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology," and the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON) "Review of Safety Practices in the Nanotechnology Industry," provide invaluable resources for working as safely as possible with engineered nanomaterials, Maynard believes we still have a long way to go ... Dr. Maynard joined the National... (PR Newswire)

    Cabbies, clerks put lives on line  Oct 9, 2006
    " Three years after the federal guidelines took effect, the Department of Labor's inspector general said that OSHA did not know whether businesses were following them or even the figures on the level of violence in the workplaces. Recent studies by OSHA's research arm show that many businesses, especially small ones, have not embraced even the simplest measures, and Rosemary Erickson, a safety expert who has examined the issue for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health... (Chicago Tribune)

    Maker of air packs used in mine disaster says products are safe  Oct 7, 2006
    Reports on earlier testing from 1982 through August 2000 indicate NIOSH found high breathing pressure and high carbon dioxide levels with CSE air packs, making it difficult for users to breathe ... CSE criticized NIOSH for testing units that it said would not have passed the company's own inspection criteria ... NIOSH obtained air packs for all the tests from mines. (NEPA News, PA)

    Tests find 30% failure in oxygen packs for miners  Oct 7, 2006
    "I think what this points to is the importance of doing those daily inspections and doing them in the proper manner, adhering to the manufacturer's instructions," said Les Boord, director of NIOSH's National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory in South Park, which oversaw the tests. The report, available on the NIOSH Web site, is based on evaluations of more than 400 SCSRs made by four different companies ... It was in the second phase that NIOSH investigators found that 30 percent of the... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

    Feds find Sago Mine air packs deficient  Oct 6, 2006
    NIOSH said the company addressed the problems by adding a test that can detect damage and indicators that show whether air packs have been exposed to extremely high temperatures, which can damage them ... "MSHA experts are reviewing the NIOSH studies and it is premature to comment at this time on NIOSH's results," said MSHA spokesman Dirk Fillpot ... NIOSH also tested air packs made by three other manufacturers: Pleasant Prairie, Wis. (Bakersfield Californian -- Nation)

    Test blast to exceed current federal standards  Sep 30, 2006
    While NIOSH laboratories mortared the seals to the floor, and applied Bloc Bond mortar to all sides of the block as they stacked it, workers at Sago testified that they poured dry mortar onto the mine floor, stacked the blocks atop it, and at points squeezed mortar into joints after stacking. Bennett Hatfield, president of ICG, the mine's owner, later insisted that designs did not call for the blocks to be cemented to the floor, but both MSHA and NIOSH engineers later said that the approved plan... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

    Lodge report on money politics  Sep 12, 2006
    "It doesn't have to be Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad). Any of the delegates can lodge the complaint," he told reporters on Tuesday after opening the Niosh 9th conference on Occupational Safety and Health. He added that the complaint should also be supported by evidence or facts that could be the basis of an investigation. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)

    Najib: Make safety and health a workplace culture  Sep 12, 2006
    Its not just to make pronouncements but to put guidelines into practice and day-to-day actions that can save the lives of workers, he told a press conference on Tuesday after opening the Niosh 9th Conference on Occupational Safety and Health. We have to strengthen the culture. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)

    Large Study Of World Trade Center Responders Finds Persistent Health Problems In Many  Sep 7, 2006
    "We are continuing our monitoring and treatment program with support from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). We encourage anyone who worked at Ground Zero, especially in the early days after September 11, who has not yet been screened, to come for an evaluation. It is important that those who gave so heroically in the aftermath of the disaster be assured that they will be able to get all the medical care they need.". Supported with ongoing federal funding from... (Science Daily)

    Reducing Illnesses and Injuries in the Agricultural Workplace UCD, Sep. 05  Sep 6, 2006
    Themed "Health and Safety in Western Agriculture: Research to Practice," the conference is co-sponsored by the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS), Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). At the center of the two-day conference is the new NIOSH initiative, Research to Practice (r2p), which "focuses on the transfer and translation of research findings, technologies and information... (University of California Newswire, CA)

