NIOSH eNews - March 2010

In 1970, the year in which the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed, there were 9.6 million Latinos in the U.S., comprising 4.7 percent of this country's population. By 2008, that number had grown dynamically to 46.7 million, or about 15 percent of the total population. The U.S. Census Bureau predicted in 2008 that by 2050, the Latino population will further triple to 132.8 million. In that projection, native-born and foreign-born Latinos or Hispanics are expected to comprise a third of the U.S. population. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html

Only time will tell whether the projection for 2050 will hold true, but it seems safe to predict one thing. Whether or no matter how the numbers may fluctuate, Latinos will continue to comprise a significant and ever-increasing share of our population and our workforce. This diversity is welcome. It refreshes, invigorates, and enriches our culture. However, it also poses a professional challenge for the occupational safety and health community.

From research and observation, we know that Latino workers are employed disproportionately in jobs that involve heavy machinery, physically challenging work conditions, pesticides and other potentially toxic substances, and other elements of risk. We also know that low-wage, low-skilled, and immigrant workers-as Latino workers often are-are at further disadvantage for additional reasons. They often lack access to safety training, and even if training is offered, it may not be in a language they understand and may be culturally meaningless for them. Often, they have limited recourse to legal protections. If they are injured on the job, the economic impact on their families is likely to be even more disruptive than for workers who have better wages and benefits.

We all want the U.S. to benefit from the enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication of men and women who believe in the American dream. For that to happen, we have an obligation to do all we can to help keep them safe and healthy on the job.

To address these and related concerns about safety, health, and Latino workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold a National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety-la Cumbre de Acción Nacional para la Salud y Seguridad del Trabajador Latino-on April 14-15 in Houston, Texas. NIOSH is pleased to be a cosponsor of this meeting.

The Summit will focus on construction, the industry that accounts for the highest proportion of fatal traumatic injuries among Latino workers (34 percent of such deaths from 2003-2006). It will also include other industries with large numbers of Hispanic workers in which traumatic injuries and illnesses are of major concern. These include building and grounds cleaning and maintenance, production (food processing, manufacturing), food preparation and serving, transportation and material moving, farming, fishing and forestry, and personal care and services. (An excellent article by NIOSH researchers and outside colleagues examines, in further detail, trends from 1992-2006 in work-related deaths among Hispanic workers. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5722a1.htm)

The Summit is designed to showcase effective partnerships and educational programs that reach Latino workers with critical health and safety information and to raise awareness of occupational health and safety risks for Hispanic workers, ways of preventing injury and illness, and safeguards under the law. The Summit is designed to stimulate a working agenda to prevent injury and death among Latino Workers.

NIOSH has worked closely with the Latino community and other partners in business, labor, government, and social services to better identify risk factors for Latino workers and the reasons for disparities in risk. Together we have also worked to develop better communications and training products designed to meet the need for language-appropriate and culturally appropriate materials. Some of these efforts include:

Extramural funding of a program of community-based participatory research projects aimed at creating partnerships between communities and universities to improve outreach and community capacity building and to develop model intervention programs. Several of these projects were highlighted in a special issue of the American Journal of Public Health devoted to Environmental and Occupational Justice, published in November 2009. Successful interventions for Hispanic workers in agriculture, domestic work, poultry processing, and home healthcare were highlighted. http://ajph.aphapublications.org/content/vol99/issueS3/
Initiating a series of targeted surveillance programs to better track injuries and illnesses among Hispanic workers through a variety of state-based surveillance programs (e.g., Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program) and through collaboration with the National Agricultural Workers Survey administered through the U.S. Department of Labor. Many of these programs were highlighted in a February 2010 special issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine dedicated to Occupational Health Disparities. This special issue included a foreword by U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-02-04-10.html
Establishing an intramural research and dissemination program portfolio-under the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)-focused on eliminating occupational health disparities. Emphasis areas include the development of model training programs for Hispanic construction and home healthcare workers and innovative outreach materials and dissemination channels (e.g., the Mexican and Guatemalan consulates and telenovelas [or televised Spanish language soap operas]). NIOSH was honored to collaborate with the Spanish-language television network Telemundo and other colleagues in 2008 to incorporate an occupational health message into a popular dramatic series. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-03-31-08.html

NIOSH also offers many resources for Latino workers, their employers, and others who work with the Latino community. Many products on the NIOSH Web site are also available in Spanish on our NIOSH en español Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/index.html), such as our latest, How to Properly Put On and Take Off a Disposable Respirator (card http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-131 and poster http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-133/), and other documents of interest, including Simple Solutions Ergonomics for Construction Workers (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-122) and Simple Solutions Ergonomics for Farm Workers (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2001-111/default.html).

We hope you will join OSHA, NIOSH, and other colleagues next month at la Cumbre de Acción Nacional. Registration is open and there is no charge to attend (https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/osha/register-osha-lwhs.asp). Additionally, a call for abstracts and an opportunity to present education materials are open through March 5 for those who wish to participate (http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/events.cfm?id=2491).

