"The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) is a partnership program to promote innovative research and improve workplace practices. Unveiled in 1996, NORA is a framework for guiding occupational safety and health research and interventions throughout the nation. NORA stakeholders collaborate to identify critical workplace issues in industry sectors. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) convened a number of these partners to develop the National Services Agenda, which includes safety and health goals for the Accommodations Industry. Groups such as unions, worker organizations, government agencies, and hotel/motel associations can build partnerships to implement these goals and help ensure that hotels are safe for all employees." - p. [1] ; At head of title: "Services sector: Occupational safety and health needs for the next decade of NORA." ; "This document was prepared by Susan Afanuh, Pamela Vossenas, Sheli DeLaney and David Utterback of the Services Sector Accommodations subcommittee." ; "July 2011." - NIOSH website ; Also available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (756.KB, 2 p.). ; Includes bibliographical references.
"In recent incidents reported to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), fires spontaneously ignited when workers or others attempted to fill portable gasoline containers (gas cans) in the backs of pickup trucks equipped with plastic bed liners or in cars with carpeted surfaces. Serious skin burns and other injuries resulted. Similar incidents in the last few years have resulted in warning bulletins from several private and government organizations. These fires result from the buildup of static electricity. The insulating effect of the bed liner or carpet prevents the static charge generated by gasoline flowing into the container or other sources from grounding. The discharge of this buildup to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle may cause a spark and ignite the gasoline. Both ungrounded metal (most hazardous) and plastic gas containers have been involved in these incidents." - NIOSHTIC-2 ; "August 1998." ; Caption title. ; The principal contributors to this publication are: Jerome P. Flesch, Elaine Mann, G. Kent Hatfield, Heinz Ahlers, Richard Carlson, and Rosmarie T. Hagedorn, NIOSH; Richard Yallits, City of Winnipeg, Canada Fire Department; William Rowe, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. ; Also available via the World Wide Web.
"The Components for Evaluation of Direct-Reading Monitors for Gases and Vapors (hereafter referred to as the Components document) [NIOSH 2012], presents methods to be used in evaluating direct-reading monitors* for use in workplace compliance determinations. This Addendum to the Components document expands the applicability of the Components by presenting methods to be used in evaluating direct-reading monitors for hazard detection in First Responder environments, including those related to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The Addendum contains a standardized test protocol and performance acceptance criteria for evaluating commercially available, direct-reading monitors in a style similar to the Components document. [*Consistent with the Components document, the term monitor is used here to indicate a device for on-site measurement of contaminant levels for gases and vapors in air. The term detector refers to the component of the monitor that actually detects the contaminant.]" - NIOSHTIC-2 ; Part I. Direct-reading monitor background information -- Part II. First responder environments -- Part III. Suggested components in monitor testing -- References -- References for test atmosphere generation -- Appendix A. First responder case studies ; "July 2012." ; Also available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (1.25 MB, 32 p.). ; Includes bibliographical references. ; Bibliography: p. 99.
"The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-96) charged the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with the responsibility for the development and evaluation of sampling and analytical methods for workplace compliance determinations. Under that charge, NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration jointly undertook the evaluation of sampling and analytical methods for airborne contaminants by contract in 1974 to determine if methods met the criterion to produce a result falling within 25% of the true concentration 95 times out of 100. The present document further expands the experiments used during the initial methods development and evaluation research to direct-reading monitors for gases and vapors. This document provides discussion of the physical, operational, and performance characteristics for direct-reading monitors. Guidance is provided for experiments to evaluate response time, calibration, stability, range, limit of measurement, impact of environmental effects, interferences, and reliability of direct-reading monitors. Also included are evaluation criteria for the experiments and details for the calculation of bias, precision and accuracy, and monitor uncertainty." -NIOSHTIC-2 ; Part I. Direct-reading monitor background information -- Part II. Monitor types -- Part III. Suggested components in monitor evaluation -- Relevant standards -- References -- Appendix A. Estimation of accuracy -- Appendix B. Statistical evaluation of bias and precision for individual monitor units -- Appendix C. Statistical evaluation of bias and precision for a population of monitor units -- Appendix D. Measurement uncertainty -- Appendix E. Relationship of the NIOSH accuracy criterion to monitor performance specifications -- Appendix F. Alarm system evaluation -- Appendix G. R program for implementing Appendix F--lower confidence limit for negatives, controlling false negatives -- Appendix H. LaTeX translations of selected mathematical formulas -- Bibliography ; "July 2012." ; Also available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (3.74 MB, 116 p.). ; Includes bibliographical references. ; Bibliography: p. 99.
