Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) often involve the back, wrist, elbow, and/or shoulder, and occur when workers are exposed over time to MSD risk factors, such as awkward postures, forceful exertions, or repetitive motions. These exposures sometimes occur due to poorly designed workstations, tasks, and/or hand tools. Workers must understand the nature of MSD risk factors and how to avoid exposure to them. In a classroom setting, trainers may discuss ergonomic principles and show examples of MSD risk factors with photographs or videos. However, supplementing training with practical, hands-on demonstrations may further reinforce these ergonomic principles and help workers understand the importance of avoiding exposure to MSD risk factors. Moreover, demonstrations that allow for worker participation result in a greater understanding of the impact exposures to particular MSD risk factors have on workers' bodies. This document consists of a series of demonstrations designed to complement training on ergonomic principles. A description of the materials needed and step-by-step methodology are included in this document. Each demonstration highlights worker participation and uses relatively inexpensive materials. The demonstrations are organized by type of ergonomic principle. Five general topics are addressed: Neutral compared with non-neutral postures Grip types Hand-tool selection and use Fatigue failure and back pain Moment arms and lifting The demonstrations show the effects of posture, work methods, workstation design, tools, tasks, and location of materials on worker exposure to MSD risk factors. Many of the demonstrations are appropriate supplements to the NIOSH-developed training "Ergonomics and Risk Factor Awareness Training for Miners," which is provided to mining employees.

Work related stress represents a huge cost for worker health and -productivity and is broadly regarded as an important social -determinant of global health.Over the past five decades, knowledge of the the causes of work-related illnesses and injuries has grown dramatically. Unfortunately, understanding how to use this knowledge for psychosocial risk prevention and intervention has failed to keep pace.The Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) project was developed in order to provide national benchmarks needed to set best practice standards in the area of worker psychological health and wellbeing. The results as published in this book:Provide nationally representative data on psychosocial risk levels and working conditionsBuild upon existing knowledge and understanding of psychosocial risk factors such as bullying and harassment, and work-family conflictInvestigate relationships between psychosocial risk and workplace outcomes such as employee health and productivityDetermine the cost of poor employee wellbeing to businesses based on aspects such as depression, absenteeism and presenteeismIdentify industries and occupations at risk, andProvide evidence to support strategies for prevention and intervention.This book provides a step towards social action and work environments that will stimulate problem solving, creativity and innovation at work rather than despair through compromised health and wellbeing.

Construction is a physically demanding occupation, but a vital part of our nation and the U.S. economy. In 2006, the total annual average number of workers employed in construction rose to an all-time high of nearly 7.7 million, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This large workforce handled tasks that range from carrying heavy loads to performing repetitive tasks, placing them at risk of serious injury. The physically demanding nature of this work helps to explain why injuries, such as strains, sprains, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders, are so prevalent and are the most common injury resulting in days away from work. Although the construction industry presents many workplace hazards, there are contractors in the U.S. who are successfully implementing safety and health programs to address these issues, including work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The safety and health of all workers is a top priority for NIOSH. This booklet is intended to aid in the prevention of common job injuries that can occur in the construction industry. The solutions in this booklet are practical ideas to help reduce the risk of repetitive stress injury in common construction tasks. While some solutions may need the involvement of the building owner or general contractor, there are also many ideas that individual workers and supervisors can adopt. (Also available in Spanish).

On July 15, 2009, about 8:00 a.m., a cargo transfer hose ruptured shortly after transfer of anhydrous ammonia began from a Werner Transportation Services, Inc. cargo tank truck to a storage tank at the Tanner Industries, Inc. facility in Swansea, South Carolina. A white cloud of anhydrous ammonia, a toxic-by-inhalation gas, moved from the parking lot of the facility across U.S. Highway 321 to a largely wooded area, where it eventually dissipated. About the same time, a motorist traveling north on the highway drove into the ammonia cloud, apparently tried to get away from the cloud, then got out of her car and died of ammonia poisoning. Seven people went to the Lexington Medical Center emergency department complaining of respiratory problems and dizziness; all seven patients were treated and released the same day. The anhydrous ammonia cloud caused temporary discoloration of vegetation in the area, including the leaves on the trees. Residents in the area sheltered in place, and U.S. Highway 321 was closed until about 2:00 p.m. on the day of the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the accident and made safety recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Today there is a procedure for everything that is important. Yet, more than 99% of groups fail to have a road map for safety leadership. The reason is that leadership is different. While most of those other procedures are 'one size fits all, ' safety leadership is not. Each team, work group, and company has a different culture, history, exposures and corporate structure which means there isn't a cookie cutter mold to safety leadership. To be successful, each organization must customize their program to fit their unique organization. To effectively 'customize' your company's safety leadership program, you first need access to all of the cutting edge leadership tactics, tips and secrets - - which is exactly what this book provides Then, you can pick the ideas that are right for your group; putting proven methods to work for you - - to get the results you have always aimed to achieve.