If you cannot attend but are interested in getting future information on this topic, please go to the registration page above, submit your email address, and check the box for more information. We hope the Summit will be a significant step ahead in addressing our shared concerns, and we value your interest in being involved in future efforts. ¡Espero verle en la Cumbre!

NIOSH Announces Charles C. Shepard Nominations

This year NIOSH is proud to nominate Dr. Hongwei Hsiao for the Charles C. Shepard Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award. Also nominated for other categories under the award were nine peer-reviewed articles published by NIOSH authors in 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-02-23-10.html

Just Announced! National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2011

The National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS) 2011 is scheduled for October 18-20, 2011, in Morgantown, West Virginia. NOIRS is the only national symposium focusing solely on occupational traumatic injury research and prevention. Please check the NOIRS Web site for future updates and additional information. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noirs/noirsmain.html

NIOSH Seeks Assistance From Pesticide Handlers

NIOSH wants to hear your concerns about personal protective equipment (PPE) for pesticide handlers. NIOSH is seeking assistance from pesticide handlers in the agriculture sector to learn about potential barriers to the proper selection and use of PPE by agricultural pesticide handlers and their employers. Additional information is available under "Spotlights" at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/default.html or email KFaulkner@cdc.gov.

2010 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards™ Presented

NIOSH, in partnership with the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards™, honoring those who have shown their dedication to the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss through innovative or excellent hearing loss prevention practices in the work environment. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-02-24-10.html

Back Row: Captain Margaret Kitt and SiS Award Committee members, Noah Seixas, Ph.D., Deanna Meinke, Ph.D., Lee Hager, James Lankford, Ph.D., Pam Graydon M.S., Thais Morata Ph.D. Front Row Award Winners: Erich Thalheimer, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. and New York Department of Environmental Protections, Mead Killion, Ph.D., Etymotic Research Inc., and Kris Chesky, Ph.D., College of Music, University of North Texas.

Down in the Trenches: March Training for KY Small Excavator & Plumbing Contractors

NIOSH's Small Business Program and its partners, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Kentucky and Kentucky OSHA , will bring an innovative trench training course to small businesses on March 16 and 17. Four 4-hour classes will cover safe trenching and excavation techniques and include both classroom instruction and outdoor demonstrations on the grounds of Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lawrenceburg, KY. To register or for more information go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/events/kyosha2010/ or contact AGC of Kentucky at 1(800)456-0215 or Ronnie Perkins at rperkins@agcky.org. For information about the NIOSH Small Business Assistance and Outreach Program, contact Ray Sinclair at Rsinclair@cdc.gov.

Western Mining Training RFA (RFA-OH-10-001)

NIOSH is inviting extramural funding applicants to apply for a new cooperative agreement program, Miner Safety and Health Training Program-Western United States. The purpose of the program is to reduce the number of injuries and illnesses among workers who are involved in mining operations, through a focused, relevant, and comprehensive training program that expands the number of qualified mine safety and health trainers in the U.S. and educates mine workers regarding how best to protect themselves from risks and hazards in the mining environment. NIOSH intends to fund 1-3 awards in response to this announcement. The announcement and instructions for submitting an application can be found in RFA-OH-10-001: Miner Safety and Health Training Program-Western United States (U60) (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-10-001.html). For more information contact Viji Potula at VPotula@cdc.gov.

Vacancy Announcement: Director, National Center for Environmental Health

The Centers for Disease Control Prevention, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, is seeking applicants for the position of Director, National Center for Environmental Health. Applications must be submitted by March 11, 2010. http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=86127315.

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis in Workers at an Indium Processing Facility

The March 1, 2010, issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/) contains a report authored by NIOSH investigator Kristin Cummings et al. describing two cases of the rare disease pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, including one death. These occurred in workers at a facility producing indium-tin oxide (ITO), a compound used in recent years to make flat panel displays. These cases suggest that inhalational exposure to ITO can cause pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, perhaps via an autoimmune mechanism.

NIOSH Requests Comments on the Following:

Draft current intelligence bulletin (CIB), Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongate Mineral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research Version 4, NIOSH Docket Number NIOSH 099-C. Comments will be accepted through April 16, 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/099-C/default.html

Ten-Year Review of the NIOSH Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program, NIOSH Docket 194. Comments will be accepted through June 4, 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/194/

Three New Health Hazard Evaluation Reports Now Available

HHE - Health hazard Evaluations logo Evaluation of Heat and Carbon Monoxide Exposures to Border Protection Officers at Ports of Entry

Evaluation of Magnetic Field Exposures to Office Employees From an Electrical Transformer

Evaluation of Potential Exposures at an Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide Processing Plant

Click here to read about these recent releases and access the full HHE reports.