    Potential hazards to consumers from flavoring agent unchecked  Aug 30, 2006
    NIOSH documented that diacetyl gave off toxic vapors when it was heated and, in some of the plants, found the highest incidence of disease among workers in the quality-control areas, where the packaged corn, ready for market, was popped in microwaves and sampled. NIOSH repeatedly informed OSHA of the hazard it identified and urged a broader investigation of workplaces throughout the country that either manufacture flavorings with diacetyl or use it in thousands of consumer products. (SunSpot.net)

    Nanotech's tiny revolution raises caution  Aug 20, 2006
    "This is a whole new category of substances," said Paul Schulte, who heads a nanotechnology research center for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH. ... Based on what's known about the damage caused by very small airborne particles, NIOSH is recommending against inhaling nanomaterials in the workplace, although no U.S. regulations require respiratory protection ... The Davis team and another at NIOSH have been trying aggressively to set up mouse inhalation tests... (Sacramento Bee)

    Agency hit on worker lung ailment  Aug 3, 2006
    Representatives of NIOSH and OSHA were among the officials meeting Wednesday. The National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver hosted the daylong discussion that brought health investigators together for the first time to share findings on workers' health and working conditions. (Sacramento Bee)

    House members fault agency for inaction on flavoring peril  Aug 3, 2006
    NIOSH has investigated at least six Midwest popcorn plants where hundreds of workers contracted bronchiolitis obliterans ... NIOSH investigators are concerned that workers' exposure to diacetyl in butter flavoring goes far beyond popcorn plants and that tens of thousands of workers might be at risk in food-processing plants making such items as bakery goods, candy, frozen dinners and beer ... The letter faults the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for not acting in... (SunSpot.net)

    Investigative Report: Flavoring agent destroys lungs  Jul 31, 2006
    Some of the same NIOSH doctors found a strong link between diacetyl and the lung disease a few years ago among workers at microwave popcorn factories in the Midwest. The disease permanently disabled dozens of popcorn workers and killed at least three, according to the doctors. (Sacramento Bee)

    NIOSH prepares to seek proposals for new mine air packs  Jul 27, 2006
    NIOSH official John Kovac said the agency wants proposals for hybrid air packs, or self-rescuers, that combine the oxygen-generating devices used today with filter self-rescuers that scrub toxins but do not provide oxygen ... NIOSH also wants proposals for air packs that allow miners to swap out chemical cartridges that generate oxygen and remove carbon-dioxide ... Kovac also said NIOSH is close to proposing new standards for certifying self-rescuers for use in coal mines. (NEPA News, PA)

    Federal measures sought to combat flavoring peril  Jul 26, 2006
    The Sun reported in April that some NIOSH and OSHA scientists wanted to intensify investigations into illness caused by flavorings and want the government to issue regulations to protect workers. The emergency temporary standard sought by the unions and public health leaders would have OSHA set exposure limits; immediately issue a bulletin to all employers and employees stating that exposure to diacetyl might result in severe illness; and conduct inspections where workers are exposed to diacetyl... (SunSpot.net)

    Report on Sago Mine disaster urges big safety changes  Jul 20, 2006
    In remarks to reporters prior to the report's release, Mr. McAteer reiterated his call for Omega Block not to be used, and said the investigation has so far concluded that the seals at Sago were not constructed according to plans approved by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, which based its approval on testing done by NIOSH.. Mr. McAteer's report calls for immediate reinforcement of any seals using "alternative" materials, notably the Omega Blocks that were used in the Sago... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

    Nanotechnology Report Calls for New Government Risk Research Strategy & Funding  Jul 19, 2006
    This research effort must be led by federal agencies with a clear mandate for oversight and for research of environmental, health and safety (EHS) risk -- for example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety h (NIOSH). Maynard estimates that oversight and EHS research agencies need a minimum budget of $50 million per year over the next two years to devote to highly relevant, targeted nanotechnology risk-based research, if critical knowledge... (PR Newswire)

