Partnership
NORA Partnerships
NORA has helped demonstrate that there is a new way of doing business at NIOSH. Although the transformation to the "new NIOSH" was in process prior to NORA, the development and implementation of the Agenda have proven to many in the private sector that collaboration with the government is not only possible, but worthwhile.
Research related to the Traumatic Injury Team has proven particularly fruitful. The Traumatic Injury Team document, Traumatic Occupational Injury Research Needs and Priorities, is helping to pave the way for future partnerships. The document provides a foundation for discussion with external partners to explore common research areas. In the first three examples below, industry approached NIOSH to collaborate on topics related to the traumatic injury priority research area. All of the following partnership success stories demonstrate the benefits of partnership for improving worker safety and health. In each, NIOSH provides its scientific expertise and creative problem-solving skills and the partners provide the "laboratories" for evaluating interventions in real work settings.
Wal-MartThe effectiveness of back belts has been questioned in recent years. In 1994, NIOSH released a report stating that there is inadequate scientific evidence that back belts actually reduce the risk of back injury. The statement reflected concerns that many employers were providing (and often requiring) back belts as the only method to prevent back injury. In partnership with Wal-Mart, NIOSH is completing the most definitive research study to date on the efficacy of back-supporting belts in preventing first and recurrent low back injuries. Approximately 9,000 retail merchandise employees at 160 stores in 30 states were followed for two years to determine if low back injury rates in individuals wearing belts were different from rates in individuals not wearing belts. The results are currently undergoing scientific peer review and will be published in the near future. BJC Health System
Back injuries are one of the most common injuries among nursing home employees. BJC Health System designed and implemented a "best practices" system, and approached NIOSH for help in scientific evaluation of the program as implemented in Illinois and Missouri. NIOSH and BJC will evaluate the efficacy of a "best practices" program in reducing the incidence and cost of back injury among nursing home workers. The "best practices" program includes: use of specialized, state-of-the-art lifting equipment, training in lifting techniques, accident investigation, and medical management of injured workers. A peer review meeting was held in September 1999 to receive comments from a panel of scientific reviewers and other stakeholders on this intervention effectiveness evaluation. Data collection is ongoing and the project is scheduled for completion in 2001. Anthony Crane Rental
Crane operators, on-site workers, and the general public are at risk of serious and possibly fatal injury due to incidents involving cranes or hoists. In 1994, incidents involving cranes resulted in 88 fatalities. In addition, damage to property can be extremely costly. Anthony Crane Rental (ACR) is the largest crane rental company in the world, and has over 3,500 cranes and over 4,000 pieces of aerial lift equipment. NIOSH and ACR are currently collaborating on a feasibility study examining the effectiveness of crane operator certification on the prevention of crane-related injuries. The results will help industry, labor, and the public, as well as guide policy-makers about the value of mandatory certification.