News from Our Partners

Iowa Targets Occupational- and Agricultural-related Injury

As part of its state-based occupational health surveillance activities, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Occupational Health & Safety Surveillance Program (OHSSP) participated in the recent update to the Iowa Administrative Code IAC [641] Chapter 1. The IAC now includes a requirement for mandatory reporting of a patient's employer name for reportable cases linked to the workplace (www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/ACODocs/DOCS/2-10-2010.641.1.pdf). Agricultural-related injury reporting was also included in Chapter 1 for the first time, although reporting has existed since the late 1990s utilizing a variety of data collection venues, including the Iowa Trauma Registry and manual report forms (www.idph.state.ia.us/ems/common/pdf/farm_injury_report_form.pdf). These updates are expected to improve the quality of the data collected by OHSSP as the program establishes an occupational focus within public health programming in the state. Additional information is available at www.idph.state.ia.us/strategic_plan/common/pdf/programs_profiles/Occupational_Health.pdf.

Occupational Safety and Health on Telemundo

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), a longstanding NIOSH partner, is taking steps to address occupational health disparities. Jordan Coriza, director of Ethnic Media Engagement in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Health Communications Office, prepared a series of "health spots" for the local Telemundo TV station that include a variety of health messages. One of these "health spots" focuses on occupational health and safety, now posted on the MDPH blog (http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/2010/02/salud-y-seguridad-en-el-trabajo.html).

NORA

Loss Prevention Foundation Helps Implement the National WRT Agenda

The NORA Wholesale and Retail Trade (WRT) Sector Council developed a National WRT Agenda (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/) that calls for partnerships between researchers and trusted organizations to educate employers and workers about accepted prevention strategies. The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) trains and certifies loss prevention professionals in preventing both theft and occupational injuries and illnesses. Read about a new partnership between NIOSH and LPF to improve the quality and quantity of safety and risk management resources available to the retail loss prevention industry at http://www.losspreventionfoundation.org/PR_NIOSH_021910.htm. Contact the NORA coordinator (noracoordinator@cdc.gov) with any questions.

r2p Corner

National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge

NIOSH has reaffirmed its support and participation in the United States Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge Program. Certificates are awarded to fire departments that have 100% of their firefighters pledging to wear their seat belts. Recently, NIOSH participated in a ceremony in honor of the Amarillo Fire Department’s 100% participation in the Seat Belt Pledge. More information about the Seat Belt Pledge can be found at http://www.trainingdivision.com/seatbeltpledge.asp.

NIOSH Science Blog

What’s New on the NIOSH Blog?

Share your thoughts on the latest NIOSH Blog: Balancing Open Government and Privacy Protection. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/nsb030110_privacy.html

New Communication Products

New Bilingual Posters and Cards Show Proper Disposable Respirator Use

Download or order copies of the How to Properly Put On and Take Off a Disposable Respirator: card (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-131/) or poster (English http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-133/ or Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2010-133_sp/).

New NIOSH Training Features Survivors of the Farmington Coal Mine Disaster

The deadly Farmington, WV, coal mine disaster in November 1968 spurred historic coal mine safety legislation, including provisions that created the forerunner of NIOSH's mining safety and health program. The disaster continues to provide valuable lessons for recognizing unsafe conditions inside mines and safely escaping an underground catastrophe. A new NIOSH safety training module on self-rescue and escape builds on interviews with two miners who survived the Farmington disaster. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid3308.htm

More…

To see other new NIOSH communication products, including documents and new and updated topic pages, go to the NIOSH “What’s New” page. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/whatsnew/

Look for Us on the Road!

The NIOSH exhibit will be at the following meetings in March:

American Alliance For Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, March 16-20, at the Indianapolis Convention Center, Booth #1237. www.aahperd.com
Mid-America Trucking Show, March 24-30, at the Louisville Kentucky Exposition Convention Center, Booth #40353. www.truckingshow.com
Annual Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference, March 29-April 1, at Lake Buena Vista, FL, Booth #721. www.cme.hsc.usf.edu/sphm

Upcoming Conferences & Workshops

Small particles-Big Questions!
With NIOSH's participation and support, the government's National Nanotechnology Initiative will hold a workshop March 30-31 in Arlington, VA, on risk management methods for-and the legal, ethical, and societal implications of- nanotechnology. http://nano.gov/html/meetings/capstone/index.html

National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety
NIOSH is cosponsoring the National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety, sponsored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, on April 14-15 in Houston, Texas. http://www.osha.gov/latinosummit/index.html

Nanomaterials and Worker Health
NIOSH and the Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center will hold a conference, Nanomaterials and Worker Health: Medical Surveillance, Exposure Registries, and Epidemiologic Research, July 21-23 in Keystone, Colorado. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/keystone2010/

National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fourth Annual National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media, August 17-19, 2010, Omni Hotel in Atlanta, GA. http://www.cdc.gov/healthmarketing/NCHCMM2009/

A comprehensive list of upcoming conferences can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/exhibits.html.

Word of the Month

Charles C. Shepard - Dr. Charles C. Shepard was a CDC scientist, whose career was marked by the pursuit of scientific excellence. The CDC Charles C. Shepard Awards honor Dr. Shepard and recognizes excellence in science achievement by CDC authors of outstanding scientific papers. The awards began in 1986 and are presented annually.

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From the Director's Desk --John Howard, M.D. Director, NIOSH March eNews 2010

Please Join Us at the Summit