There is broad recognition that the psychosocial environment at work can affect physical and mental health as well as organizational outcomes such as work performance and effectiveness. There is a substantial literature linking "job strain" and cardiovascular disease. The economic costs of job strain and job stress in general are related to absenteeism, turnover, and lost productivity, and, although difficult to estimate, could be as high as several hundred billion dollars per year. Thus for social as well as economic reasons, research aimed at understanding the conditions of work that contribute to physical and mental health concerns is well worth an intensified focus. The psychosocial domains studied by occupational health researchers typically include psychological job demands, job control (decision latitude), social support, and intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. These factors, reflecting the organization of the work process, are often used to define the "psychosocial work environment." However, health and well-being are also affected by other features of the psychosocial work climate, such as unfair or inequitable treatment of employees, sexual harassment, and discrimination. Differential treatment, whether in terms of gender, age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disabilities, is increasingly recognized as a chronic stressor that can affect both psychological and physical health. Experiences of discrimination can operate either in a cumulative way or in combination with each other. Furthermore, they are inherently likely to be distributed differentially by socioeconomic position. Although it appears that discrimination experienced by members of target social groups has detrimental consequences, conceptual approaches and strength of findings vary, methodological problems with the literature have been noted, and the evidence regarding long-term health outcomes is limited to date. Direct links to "upstream" organizational practices (e.g., workplace policies, programs, climate) have rarely been made empirically. Relevant literature is explored in more detail below, to summarize both our knowledge to date and the gaps in the empirical research, as well as to motivate inclusion of these work environment features in future studies. One barrier to such research is the lack of awareness of appropriate measurement instruments. Thus the primary purpose of the current project has been to identify measures of gender and race-related dynamics in the workplace and to make them more easily accessible. Following the brief introduction and literature summary, this document catalogues 46 measures of biases, discrimination, and harassment that may be useful to occupational health researchers who wish to explore these issues further.

In the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress declared that its purpose was to assure, so far as possible, safe and healthful working conditions for every working man and woman and to preserve our human resources. In this Act, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is charged with recommending occupational safety and health standards and describing exposure concentrations that are safe for various periods of employment-including but not limited to concentrations at which no worker will suffer diminished health, functional capacity, or life expectancy as a result of his or her work experience. By means of criteria documents, NIOSH communicates these recommended standards to regulatory agencies (including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA]) and to others in the occupational safety and health community. Criteria documents provide the scientific basis for new occupational safety and health standards. These documents generally contain a critical review of the scientific and technical information available on the prevalence of hazards, the existence of safety and health risks, and the adequacy of control methods. In addition to transmitting these documents to the Department of Labor, NIOSH also distributes them to health professionals in academic institutions, industry, organized labor, public interest groups, and other government agencies. In 1972, NIOSH published Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Noise, which provided the basis for a recommended standard to reduce the risk of developing permanent hearing loss as a result of occupational noise exposure NIOSH 1972]. NIOSH has now evaluated the latest scientific information and has revised some of its previous recommendations. The 1998 recommendations go beyond attempting to conserve hearing by focusing on preventing occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This criteria document reevaluates and reaffirms the recommended exposure limit (REL) for occupational noise exposure established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 1972. The REL is 85 decibels, A-weighted, as an 8-hr time-weighted average (85 dBA as an 8-hr TWA). Exposures at or above this level are hazardous. By incorporating the 4000-Hz audiometric frequency into the definition of hearing impairment in the risk assessment, NIOSH has found an 8% excess risk of developing occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) during a 40-year lifetime exposure at the 85-dBA REL. NIOSH has also found that scientific evidence supports the use of a 3-dB exchange rate for the calculation of TWA exposures to noise. The recommendations in this document go beyond attempts to conserve hearing by focusing on prevention of occupational NIHL. For workers whose noise exposures equal or exceed 85 dBA, NIOSH recommends a hearing loss prevention program (HLPP) that includes exposure assessment, engineering and administrative controls, proper use of hearing protectors, audiometric evaluation, education and motivation, recordkeeping, and program audits and evaluations. Audiometric evaluation is an important component of an HLPP. To provide early identification of workers with increasing hearing loss, NIOSH has revised the criterion for significant threshold shift to an increase of 15 dB in the hearing threshold level (HTL) at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 6000 Hz in either ear, as determined by two consecutive tests. To permit timely intervention and prevent further hearing losses in workers whose HTLs have increased because of occupational noise exposure, NIOSH no longer recommends age correction on individual audiograms.