    Sago Mine seals were poorly built  Jul 18, 2006
    The description for building the NIOSH test seal diverges substantially from the standard for an approved Omega block seal, but matches descriptions of the construction given by witnesses, including Mr. Scott, before the investigating panel. The NIOSH test wall will be built atop a 11/2-inch-thick layer of dry mortar, called BlocBond, with no mortar between the vertical joints in the first row. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

    Mine Safety Tests Called Inadequate  Jul 14, 2006
    Now, NIOSH officials are re-examining the policy, months after fatal disasters in coal mines in West Virginia and Kentucky raised questions about the safety of the devices. "We've been looking for a long time at questions of the testing and certification standards," said NIOSH spokesman Fred Blosser, who confirmed the proposal was being reviewed again ... NIOSH certifies air packs by putting the devices on people who perform a series of activities. (CBS News)

    One Sago air pack was past expiration date  Jul 14, 2006
    Federal regulators didn't act on the engineer's suggestions to change the tests, but NIOSH officials are now re-examining the policy. Years of government tests show CSE air packs require users to breathe far harder than other brands and tend to leave high levels of carbon dioxide in the air users are breathing. (NEPA News, PA)

    Farming can be deadly business  Jul 9, 2006
    Through it, NIOSH aims to inform the public about farm safety. Other goals include retiring older tractors and replacing them with ROPS-equipped models. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)

    Tests reveal potential problems with mine air packs  Jul 6, 2006
    His account corroborates what government scientists have uncovered: As many as 13 years ago, NIOSH found CSE air packs require users to work harder to breathe than similar devices by rival manufacturers ... But Les Boord, director of the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, says the air packs meet performance standards specified in federal regulation ... A 2002 report on the MSHA-NIOSH study, the latest available, shows nearly 30 percent of CSE air packs, especially those... (NEPA News, PA)

    Flavoring perils get harder look  Jun 3, 2006
    Last week, more than 60 physicians, toxicologists and other medical specialists from a dozen states, Baltimore and NIOSH took part in a conference call to discuss ways they can track and assess the health of workers exposed to the flavoring chemicals ... In Washington, investigators from the Democratic side of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce are collecting information on diacetyl, the flavoring industry and the way NIOSH and other agencies are handling worker illness ... NIOSH... (SunSpot.net)

    Many complaints, fewer recalls of breathing packs for miners  May 24, 2006
    These aren't the first instances when NIOSH has been called in to check miners' SCSRs ... According to NIOSH spokesman Fred Blosser in Washington, D.C., only eight of those reviews resulted in recalls or replacement of the SCSRs involved ... Mr. Blosser said most of the units tested by NIOSH are done the request of the user. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

    Nanotech Raises Worker-Safety Questions  May 2, 2006
    "We have very little data to make any kind of informed societal decisions about how to deal with nanomaterials in the workplace," said Paul Schulte, the director of education and information at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). That is why a swarm of NIOSH scientists recently spent the better part of a week at Altair with nearly a ton of equipment for measuring worker exposures to nanoparticles. (Yahoo News -- Nanotechnology)

    Health Highlights: April 25, 2006  Apr 27, 2006
    MedlinePlus: Health Highlights: April 25, 2006. Health Highlights: April 25, 2006. (MEDLINEplus)

    Fatal Disease From Flavoring Raises Flags  Apr 26, 2006
    Recent cases that NIOSH scientists have learned about include a man who worked at a small Baltimore-area flavoring company, a man who worked at a North Carolina potato chip plant, and an employee at a Chicago candy maker, and workers at a Cincinnati flavoring plant ... But while scientists at NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration want to intensify investigations, agency leaders say they don't plan to act because they believe enough is being done now. (Newsmax)

    Archives: NIOSH

    Back to Health News

[ Terms Of Use | Privacy | About ]
©1998-2008 SurfWax, Inc.
All rights reserved. Patents pending.



Copyright SurfWax, Inc. 2008