"It has been nearly 40 years since the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was passed. During that time, NIOSH has worked diligently to ensure that U.S. workers are safe from occupational illness, injuries, and fatalities while at work. Our strong scientific foundation has guided our work as we strive to fulfill the responsibilities of the Act, and to carry out the duties entrusted to us by Congress. NIOSH's research and recommendations over the years have made a significant impact in reducing and preventing occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Our work has lead to recommendations on reducing exposures to asbestos, lead, vinyl chloride, and other toxic industrial agents. As the U.S. economy has changed NIOSH has kept pace by addressing the new occupational hazards that have arisen or become more prominent, such as latex allergies, musculoskeletal disorders, indoor air quality, and workplace violence. And with the goal of achieving even greater impact with our research, NIOSH created the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) in 1996. The creation of NORA allowed us to expand our partnerships and leverage resources to meet the needs and challenges of the changing face of work. This document provides a snapshot of our work addressing the safety and health issues that reach across all the U.S. states, industries, and disciplines. Here we have included information about our efforts in traditional and emerging areas such as NORA, research-to-practice, emergency response, nanotechnology, personal protective technology, global collaborations, and other cross-cutting programs. We have also included examples of how NIOSH and our partners are working hard to achieve our shared mission of making the workplace safer and healthier for all workers. As we enter the second decade of the 21st Century, the face of the U.S. economy and the challenges and risks workers face continues to change. These challenges may range from assisting injured, returning military personnel in making the transition to safe, fulfilling civilian work, to the potentially unknown hazards to workers employed in the discovery, development, and production of new sources of renewable energy. Since 1970 we have developed new knowledge and new scientific techniques that can be applied to the workplace. As we continue to move forward, we must also look back to see where we can make changes based on this knowledge to continue to improve the safety and health of all workers. These are just a few of the challenges that NIOSH and our nation face as we look towards the future. As the U.S. looks to the workplace of tomorrow and how we will maintain leadership in the global market, it is important that the safety and health of workers is made an integral part of that strategy. I hope you find this document interesting and engaging and that it stimulates new ideas for ways in which we might collaborate to protect our nation's workers."- NIOSHTIC-2 ; About NIOSH -- The Current State of Worker Safety & Health -- Introduction to NORA -- Agriculture, forestry, & fishing -- Construction -- Healthcare & social assistance -- Manufacturing -- Mining -- Services -- Transportation, warehousing, & utilities -- Wholesale & retail trade -- -- Partnering with NIOSH -- -- Introduction to NIOSH Cross-Sectors -- Authoritative recommendations -- Cancer, reproductive, & cardiovascular diseases -- Communication & information dissemination -- Economics -- Emergency preparedness & response -- Engineering controls -- Exposure assessment -- Global collaborations -- Health hazard evaluations -- Hearing loss -- Immune & dermal diseases -- Musculoskeletal disorders -- Nanotechnology -- Occupational health disparities -- Personal protective technologies -- Prevention through design -- Radiation dose evaluation -- Respiratory diseases -- Small business assistance & outreach -- Surveillance -- Training grants -- Traumatic injury -- WorkLife -- Work organization & stress-related disorders -- -- Challenges about nanotechnology -- -- National Academies' Review -- -- Research-to-practice ; Supersedes DHHS publication ; no. (NIOSH) 2009-144, published Oct. 2009. ; Also available via the World Wide Web.
"The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) is a partnership program to promote innovative research and improve workplace practices. Unveiled in 1996, NORA is a framework for guiding occupational safety and health research throughout the nation. NORA stakeholders collaborate to identify critical workplace issues in industry sectors. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) convened a number of these partners to develop the National Services Agenda which includes safety and health goals for Primary and Secondary Education. Groups such as school employees, school boards, professional organizations, and government agencies can build partnerships to implement these goals and help ensure that schools are safe for all employees as well as students."- NIOSHTIC-2 ; "December 2009." ; At head of title: "Services Sector: Occupational Safety and Health Priorities for the Second Decade of NORA." ; "The NORA Services Sector Council developed strategic goals for Education and Schools to address priority workplace safety and health issues. The Council will ensure progress and track accomplishments through 2016. The current priorities were established specifically for Public and Private Education at the Primary and Secondary levels. Partnerships are needed to achieve these goals so that work-related injury, illness, and death among school-based workers is reduced.:"- p. [2] ; Also available via the World Wide Web.