This 1996 Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance Report is the fourth in a series of occupational respiratory disease surveillance reports produced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The purpose of this 1996 report is to provide national and state-specific summaries of occupational respiratory disease surveillance data focusing on pneumoconiosis mortality. Selected occupational respiratory hazard sampling data relevant to pneumoconiosis are also presented. The 1996 WoRLD Surveillance Report has three sections: 1) a highlights and limitations section that provides data highlights and data usage limitations; 2) a United States section that serves to update and expand overall national data provided in the 1994 WoRLD Surveillance Report; and 3) a state section that provides detailed profiles of pneumoconiosis data for each state in the U.S.. The United States section updates pneumoconiosis mortality surveillance data published previously in the 1994 WoRLD Surveillance Report, by including data available for 1991 and 1992. For each condition, this section presents nation al data such as counts, crude and age-adjusted mortality rates, and years of potential life lost to age 65 to and life expectancy. Proportionate mortality ratios by industry and occupation, are based on data from a subset of states for which usual industry and occupation have been coded for decedents. Also presented are U.S. county level maps showing the geographic distribution of mortality for each pneumoconiosis condition. In addition, this section presents selected occupational exposure sampling data for asbestos, coal and coal mine dust, silica dust, cotton dust, etc. The State section provides more detailed pneumoconiosis mortality surveillance data for each state and for the District of Columbia. The State section is organized so that tables and graphs of data for each state are grouped together. Selected graphs, tables, and maps present pneumoconiosis mortality from 1968 to 1992 for each state, as well as for counties within each state. Surveillance data include counts, crude and age-adjusted mortality rates, and years of potential life lost to life expectancy.

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.

By reporting accurate data on industry and usual or life-time occupation of decedents, funeral directors and those involved in the registration process are helping to improve statistics on occupational mortality and worker health. This document updates the guidelines written in 1988 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) (DHHS Publication No. 88-1149). It is designed to help funeral directors complete the Decedent's Usual Occupation and Kind of Business/Industry items on electronic and paper death certificates. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reviews the quality of the occupation and industry reported, combines it with the NCHS mortality data, and reports U.S. occupational mortality trends. The average U.S. worker spends a substantial part of his or her life at work. Workplaces or jobs may expose workers to risks or hazards that can contribute to injury or disease. Information about an individual's job and type of business provides a snapshot of the hazards he or she might have encountered on the job. Disease may appear immediately or many years after the worker left the job. The data on the occupation and industry of workers can point to health risks to which the workers may have been exposed. In the United States there are approximately 5,000 traumatic work-related fatalities and tens of thousands of work-related deaths from illnesses reported each year. It has been known for many decades that exposures to hazards in the work environment can cause severe injury or illness and death in workers.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) conducted joint research to evaluate explosion blast effects on typical U.S. mine ventilation stoppings in the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory's (PRL) Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM). An innovative Australian-designed brattice stopping was also evaluated. After mine explosion accidents, MSHA conducts investigations to determine the cause(s) as a means to prevent future occurrences. As part of these postexplosion investigations, the condition of underground stoppings, including the debris from damaged stoppings, is documented as evidence of the approximate strength and the direction of the explosion forces. Permanent stoppings are used to control and direct the ventilation airflow through underground coal mines to dilute and render harmless methane, entrained coal dust, and other contaminants at the working face and other areas of the mine. 30 CFR 75.333 requires that permanent stoppings be built and maintained between intake and return air courses beginning at the third connecting crosscut outby the working face and to separate other air courses and direct air as specified. To perform the intended function and meet the requirements of 30 CFR 75.333, permanent stoppings are to be constructed in a traditionally accepted method and of materials that have been demonstrated to perform adequately or in a method and of materials that have been tested and shown to have a minimum strength equal to or greater than the traditionally accepted in-mine controls. A few examples of traditionally accepted 61 Fed. Reg. 9764 (1996)] stopping construction methods are as follows: (1) 8-in (20-cm) and 6-in (15-cm) concrete block (both hollow-core and solid) with mortared joints, (2) 8-in (20-cm) and 6-in (15-cm) concrete blocks, dry-stacked and coated on one or both sides with a strength-enhancing sealant suitable for dry-stacked stoppings, and (3) steel stoppings (minimum 20-gauge) with seams and perimeter sealed with a suitable mine sealant. Unlike mine ventilation seal structures that are commonly used to isolate unused sections of the mine, stoppings are not intended to withstand explosion overpressures. Unfortunately, mine explosions do occur. Depending on the location and severity, explosions can result in fatalities and injuries to underground mining personnel and cause considerable underground damage to equipment and structures. In the mine explosions in Alabama in 2001 and West Virginia in 2006, ventilation stoppings were destroyed. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) personnel conduct investigations into these types of explosion accidents to determine the root cause(s) as a means to prevent future occurrences. As part of postexplosion investigations, the location and condition of underground ventilation structures and debris are mapped. This information helps the investigators determine the strength and the direction of the forces of the explosion.