In 2008, among U.S. workers, 5,071 died from occupational injuries, 3.7 million suffered serious injuries, and 187,400 became ill from work-related exposures. The estimated annual direct and indirect costs of occupational injury, disease, and death range from $128 billion to $155 billion. While the underlying causes vary, a recent study implicates design in 37% of job-related fatalities. Thus, to protect lives and livelihoods, stakeholders across all industrial sectors of the economy need a comprehensive approach for addressing worker health and safety issues by eliminating hazards and minimizing risks to workers throughout the life cycle of work premises, tools, equipment, machinery, substances, and work processes, including their construction, manufacture, use, maintenance, and ultimate disposal or re-use. The following document provides the rationale, mission, objectives, outcomes, and timeframe for the Prevention through Design (PtD) National Initiative. The mission of the PtD National Initiative is to prevent or reduce occupationally related injuries, illnesses, fatalities, and exposures by including prevention considerations in all designs that affect individuals in the occupational environment. This will be accomplished through the application of hazard elimination and risk minimization methods in the design of work facilities, processes, equipment, tools, work methods, and work organization. Although the ultimate goal is to "design out" potential hazards at the beginning phases of a project, rather than dealing with problems inherent in completed systems, PtD methods also can effectively be applied to existing processes and equipment. Eliminating hazards and minimizing risks during the design, redesign, and retrofit of facilities, work processes, and equipment may ultimately save money and, more critically, will protect workers. PtD is a national initiative; the nation must focus its collective attention on eliminating hazards and minimizing risks to workers and the work environment, because no single organization or occupational discipline can achieve its goals. Success will come through a coordinated, phased approach to PtD activities that takes into consideration the unique challenges faced by businesses within all industrial sectors. Through the collaborative efforts of industry, labor, professional organizations, academia, government agencies and PtD experts, and with the commitment of professions affected by PtD issues (including architects, industrial designers, and engineers; purchasing, finance, and human resource professionals; and health and safety experts), the PtD National Initiative can save lives and demonstrate financial value.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests help in protecting poultry workers from infection with viruses that cause avian influenza (also known as bird flu). Although human infection with avian influenza viruses is rare, workers infected with certain types of these viruses may become ill or die. Some types of avian influenza viruses can cause serious illness or death in poultry and other birds. These viruses are referred to as highly pathogenic viruses. Rarely, these viruses may be passed to humans who contact infected poultry or virus-contaminated materials or environments. All poultry workers and all owners and operators of poultry operations should take the appropriate steps to protect themselves from avian influenza.

We analyze data from NIST field tests in which radio-propagation channel path loss values were measured at approximately the same physical locations where the performance of various RF-based firefighter distress beacons were tested. These side-by-side tests were made in two key representative emergency responder environments, a New York subway station and the Empire State Building. These environments contain propagation features that may impair radio communications, including stairwells, tunnels, and rooms deep within buildings, among others. The goal of this work is to determine appropriate performance metrics for use in the development of laboratory-based test methods for RF-based electronic safety equipment. The analysis supports the classification of structures into categories of attenuation values that can be used in laboratory-based test methods to verify the performance of the RF-based alarm systems. The environments, tests, and measured data are discussed in detail. The RF propagation-channel data also provide insight into the expected attenuation in high-rise buildings and below-ground structures.