"The Occupational Safety and Health Guidance Manual for hazardous waste site activities is presented. The manual was prepared by NIOSH, OSHA, the United States Coast Guard, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The manual is a guidance document for managers responsible for occupational safety and health programs at inactive hazardous waste sites. It assumes a basic knowledge of science and experience in occupational safety and health. The manual is intended for federal, state and local officials, and their contractors. It may be used as a planning tool by government or private individuals, as a management tool by upper managers, as an educational tool to provide a comprehensive overview of all aspects of safety and health protection at hazardous waste sites, and as a reference document for site personnel who need to review important aspects of health and safety. It is noted that although the manual cites federal regulations, it is not a definitive legal document and should not be taken as such. Topics covered include types of hazards encountered at hazardous waste sites, planning and organization, training, medical programs, site characterization, air monitoring, personal protective equipment, site control, decontamination, handling drums and other containers, and dealing with site emergencies." - NIOSHTIC-2 ; "October 1985." ; Also available via the World Wide Web. ; Includes bibliographies.
This Guide is intended to help small business owners, employers, and managers deal with occupational safety and health concerns. Others involved with the small business community may also benefit from using this resource. This guide contains telephone numbers, e-mail and Internet addresses, and mailing information that will connect small businesses to government agencies, private organizations, consultants and others who can help with the occupational safety and health issues. ; October 2000. ; Includes index.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the U.S. federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations to prevent worker injury and illness. NIOSH research is key to national efforts for preventing worker injuries, illnesses, and deaths and provides practical solutions to identified problems. The Institute's work in this area protects the safety and health of the nation's 153 million workers and provides the only dedicated federal investment for research needed to prevent worker injuries and illnesses that cost the United States $250 billion annually. These safety and health risks take huge tolls on workers, their families, businesses, communities, and the nation's economy; NIOSH works to promote a healthy, safe and capable workforce that can rise to the challenges of the 21 Century. ; April 2013. ; Also available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (447.03 KB, 2 p.).
"On October 28, 1999, leaders from industry, government, labor, professional and trade organizations, and academia met in Detroit to share best practices for preventing work-related hearing impairment. The symposium highlighted an array of proven strategies and new advancements for protecting workers' hearing. The symposium was sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), and the Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences Department of Wayne State University. Additional support for this program was provided by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Michigan Industrial Hygiene Society, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the National Safety Council, the Institute of Noise Control Engineering, and the Douglas A. Fraser Center for Workplace Issues." - p. 1 ; Introduction -- Keynote -- The Handicap resulting from noise-induced hearing impairment / Alice Suter -- -- Session I: Hearing Loss Prevention Program -- Evaluation Audit, Effectiveness, and Evaluation Measures -- Ford's annual report to the United Auto Workers (UAW)-Ford National Joint Committee on Health and Safety / Henry B. Lick -- Web-based self-audit protocol and effectiveness measures in the military / Doug Ohlin -- NIOSH criteria document effectiveness measures / John Franks -- The Contribution of focus groups in evaluation of hearing conservation program (HCP) effectiveness / Mary Prince -- -- Session II: Regulation, Surveillance, and Enforcement in Hearing -- Loss Prevention -- Project sensor: hearing loss surveillance / Ken Rosenman -- Strategic planning for reduction of noise-induced hearing loss in Michigan / Doug Kalinowski -- Pending revision to CFR 1904 recordkeeping rule / Jim Maddux -- Breakout Session I: Noise Measurement and Noise Control -- Organizing a noise control engineering program / Robert Anderson -- Noise control on a budget / Stephen I. Roth -- _ -- Breakout Session II: The Role of Audiometric Data Management in Hearing Loss Prevention -- Audiometric data: use it, don't lose it! / Thomas Simpson -- The Role of audiometric data management in hearing loss prevention: audiometric data management / John Franks -- Audiometric data collection and management / Theresa Schulz -- -- Breakout Session III: Hearing Protection Issues -- The Performance of hearing protection devices / Elliott H. Berger -- Insert-type hearing protector attenuation measurements on end-users in the steel industry / Kevin Michael -- -- Breakout Session IV: Employee Training and Motivation for Effective Hearing Loss Prevention -- Preventing noise-induced hearing loss in construction workers: a video-based training program / Sally L. Lusk, -- Why training needs change / Carol J. Merry ; Also available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (821 KB, 67 p.).