Many of the electrical fatalities in construction, mining, and other industries are due to personnel accidentally contacting overhead electrical power lines with high-reaching equipment such as mobile cranes. During a recent 10-year period, approximately 20% of occupational electrocutions involved contact between mobile equipment and overhead power lines. In a typical power line contact accident, the frame of the equipment (and possibly a suspended load in the case of mobile cranes) is energized to a high voltage relative to the surrounding ground surface. Anyone touching the frame and ground simultaneously is exposed to this high voltage and can become a path for lethal levels of electrical current. Overhead electrical power line PWDs are mobile equipment-mounted safety devices intended to alert personnel if the equipment is operating too close to an energized overhead electrical power line. Such devices have been commercially available for more than 30 years, but have not found widespread acceptance in many industries due, in part, to a lack of regulatory requirements for their use. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently involved in updating the standards for cranes and derricks (29 CFR 1926.550). Part of the proposed revision addresses overhead power line safety for mobile cranes and includes explicit reference to PWDs as one of several acceptable measures for protecting workers from accidental power line contacts. With this proposal to accept PWDs as one means to maintain a safe distance between cranes and power lines (as specified in 29 CFR), NIOSH researchers concluded that an objective performance evaluation of PWDs would be valuable and timely. A performance evaluation of two commercially available overhead power line PWDs was conducted at NIOSH-PRL. The objective of the tests was to document performance capabilities and limitations for these PWDs by identifying factors that can influence their operation. The overall approach for this testing called for the two PWD companies to install their devices on a government-owned 22-st (20-mt) rough terrain crane and specify procedures for their use. The crane was to be operated using a wide range of boom positions near several different configurations of energized overhead power lines, with the performance of the PWDs documented. This full-scale testing took place at a purpose-built overhead power line test site at PRL. PRL engineers coordinated and directed this research, but input for developing the test protocol was solicited from a number of cooperators, including the two PWD manufacturers participating in the study, an equipment manufacturing trade association representative, labor union representatives, OSHA, a large private construction and crane rental firm with experience using PWDs, and an electrical engineering consulting firm working as a NIOSH contractor.