Ionizing radiation and its sources are used every day in medical, industrial and governmental facilities around the world. Although some health risks from ionizing radiation exposures are widely recognized, the association of these exposures to specific diseases, especially various types of cancer, remains uncertain. Workers at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facilities have produced nuclear weapons, provided nuclear fuel materials for power reactors, and conducted a wide spectrum of research related to nuclear safety and other scientific issues. While completing this work, many of the employees have been exposed to ionizing radiation and other potentially hazardous materials. Since 1991, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted analytical epidemiologic studies of workers at DOE nuclear facilities, through a Memorandum of Understanding between the DOE and the U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services (DHHS). The agreement occurred in response to recommendations to the Secretary of Energy in 1989 by the independent Secretarial Panel for the Evaluation of Epidemiologic Research Activities (SPEERA). This technical report, entitled An Epidemiologic Study of Mortality and Radiation Risk of Cancer Among Workers at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy Facility, is one several products of the NIOSH Occupational Energy Research Program that are being published as a series. Most of these studies include detailed historical exposure assessments for radiation and other potentially hazardous agents so the health risks at different levels of exposure can be accurately estimated. Each of these studies contributes to the knowledge required to ensure that workers are adequately protected from chronic disease over their working lifetimes. The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) is a large U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facility near Idaho Falls, Idaho. Since its construction in 1949 the INEEL has conducted a wide variety of activities, including engineering and basic scientific research, nuclear reactor design and testing, nuclear material chemical processing, and the construction, servicing and demolition of large-scale facilities. In addition, the U.S. Navy maintains its Naval Reactors Facility (NRF) at the INEEL, where research and testing of Navy ship reactors occurs, as well as training of military and civilian personnel involved in the naval nuclear surface ship and submarine program. An epidemiologic cohort mortality study was initiated to evaluate hazards associated with ionizing radiation and other exposures among civilian employees at the INEEL facility.

In 1984, the Council of State Science Supervisors, in association with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, published the safety guide School Science Laboratories: A Guide to Some Hazardous Substances to help science teachers identify hazardous substances that may be used in school laboratories and provide an inventory of these substances. Because school science curricula have changed since then, the safety guide has been updated and revised to reflect those changes. This guide on safety in the chemistry laboratory was also written to provide high school chemistry teachers with an easy-to-read reference to create a safe learning environment in the laboratory for their students. The document attempts to provide teachers, and ultimately their students, with information so that they can take the appropriate precautionary actions in order to prevent or minimize hazards, harmful exposures, and injuries in the laboratory. The guide presents information about ordering, using, storing, and maintaining chemicals in the high school laboratory. The guide also provides information about chemical waste, safety and emergency equipment, assessing chemical hazards, common safety symbols and signs, and fundamental resources relating to chemical safety, such as Material Safety Data Sheets and Chemical Hygiene Plans, to help create a safe environment for learning. In addition, checklists are provided for both teachers and students that highlight important information for working in the laboratory and identify hazards and safe work procedures. This guide is not intended to address all safety issues, but rather to provide basic information about important components of safety in the chemistry laboratory and to serve as a resource to locate further information.

The 1991 report is the first in the series of WoRLD Surveillance Reports. Data presented in the report, most of which relates to the 1968-1987 time period, originated from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department of Labor (DOL), the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). The 1991 report is organized into two major sections, one of figures and the other of tables. Within each section, data are presented in the following subheadings: asbestosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, exposure to cotton dust, pneumonopathy due to inhalation of other dust (i.e., byssinosis), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, toxic agents, dust diseases of the lung, and compensation.

Aviation accidents are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities in Alaska. Pilots in Alaska die at a rate nearly 100 times the mortality rate for all U.S. workers, and over five times the rate for all United States pilots. Unlike the rest of the country, many of Alaska's villages are not connected by a road system; commuter and air taxi operators serve as the main link between these villages and regional hubs, transporting people, cargo, and mail. Although several federal programs have begun to address the issues surrounding aviation safety in Alaska, work remains to be done. This document describes a comprehensive survey of air-taxi operators and pilots in Alaska in which company and pilot demographics, flight practices, and attitudes about safety were examined. It provides information about current practices and how industry views potential safety measures, which is critical to designing effective prevention strategies. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, as the national agency responsible for occupational safety and health research, is committed to continuing to reduce the number of fatal occupational aviation crashes in Alaska. We look forward to further work with government, industry, and nonprofit partners who share our interest in protecting American workers who fly in Alaska.

This Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance Report is the sixth in a series of occupational respiratory disease surveillance reports produced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It presents summary tables and figures of occupational respiratory disease surveillance data focusing on various occupationally-relevant respiratory diseases, including pneumoconioses, occupational asthma and other airways diseases, and several other respiratory conditions. For many of these diseases, selected data on related exposures are also presented. The 2002 WoRLD Surveillance Report has three major sections: (1) a section that provides data highlights and data usage limitations; (2) a section comprised of 15 subsections, each concerning a major disease category and (where available) related occupational exposures, and one subsection concerning smoking status; (3) a section of appendices that provide descriptions of data sources, methods, and other supplementary information. Similar to the 1999 WoRLD Surveillance Report, this report includes data on hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory conditions due to chemical fumes and vapors, and other work-related respiratory conditions, in addition to the pneumoconioses. This report updates pneumoconiosis mortality data published in the 1999 WoRLD Surveillance Report by the addition of currently available data for 1997 through 1999. Pneumoconiosis conditions highlighted include asbestosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, byssinosis, and pneumoconiosis coded as either "unspecified" or "other," and all pneumoconioses aggregated. The current report presents data on conditions not included in earlier reports (e.g., malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other interstitial pulmonary disease), plus data on smoking status by industry and occupation. For many of the conditions reported on, the 2002 WoRLD Surveillance Report presents national and state summary statistics such as counts, crude and age-adjusted mortality rates, and years of potential life lost to age 65 and to life expectancy. Proportionate mortality ratios by industry and occupation are based on the most recent decade of data from a subset of states for which usual industry and occupation have been coded for decedents. Also presented are U.S. state- and county-level maps showing the geographic distribution of mortality and, for the pneumoconioses, tables and figures summarizing selected occupational exposure data for asbestos, coal mine dust, silica dust, cotton dust, etc.

This 1992 supplement to the Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report is intended for use with the 1991 Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report. The appendix of the 1991 report briefly describes each of the major sources of data used in both the original report and the supplement and directs the reader to additional documentation. This supplement has two sections: Figures and Tables and presents updated data for many of the figures and tables presented in the 1991 report. In addition to updated data, this supplement includes data not previously presented. These data include: 1) sex, race, geographic distribution, industry and occupation from the multiple cause of death data for deaths with mention of asbestosis, malignant neoplasms of the pleura, malignant neoplasms of the peritoneum, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, byssinosis, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis; 2) number of discharges with silicosis or asbestosis from the National Hospital Discharge Survey; and 3) reports of occupational asthma and silicosis from the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) program.

This Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance Report is the fifth in a series of occupational respiratory disease surveillance reports produced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It presents summary tables and figures of occupational respiratory disease surveillance data focusing on various occupationally-relevant respiratory diseases, including pneumoconioses, occupational asthma and other airways diseases, and several other respiratory conditions. For many of these diseases, selected data on related exposures are also presented. The 1999 WoRLD Surveillance Report has three major sections: 1) a section that provides data highlights and data usage limitations; 2) a section comprised of 13 subsections, each concerning a major disease category and (where available) related occupational exposures; and 3) a section of appendices that provide descriptions of data sources, methods, and other supplementary information. Similar to the 1994 WoRLD Surveillance Report, this report includes data on malignant neoplasm of the pleura, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory conditions due to chemical fumes and vapors, and other work-related respiratory conditions, in addition to the pneumoconioses. This report updates pneumoconiosis mortality data published in the 1996 WoRLD Surveillance Report by addition of currently available data for 1993 through 1996. Pneumoconiosis conditions highlighted include asbestosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, byssinosis, and pneumoconioses classified as either "unspecified" or "other," and all pneumoconioses aggregated. For many of the conditions reported on, the 1999 WoRLD Surveillance Report presents national and state summary statistics such as counts, crude and age-adjusted mortality rates, and years of potential life lost to age 65 and to life expectancy. Proportionate mortality ratios by industry and occupation, are based on the most recent decade of data from a subset of states for which usual industry and occupation have been coded for decedents. Also presented are U.S. state-level maps showing the geographic distribution of mortality and, for the pneumoconioses, tables and figures summarizing selected occupational exposure data for asbestos, coal and coal mine dust, silica dust, cotton dust, etc.