"In October 2001, anthrax attacks through the mail presented a new and deadly health threat to postal workers, government employees, and news media offices. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and NIOSH Recommended Personal Protective Health (NIOSH), a part of the U.S. Centers for Disease control Equipment and Engineering Controls: ease Control and Prevention (CDC), quickly sent scientists to every location where workers were at risk. NIOSH developed sampling procedures, recommended effective interim protective measures, safe guarded workers who decontaminated affected work places, assessed the effectiveness of decontamination, and disseminated information widely. When workers raised concerns about handling irradiated mail, NIOSH again mobilized to help answer their questions. " - NIOSHTIC-2 ; Title from title screen (viewed Jun. 27, 2011). ; Also available via the World Wide Web. ; Mode of access: Internet from the CDC web site.
"The solid waste industry (Waste Management and Remediation, NAICS 562) consists of 3 groups: Collection; Treatment and Disposal; and Other Waste Remediation Services. In 2010, approximately 478,000 workers were employed in the solid waste industry with about 355,000 in private industry. About 72,500 of the private waste industry employees are classified as Refuse and Recyclable Materials Collectors (SOC 53-708) and 49,000 of these collection workers are employed by local government agencies. Occupational traumatic injury fatality data for 2003-2009 have been published for public and private sector workers but occupational injury and illness data for this period are available only for private sector workers. Effective health and safety programs which include hazard recognition and controls can reduce occupational injuries and illnesses and improve work conditions in the solid waste industry." - NIOSHTIC-2 ; "March 2012." ; Also available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (1.91 MB, 4 p.).
"Evidence of the continued success of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) can be found in this third annual NORA Update. Funding and support of NORA, both intramurally and extramurally, increase yearly. The NORA grants program has also been a huge success. In FY 98, NIOSH and four NIH partners awarded 50 grants totaling about $8 million dollars in ten NORA priority areas. This represents the largest ever single infusion of extramural funding for investigator-initiated occupational safety and health research. The FY 99 Request for Applications (RFA) for NORA research looks just as promising. NIOSH and five NIH Institutes are expected to award more than $7.5 million in eight NORA priority research areas. Despite these successes, NIOSH and its partners are aware that extramural researchers still face disappointing odds when submitting their applications in these high priority areas - with current funding allowing only 14% of approved grants to be funded (compared to a success rate of over twice that in other areas funded by the NIH). It is NIOSH's goal to increase success rates in the next few years. While the accomplishments are captured in this document, the true essence of NORA will be found at the NORA Symposium 1999: Partnership for Research. This second symposium highlights the successes of NORA and brings together over 300 NORA participants and supporters from across the country. It is this strong public-partnership network that has made NORA a success. Individuals and organizations throughout government, labor, industry, and academia continue to believe in the importance of and need for this national agenda. As the title suggests, this year's theme is partnership. Partners from many sectors will discuss their experiences in using NORA to improve worker safety and health. The wide range of NORA partners willing to speak on behalf of NORA says more about the universality and usefulness of NORA than any words. Also at the Symposium, the first NORA Partnership Award For Worker Health and Safety will be presented to the Asphalt Partnership. This unique collaboration of government, industry, and labor embodies the true spirit of NORA partnership. This partnership was also selected as a finalist in the Ford Foundation 1998 Innovations in American Government awards program. NIOSH decided to honor partnership because it is through continued partnership that NORA will achieve its full potential. The full potential is beyond our current optimistic thinking, if NORA's first three years are any indication. " - NIOSHTIC-2 ; Also availalbe via the World Wide Web.
