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A special issue of the journal Seminars in Hearing highlights over 50 years of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) hearing loss prevention efforts, the institute announced October 16. NIOSH has conducted and supported basic and applied research into workplace noise exposures and hearing loss risks, as well as hearing conservation and […]
On September 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an enforcement and compliance assistance initiative aimed at silica exposures in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries. OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have identified silica dust exposure as a health hazard for workers in manufacturing, finishing, and […]
Eighty-four percent of sharps injuries—injuries from a needle or sharp object—occur among healthcare workers, according to a recent analysis from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These can expose workers to bloodborne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases. This disturbing statistic leads us to […]
Most sharps injuries—84 percent—occur among healthcare workers, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirmed in a recently released analysis. Injuries from a needle or other sharp objects can expose workers to bloodborne pathogens (BBP), such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases, NIOSH said in the September […]
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels each year. Hearing loss can lead to communication problems, other health issues, and concerns for personal safety and the safety of others. U.K. punk legends Buzzcocks addressed the issue indirectly in 1979 with the […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine wearables, robotics, and exoskeletons, and how these new technologies will affect the EHS industry. New technologies such as wearables, robotics, and exoskeletons will likely have a huge effect on the work […]
Dr. John Howard was trained as a physician in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and occupational medicine and worked in clinical medicine until 1991. From 1991 to 2002, he served as the Chief of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the State of California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency. In 2002, Dr. Howard was […]
The Billerud Paper Mill in Escanaba, Michigan, has closed for cleaning following an outbreak of blastomycosis fungal infections, Billerud North America announced. The outbreak included a fatality, according to local public health officials. “As a precautionary measure, we will temporarily idle the Escanaba Mill for up to three weeks to facilitate additional proper cleaning based […]
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a strategic plan for addressing occupational safety and health risks faced by Native Americans and Alaska Natives, NIOSH Director John Howard, MD, announced April 4. There are nearly 3 million AI/AN workers in the United States, the institute reported in its April eNews, but […]
An individual or a team submitting an innovative respirator fit-testing concept could receive $350,000 in a challenge announced January 10 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The challenge attempts to address two problems with respirator fit testing: Small and disadvantaged businesses often lack the resources needed to comply with the Occupational […]