In 2009, the operating height of approximately one fourth of underground coal mines in the U.S. restricted mine workers to kneeling, crawling, and/or stooping posture to perform work MSHA 2009]. The large number of knee injuries to these workers is likely attributed to exposure to musculoskeletal disorder risk factors (prolonged kneeling, crawling, and twisting on one's knees). Therefore, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has investigated three different biomechanical parameters (muscle activity of the knee flexors and extensors, pressure at the knee, and the net forces and moments at the knee) as subjects assumed postures common to low-seam mining, both with and without kneepads. The postures evaluated included: (1) kneeling near full flexion; (2) kneeling near 90 of knee flexion; (3) kneeling on one knee; and (4) squatting. The pressure and the net forces and moments at the knee were evaluated as subjects statically assumed these postures. However, negligible muscle activity existed for these static postures. Therefore, muscle activity of the knee flexors and extensors was evaluated for each posture while subjects performed a lateral lift that is common to low-seam mining where they lifted a 25-lb block from their right side, transferred it across their body, and placed it on the ground on their left side. The results indicated that, relative to the stresses posed by other kneeling postures, some postures had may have more detrimental effects than others. Considering the potential impact of the three biomechanical parameters, several key recommendations were made regarding when it may be most appropriate to use specific postures. Additional recommendations were also made regarding the design of kneepads. This study investigated three biomechanical parameters associated with knee loading that are potentially related to knee injury risk. In order to determine the effects that commonly used postures in low-seam mining and wearing or not wearing kneepads have on these parameters, three objectives were met for three kneepad conditions (no kneepad, articulated kneepad, and nonarticulated kneepad, both of which were reported by distributors to be very commonly used): 1. Examine the electromyographic (EMG) responses of knee flexors and extensors during a lateral lifting task in kneeling and squatting postures associated with low-seam mining (Note: Static trials were excluded from this analysis because only minimal activity was observed in these trials). It was hypothesized that changes in posture would result in altered muscular demands required to accomplish the lifting task, and would be reflected by changes in the magnitudes and patterns of EMG activity of the knee flexors and extensors. 2. For static postures associated with low-seam mining, determine the pressures applied to the landmarks of the knee identified during pilot testing as being responsible for transmitting the majority of load to the knee (patella, patellar tendon, and tibial tubercle). It was hypothesized that the pressure and pressure distribution at the knee would be significantly affected by wearing a kneepad and by the simulated posture. It was further hypothesized that the type of kneepad worn would significantly affect the pressure and pressure distribution at the knee. 3. For postures associated with low-seam mining, investigate the net externally applied forces and moments at the knee and resulting joint kinematics. It was hypothesized that significant differences will be detected in the loading profiles between kneeling and squatting, as well as between the low-flexion (kneeling on one knee and kneeling near 90 flexion) and higher-flexion (squatting and kneeling near full flexion) postures.