"The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). NIOSH, the federal agency responsible for research and prevention of workplace hazards, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has facilities in Anchorage, Alaska; Atlanta, Georgia; Cincinnati, Ohio; Morgantown, West Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Spokane, Washington. Currently, there are 127 million individuals, 16 years of age or older, in the United States workforce. The workforce is aging, becoming more ethnically and racially diverse, and includes more women. Safety and health hazards experienced by workers have implications for their personal lives, their productivity, and the productivity of the nation as a whole. According to a NIOSH-funded study published in 1997, work-related injuries cost the nation more than $145 billion and work-related diseases cost an additional $26 billion, making the total financial burden a staggering $171 billion (1992). While occupational health research has improved worker protection against many hazards and diseases, much remains to be done. Workers are still at risk for noise induced hearing loss and exposed to lead and silica, two long-recognized occupational hazards that cause chronic lung disease. As the workplace and workforce change, new hazards emerge. Violence is now a threat in the workplace, latex allergies are increasing among health care workers, new chemicals and processes place workers in danger, and the long-term effects of many exposures remain unknown. NIOSH continues to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses by conducting research, publishing recommendations for preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, and training professionals in occupational safety and health. An unhealthy working environment affects workers' health and productivity, and may even render them unable to work. The consequences of occupational safety and health hazards are reflected in the following statistics: In 1996 on a typical day in the United States, 16 workers died from injuries. Each day, an average of 137 workers died from work-related diseases. According to the National Safety Council, the costs for occupationally-related injuries exceeded $121 billion in 1996. NIOSH is committed to making the workplace a safer environment for all people. NIOSH is constantly faced with new challenges as the workforce grows older and changes in demographic composition, as individuals work longer hours, and as issues facing workers evolve. NIOSH has been conducting health research and making recommendations for preventing occupational illness and injury since its inception in 1970. The Occupational Safety and Health Act created both NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), giving each unique responsibilities and placing them in different governmental departments. While NIOSH is charged with conducting research and implementing prevention activities, OSHA is required to promulgate regulations and enforce health and safety standards in the workplace and is part of the Department of Labor. FY 1997 marked completion of the transfer of the health and safety research programs from the former U.S. Bureau of Mines to NIOSH. In FY 1997, NIOSH's total operating budget was $173 million and NIOSH staff numbered 1,364. As required by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), NIOSH developed four Institute-wide strategic goals in FY 1997. The complete version of the NIOSH Strategic Plan is available on the NIOSH Home Page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/. These goals complement the goals set out by both DHHS and CDC. The four NIOSH goals--targeting of research, surveillance, prevention, and information dissemination and training-- represent the broad spectrum of NIOSH's work. It is the interplay of these goals that has and will make the vision of this Institute--safer and healthier workplaces--a reality. To best describe NIOSH's accomplishments during FY 1997, this Report of Activities has been organized around the Institute's four strategic goals. This Report highlights the work of the Institute during FY 1997 and it is not an exhaustive account of Institute-wide activity." - NIOSHTIC-2 ; "March 1999."
"This document discusses air-filtration and air-cleaning issues associated with protecting building environments from an airborne chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR) attack. It provides information about issues that should be considered when assessing, installing, and upgrading filtration systems-along with the types of threats that can be addressed by air-filtration and air-cleaning systems. It is intended to provide guidance regarding measures that may be taken to prepare for a potential CBR attack, rather than in response to an actual CBR event. The complex issues regarding response and cleanup in the aftermath of an actual CBR event are situation dependent and are beyond the scope of this guidance document. This is a companion document to the previously released NIOSH document titled Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks. That document provided a broad array of recommendations for protecting buildings, including physical security, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system operation, maintenance and training, and filtration. This document gives specific and detailed guidance for one area of concern - filtration and air cleaning. The intended audience includes those who are responsible for making the technical decisions to improve filtration in public, private, and governmental buildings, such as offices, retail facilities, schools, transportation terminals, and public venues (for example, sports arenas, malls, coliseums). While many aspects of this document may apply to residential buildings, it is not intended to address filtration questions pertinent to housing because of their different function, design, construction, and operational characteristics. Likewise, certain types of higher risk or special use facilities - such as industrial facilities, military facilities, selected laboratories, and hospital isolation areas - require special considerations that are beyond the scope of this guide. The likelihood of a specific building being targeted for terrorist activity is difficult to predict. As such, there is no specific formula that will determine a certain building's level of risk. You who own or manage buildings should seek appropriate assistance as described in this document to decide how to reduce your building's risk from a CBR attack and how to mitigate the effects if such an attack should occur. References on conducting a threat assessment can be found at the end of the NIOSH document Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks. After assessing your building's risk, you may wish to consider ways to enhance your filtration system. This document will help you make informed decisions about selecting, installing, and maintaining enhanced air-filtration and air-cleaning systems - important options in providing building protection from a CBR attack. The given recommendations are not intended to be minimum requirements that should be implemented for every building. Rather, they will guide your decision-making effort about the appropriate protective measures to implement in your building. The decision to enhance filtration in a specific building should be based on the perceived risk associated with that building and its tenants, its engineering and architectural applicability and feasibility, and the cost. While no building can be fully protected from a determined group or individual intent on releasing a CBR agent, effective air filtration and air cleaning can help to limit the number and extent of injuries or fatalities and make subsequent decontamination efforts easier." - NIOSHTIC-2 ; "April 2003." ; Also available via the World Wide Web as a 801KB Acrobat .pdf file (accessed 2003 August 19). ; Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-48).