The material in this Information Circular was presented at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) open-industry briefing held during the 2004 Northwest Mining Association conference in Spokane, WA. The open-industry briefing discussed results of recently completed and on-going mine safety- and health-related research conducted at NIOSH's Spokane and Pittsburgh Research Laboratories on the human side of mining-the miner. The first paper sets the stage for what mining has achieved and what we mean by "getting to zero." The second paper, "Help Experienced Miners Become Great On-the-Job Trainers," distinguishes between experienced miners and trainers. This paper provides some key concepts for turning great miners into great trainers. "The Power of Story-Telling in Getting Through to Miners" explains the history and importance of stories in the culture and training of miners. Finally, "Understanding Self in Stressful Working Environments," describes the personal and social aspects of the working environment, much of which parallels familial theories. The downward trend of deaths in U.S. mining has been remarkable. The number of miners killed or injured each year has decreased steadily over the past 100 years. Some charts show these trends overlain with important events such as World War II and the Mine Safety and Health Act. However, this downward trend in mining fatalities has flattened out. How can you get to zero accidents? Do you concentrate on technological advances and equipment maintenance to avoid malfunctions? Do you concentrate on developing work processes and organizational structures that minimize risk? Do you combine them and take a systems approach that links one to the other with an evaluative loop? Safety efforts in mining have used all of these approaches. What more can we do to get to zero? Getting to zero will require two objectives: A clear and unshakeable belief that it can be done and attention to the human side of mining. Getting to zero is not a new idea; it has been used by mine companies and safety professionals for years as the safety goal. But getting to zero is not so much a physical goal as it is a belief that there are no insurmountable barriers to achieving the goal.

Attention Safety Communicators: Do you want everyone Speaking the Same Language on Safety? Are you frustrated that you're not getting the safety message cut through you desire? Your workforce is going to give you about one minute to convince them to work safely. Do you know what to say, or write, in those first 60 seconds? Employees quickly tune out when they hear bland, irrelevant safety messages. For too long they have been fed complicated, legalistic communication written for compliance that totally ignores that people actually want to feel safe at work. What is needed is a new and easy way to create compelling, targeted risk communication that catches attention and keeps it. Yet, at the same time motivates employees to change how they think and act about safety, in order to develop a safe, thriving and productive workplace environment. This new way is "Transform Your Safety Communication." As a safety leader, your role is to prevent workplace accidents. To do this, you need to change behaviour through safety communication. Being a safety culture change agent is crucial to your career success because how you communicate about safety influences whether or not people will accept or reject your safety messages. You need to read this if you want to: Craft attention grabbing and inspiring safety messages that makes safety meaningful. Create clear, consistent safety messages, so everyone works to a common standard. Understand the psychology behind why people don't listen and how to get around it. Engage workers on safety, no matter how cynical. Instantly generate relevant safety communication with easy to use frameworks and templates. What other Safety Leaders are Saying: "A thoroughly enjoyable read and will now take the place of my dictionary as the most used book on my desk." Michael Carney, HSE Manager Sydney, StarTrack "Simple sound theory backed up with experience, filled with tips and examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly of safety communication, finishing with a "how to" guide." Rachel Murphy, Health Safety and Compliance Coordinator, IHBI Queensland University of Technology "If you want to engage others and change their behaviour through effective communication, then this book is for you." Paul Harper, CEO/Principal Mining Engineer, AMC Consultants "Finally, a real communication book written for the safety professional. I only wish this book were written 15 years sooner." Morris, Elkins, CSP, CPEA, CPSA, Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt You'll Wish You Could Have Read it Years Ago Safety professionals do not pass up this book If you want to be the inspirational safety leader that you've always dreamed of being, this is the safety communication book for you.

In the field of nursing, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as back and shoulder injuries, persist as the leading and most costly U.S. occupational health problem. A large body of evidence indicates that a substantial number of work-related MSDs reported by nurses are due to the cumulative effect of repeated manual patient-handling activities and work done in extreme static awkward postures. In a list of at-risk occupations for musculoskeletal disorders in 2007, nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants ranked first in incidence rate with a case rate of 252 cases per 10,000 workers, a rate seven times the national MSD average for all occupations. Emergency medical personnel ranked second, followed by laborers and material movers, ticket agents and travel clerks, and light and heavy truck drivers among the top six at-risk occupations Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2009]. The nursing occupation also typically ranks in the top ten in yearly incidence rate of sprain and strain injuries. In most industries MSD injury rates have declined in recent years, yet MSD rates for nurses in the healthcare industry have not declined during the same period. Healthcare units at high risk for back and other injuries to caregivers have certain characteristics: History of frequent injuries, High proportion of dependent patients, Lack of use of lifting equipment in good repair, Low staffing levels. More than 30 years of evidence has demonstrated that manual patient handling and relying on body mechanics is unsafe. Furthermore, this evidence indicates that adoption of safe patient handling (SPH) techniques, where nurses use assistive equipment during transfers, is effective in reducing the incidence of MSDs related to the handling of patients.