Major Hazard Risk Assessment (MHRA) is used to help prevent major hazards, e.g., fire, explosion, wind-blast, outbursts, spontaneous combustion, roof instability and chemical and hazardous substances, etc., from injuring miners. The structured process associated with MHRA helps to characterize the major hazards and evaluate engineering, management and work process factors that impact how a mine mitigates its highest risk. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studied the application of this technique to US mining conditions through a field-oriented pilot project. Risk assessment teams used in the pilot project were primarily composed of mining company personnel. Ten case studies were performed over a wide cross-section of mines. These mines were representative of the important mining commodities in the US minerals industry, i.e. coal, metal, non-metal, and aggregate. Also, the sizes of the mines ranged from small to large and were located across the country. The ten case studies demonstrate that most US mines have the capability to successfully implement an MHRA and that the MHRA methodology produced additional prevention controls and recovery measures to lessen the risk associated with a select population of major mining hazards. The basic ingredient for a successful MHRA is the desire to become more proactive in dealing with the risks associated with events that can cause multiple fatalities. A successful outcome is marked by a thorough examination of existing prevention controls and recovery measures. When pressed to consider more controls to further mitigate the risk, a well-staffed risk assessment team was able to identify additional controls. For these mining operations, it was important to add additional controls, even if they were not required by existing mining regulations, to lower the risks associated with the major hazards under consideration. If a mining operation is not willing to commit its best people to an MHRA or will not provide them with sufficient time to see the process through to its conclusion, the MHRA output may prove to be useless. Additionally, if a mining operation is not prepared to discuss its major hazards in an open and honest fashion and to present the findings of the risk assessment in a written report, the MHRA output will be unclear, and attempts to monitor or audit important controls may not be possible. A MHRA is most effective when the mining operation possesses 1) a proper understanding of its hazards, 2) experience with informal and basic-formal risk assessment techniques, 3) proper facilities, machinery and equipment, 4) suitable systems and procedures that represent industry Best Practice, 5) appropriate organizational support with adequate staff, communications and training, 6) a formal and thorough plan for emergency response, and 7) a safety risk management approach that is promoted and supported at all levels of the organization.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted the first comprehensive survey of the U.S. mining population in more than 20 years. The National Survey of the Mining Population captured the current profile of the U.S. mining workforce. Data collection began in March 2008 and continued through August 2008. Randomly selected mining operations in all of the major mining sectors (i.e., coal, metal, nonmetal, stone, and sand and gravel) received the survey and had the option of completing a paper or web-based questionnaire. A total of 737 mining operations returned completed questionnaires and reported data for 9,008 employees. Two sets of data were collected in this national survey. There were questions about the mining operation, including employee training, work schedules, the use of independent contractor employees, and mine communication and safety systems. The employee questions included demographic and occupational questions about individual employees. The survey sample data were weighted in order to provide national estimates of mine and employee characteristics. This Information Circular (IC) is published in two parts-"Part I: Employees" presents the employee-level data and "Part II: Mines" presents the mine-level data. Both parts of this IC include an overview of the survey background, development of the survey materials, sample design and sample selection, data collection and processing, statistical weighting, and lessons learned. The survey data are summarized for the overall U.S. mining industry and the five major mining sectors. The information gathered from the survey respondents is being published only as summarized data so that no single mining operation or employee can be identified.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-596) assures, insofar as possible, safe and healthful working conditions for every working man and woman in the Nation. The act charges the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with recommending occupational safety and health standards and describing exposure concentrations that are safe for various periods of employment, including but not limited to the concentrations at which no worker will suffer diminished health, functional capacity, or life expectancy as a result of his or her work experience. Under that charge and by a 1974 contract, NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration jointly undertook the evaluation of sampling and analytical methods for airborne contaminants to determine if current methods met the criterion to produce a result that fell within 25% of the true concentration 95% of the time. In 1995, that protocol was revised. The Components for Evaluation of Direct-Reading Monitors for Gases and Vapors expands the 1995 method development and evaluation experimental testing methods to direct-reading monitors for gases and vapors. It further refines the previous guidelines by applying the most recent research technology and giving additional experimental designs that more fully evaluate monitor performance. 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. The Components for Evaluation of Direct-Reading Monitors for Gases and Vapors presents methods to be used in evaluating direct-reading monitors for use in workplace compliance determinations. 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.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-596) assures, insofar as possible, safe and healthful working conditions for every working man and woman in the Nation. The act charges the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with recommending occupational safety and health standards and describing exposure concentrations that are safe for various periods of employment, including but not limited to the concentrations at which no worker will suffer diminished health, functional capacity, or life expectancy as a result of his or her work experience. Under that charge and by a 1974 contract, NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration jointly undertook the evaluation of sampling and analytical methods for airborne contaminants to determine if current methods met the criterion to produce a result that fell within 25% of the true concentration 95% of the time. In 1995, that protocol was revised. This document expands the 1995 method development and evaluation experimental testing methods to direct-reading monitors for gases and vapors. It further refines the previous guidelines by applying the most recent research technology and giving additional experimental designs that more fully evaluate monitor performance. These Components are provided for laboratory users, consensus standard setting bodies, and manufacturers of direct-reading instrumentation and are compatible with American National Standards Institute/International Society of Automation guidelines. They provide more simplified procedures to estimate the precision, bias, and accuracy of a monitor; to evaluate a monitor relative to the 25% accuracy criterion; and to demonstrate that an atmosphere is relatively safe. This document provides discussion of the physical, operational, and performance characteris-tics 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.