The workings of a bituminous coal mine produce explosive coal dust for which adding rock dust can reduce the potential for explosions. Accordingly, guidelines have been established by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) about the relative proportion of rock dust that must be present in a mine's intake and return airways. Current MSHA regulations require that intake airways contain at least 65% incombustible content and return airways contain at least 80% incombustible content. The higher limit for return airways was set in large part because finer coal dust tends to collect in these airways. Based on extensive in-mine coal dust particle size surveys and large-scale explosion tests, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends a new standard of 80% total incombustible content (TIC) be required in the intake airways of bituminous coal mines in the absence of methane. MSHA inspectors routinely monitor rock dust inerting efforts by collecting dust samples and measuring the percentage of TIC, which includes measurements of the moisture in the samples, the ash in the coal, and the rock dust. These regulations were based on two important findings: a survey of coal dust particle size that was performed in the 1920s, and large-scale explosion tests conducted in the U.S. Bureau of Mines' Bruceton Experimental Mine (BEM) using dust particles of that survey's size range to determine the amount of inerting material required to prevent explosion propagation. Mining technology and practices have changed considerably since the 1920s, when the original coal dust particle survey was performed. Also, it has been conclusively shown that as the size of coal dust particles decreases, the explosion hazard increases. Given these factors, NIOSH and MSHA conducted a joint survey to determine the range of coal particle sizes found in dust samples collected from intake and return airways of U.S. coal mines. Results from this survey show that the coal dust found in mines today is much finer than in mines of the 1920s. This increase in fine dust is presumably due to the increase in mechanization. In light of this recent comprehensive dust survey, NIOSH conducted additional large-scale explosion tests at the Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM) to determine the degree of rock dusting necessary to abate explosions. The tests used Pittsburgh seam coal dust blended as 38% minus 200 mesh and referred to as medium-sized dust. This medium-sized blend was used to represent the average of the finest coal particle size collected from the recent dust survey. Explosion tests indicate that medium-sized coal dust required 76.4% TIC to prevent explosion propagation. Even the coarse coal dust (20% minus 200 mesh or 75 m), representative of samples obtained from mines in the 1920s, r equired approximately 70% TIC to be rendered inert in the larger LLEM, a level higher than the current regulation of 65% TIC. Given the results of the extensive in-mine coal dust particle size surveys and large-scale explosion tests, NIOSH recommends a new standard of 80% TIC be required in the intake airways of bituminous coal mines in the absence of methane. The survey results indicate that in some cases there are no substantial differences between the coal dust particle size distributions in return and intake air courses in today's coal mines. The survey results indicate that the current requirement of 80% TIC in return airways is still appropriate in the absence of background methane.

The goal and the main thrust of the Second American Conference on Human Vibration were to provide a forum for scientists, engineers, medical doctors, industrial hygienists, and educators to learn and advance research/education in the unique area of human body vibration. In promoting health and safety and in stimulating progress, leaders in the field were invited to share their insight and expertise in addition to the excellent and plausible papers on the presentation schedule. These proceedings of the conference will serve as a means of continuing the dialogue. This unique forum afforded participants opportunities to learn firsthand what their peers and colleagues are working on and to exchange information on a variety of relevant topics including human response, human modeling, experimental design, sensors, new technologies, and epidemiology studies in human responses to hand-transmitted and whole-body vibration. This research is essential for better understanding the risk factors for adverse effects related to vibration and for designing more effective interventions to prevent painful and potentially disabling work-related injuries. This conference addressed contemporary issues regarding occupational health, prevention measures, and scientific data collection used to study the complex, dynamic human response to vibration. The agenda included a rich and diverse scientific program as researchers and medical professionals from around the world gathered to examine human responses to hand-transmitted vibration and whole-body vibration.

At the request of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety, and Training (WVOMHS&T), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) evaluated the effects of explosions on specific mine ventilation seals at its Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM) to assist the agencies in their investigations of the explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia, which occurred on January 2, 2006, and resulted in 12 fatalities. Six full-scale explosion tests were conducted in the LLEM from April to October 2006 to help answer questions regarding possible scenarios for the Sago explosion. The protocols for these tests, and in particular the procedures for constructing various Omega block seals, were developed mainly by MSHA and WVOMHS&T. NIOSH developed the experimental procedures at the LLEM that would provide the required range of explosion pressures against the seals. NIOSH also documented the seal construction, determined and installed the appropriate instrumentation, conducted the explosion tests, analyzed the data, and photographically documented the postexplosion observations. By comparing the results of known explosion loading pressures on the various ventilation structures and objects in the LLEM with their observations at the Sago Mine, MSHA and WVOMHS&T could better analyze the explosion pressures that may have occurred at the Sago Mine.

This report was written in an effort to provide better control measures for low back pain (LBP) and low back disability in the mining industry. There are numerous factors associated with development of LBP, many of which can be effectively controlled while some cannot. Better job design is promoted as the best method of reducing cases of LBP and can also reduce the disability (i.e., lost time from work) associated with LBP when it happens. The report draws attention to what is currently known about LBP, what the causes are thought to be, and discusses recent back injury trends in the mining industry. Research describing unique physical demands in mining, such as the capabilities and limitations of working in awkward postures, is also presented. Methods that can be used to prevent initial LBP episodes are provided, including facilities design and layout for materials and supplies, use of mechanical-assist devices, improved design of lifting tasks, and better seat design. Methods of reducing the disability associated with LBP (including workplace design, proactive return-to-work efforts, communication, and management commitment) are also discussed. The report concludes that control of LBP and disability in mining requires a comprehensive approach to limit the repetitive loading that can occur on the low back due to manual materials-handling tasks and exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV). Specific recommendations include the following: Successful LBP prevention efforts require a proactive program that has strong management commitment and incorporates employee involvement. More efficient supply handling systems and use of mechanical-assist devices can greatly reduce exposure to hazardous lifting tasks. Lifting tasks should be designed to minimize low back stress. Tools to evaluate and redesign lifting tasks are presented. Improved seat design can reduce exposure to WBV and improve posture, leading to reduced LBP risk. The disability associated with LBP can be reduced. Getting the worker back on the job as quickly as possible is in the interest of everyone involved.

When the U.S. Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-596), it established the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Through the Act, Congress charged NIOSH with recommending occupational safety and health standards and describing exposure levels that are safe for various periods of employment, including but not limited to the exposures at which no worker will suffer diminished health, functional capacity, or life expectancy because of his or her work experience. Criteria documents contain a critical review of the scientific and technical information about the prevalence of hazards, the existence of safety and health risks, and the adequacy of control methods. By means of criteria documents, NIOSH communicates these recommended standards to regulatory agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), health professionals in academic institutions, industry, organized labor, public interest groups, and others in the occupational safety and health community. This criteria document is derived from the NIOSH evaluation of critical health effects studies of occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr VI]) compounds. It provides recommendations for controlling workplace exposures including a revised recommended exposure limit (REL) derived using current quantitative risk assessment methodology on human health effects data. Cr(VI) compounds include a large group of chemicals with varying chemical properties, uses, and workplace exposures. Their properties include corrosion-resistance, durability, and hardness. Sodium dichromate is the most common chromium chemical from which other Cr(VI) compounds may be produced. Materials containing Cr(VI) include various paint and primer pigments, graphic art supplies, fungicides, corrosion inhibitors, and wood preservatives. Some of the industries in which the largest numbers of workers are exposed to high concentrations of Cr(VI) compounds include electroplating, welding, and painting. An estimated 558,000 U.S. workers are exposed to airborne Cr(VI) compounds in the workplace.

This report describes a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) investigation assessing the prevalence of a lack of sufficient start-up oxygen in CSE SR-100 self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR) devices. The availability of sufficient start-up oxygen is critical to the performance of the SR-100. As part of a routine field testing program of SCSRs used in coal mines, NIOSH and MSHA detected two SR-100s that lacked sufficient start-up oxygen. CSE Corporation subsequently discovered one SCSR that lacked sufficient start-up oxygen in that company's internal quality control program and voluntarily stopped further production and sales of SR-100s. NIOSH developed a protocol to test for the presence of start-up oxygen in field-deployed SR100s. The purpose of the test was to determine if the failure rate of the start-up oxygen in the population of 70,000 field-deployed units exceeded 1%. NIOSH and MSHA used American Society for Quality (ASQ), Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection of Isolated Lots by Attributes (ASQC Q3-1988). In assessing the SR-100s, if no more than 3 failures of start-up oxygen occurred in the 500-unit random sample, the SR-100 could be accepted as meeting the Limiting Quality (LQ) rate of 1.25% for start-up oxygen performance.