The safety and health hazards associated with the horse-racing industry, along with a lack of adequate disability and health insurance for its workers, prompted an investigation by Congress which culminated with hearings in 2005. One of the outcomes from these Congressional hearings was a letter from the Chairman and Ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, requesting assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in investigating the safety and health hazards in the horse-racing industry. In response to this request, NIOSH conducted a review of the available safety and health literature on thoroughbred and standard bred horse racing; conducted site visits to two racetracks in Lexington, Kentucky, Keeneland Race Course and the North American Racing Academy; completed a fatality investigation; conducted analyses of injury data from relevant data sources; reviewed regulations governing the horse-racing industry in the United States and other countries; and held a public meeting in order to garner concerns about the health and safety of workers in the horse-racing industry. This document is intended for all workers associated with the horse-racing industry, including jockeys, other race track workers, horse and race track owners, and racing commissions. The document summarizes NIOSH's efforts in responding to the Congressional inquiry and provides recommendations for reducing the number of injuries and adverse health effects for workers in the horse-racing industry.

Nanotechnology has the potential to dramatically improve the effectiveness of a number of existing consumer and industrial products and could have a substantial impact on the development of new products in all sectors, ranging from disease diagnosis and treatment to environmental remediation. Because of the broad range of possible nanotechnology applications, continued evaluation of the potential health risks associated with exposure to nanomaterials is essential to ensure their safe handling. Engineered nanoparticles are materials purposefully produced with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nanometers. Nanoparticles often exhibit unique physical and chemical properties that impart specific characteristics essential in making engineered materials, but little is known about what effect these properties may have on human health. Research has shown that the physicochemical characteristics of particles can influence their effects in biological systems. These characteristics include particle size, shape, surface area, charge, chemical properties, solubility, oxidant generation potential, and degree of agglomeration. Until the results from research studies can fully elucidate the characteristics of nanoparticles that may pose a health risk, precautionary measures are warranted. NIOSH has developed this document to provide an overview of what is known about the potential hazards of engineered nanoparticles and measures that can be taken to minimize workplace exposures.

This Instructor's Manual is part of a broad-based multi-stakeholder initiative, Prevention through Design (PtD). This module has been developed for use by educators to disseminate the PtD concept and practice within the undergraduate engineering curricula. PtD anticipates and minimizes occupational safety and health hazards and risks at the design phase of products, considering workers through the entire life cycle from the construction workers to the users, maintenance staff, and, finally, the demolition team. The engineering profession has long recognized the importance of preventing occupational safety and health problems by designing out hazards. Industry leaders want to reduce costs by preventing negative safety and health consequences of poor designs. Thus, owners, designers, and trade contractors all have an interest in the final design. This manual is for one of four PtD education modules to increase awareness of construction hazards. The modules support undergraduate courses in civil and construction engineering. The four modules cover the following: 1) Reinforced concrete design, 2) Mechanical-electrical systems, 3) Structural steel design, 4) Architectural design and construction.

This Instructor's Manual is part of a broad-based multi-stakeholder initiative, Prevention through Design (PtD). This module has been developed for use by educators to disseminate the PtD concept and practice within the undergraduate engineering curricula. Prevention through Design anticipates and minimizes occupational safety and health hazards and risks at the design phase of products, considering workers through the entire life cycle, from the construction workers to the users, the maintenance staff, and, finally, the demolition team. The engineering profession has long recognized the importance of preventing occupational safety and health problems by designing out hazards. Industry leaders want to reduce costs by preventing negative safety and health consequences of poor designs. Thus, owners, designers, and trade contractors all have an interest in the final design. This manual is for one of four PtD education modules to increase awareness of construction hazards. The modules support undergraduate courses in civil and construction engineering. The four modules cover the following: 1) Reinforced concrete design, 2) Mechanical-electrical systems, 3) Structural steel design, 4) Architectural design and construction.

This Instructor's Manual is part of a broad-based multi-stakeholder initiative, Prevention through Design (PtD). This module has been developed for use by educators to disseminate the PtD concept and practice within the undergraduate engineering curricula. PtD anticipates and minimizes occupational safety and health hazards and risks at the design phase of products, considering workers through the entire life cycle, from the construction workers to the users, maintenance staff, and, finally, the demolition team. The engineering profession has long recognized the importance of preventing occupational safety and health problems by designing out hazards. Industry leaders want to reduce costs by preventing negative safety and health consequences of poor designs. Thus, owners, designers, and trade contractors all have an interest in the final design. This manual is for one of four PtD education modules to increase awareness of construction hazards. The modules support undergraduate courses in civil and construction engineering. The four modules cover the following: 1) Reinforced concrete design, 2) Mechanical-electrical systems, 3) Structural steel design, 4) Architectural design and construction.

The purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-596) is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for every working person and to preserve our human resources. In this Act, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is charged with recommending occupational safety and health standards and describing exposures 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 as a result of his or her work experience. Current Intelligence Bulletins (CIBs) are issued by NIOSH to disseminate new scientific information about occupational hazards. A CIB may draw attention to a formerly unrecognized hazard, report new data on a known hazard, or disseminate information about hazard control. CIBs are distributed to representatives of academia, industry, organized labor, public health agencies, and public interest groups as well as to federal agencies responsible for ensuring the safety and health of workers. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), an insoluble white powder, is used extensively in many commercial products, including paint, cosmetics, plastics, paper, and food, as an anticaking or whitening agent. It is produced and used in the workplace in varying particle-size fractions, including fine and ultrafine sizes. The number of U.S. workers currently exposed to TiO2 dust is unknown. This NIOSH CIB, based on our assessment of the current available scientific information about this widely used material, (1) reviews the animal and human data relevant to assessing the carcinogenicity and other adverse health effects of TiO2, (2) provides a quantitative risk assessment using dose-response information from the rat and human lung dosimetry modeling and recommended occupational exposure limits for fine and ultrafine (including engineered nanoscale) TiO2, and (3) describes exposure monitoring techniques, exposure control strategies, and research needs. This report only addresses occupational exposures by inhalation, and conclusions derived here should not be inferred to pertain to nonoccupational exposures.

Work-related slip, trip, and fall incidents can frequently result in serious disabling injuries that impact a healthcare employee's ability to do his or her job, often resulting in lost workdays, reduced productivity, expensive worker compensation claims, and diminished ability to care for patients. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2009], the incidence rate of lost-workday injuries from slips, trips, and falls (STFs) on the same level in hospitals was 38.2 per 10,000 employees, which was 90% greater than the average rate for all other private industries combined (20.1 per 10,000 employees). STFs as a whole are the second most common cause of lost-workday injuries in hospitals. An analysis of workers' compensation injury claims from acute-care hospitals showed that the lower extremities (knees, ankles, feet) were the body parts most commonly injured after STFs and the nature of injury was most often sprains, strains, dislocations and tears. In addition, STFs were significantly more likely to result in fractures and multiple injuries than were other types of injuries. This workbook identifies the top 10 STF hazards specific to healthcare facilities. For each hazard this workbook will: 1. Explain how the hazard contributes to STFs, 2. Identify where the hazard is likely to occur, and 3. Provide recommendations to reduce or eliminate the hazard. Slips, trips, and falls are preventable. This workbook provides guidance on implementing a STF prevention program to protect healthcare workers. The goal of the workbook is to familiarize you with common STF hazards in healthcare facilities so you are able to recognize and reduce the risk to employees. Both visitors and patients will benefit from an STF prevention program in your facility reducing their risk as well.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most common occupational illness in the United States, with 30 million workers exposed to excessive noise levels every day. Of particular concern is the mining industry; which has the highest prevalence of hazardous noise exposure of any major industry sector and is second only to the railroad industry in prevalence of workers reporting hearing difficulty. This document is for operators, safety personnel, and mechanics in the mining industry who are not specialists in noise control engineering or acoustics. Evaluations of successful and unsuccessful attempts at controlling noise on several large, underground metal mining machines are detailed to illustrate the basic principles of noise control. Once personnel understand the guidelines and principles of noise control, they will be able to evaluate the extent of a noise problem; determine the best approach to the problem; and apply the most appropriate solution. Because of the insidious nature of NIHL, it can go unnoticed until a considerable loss of hearing has occurred. In some cases, diagnosis is delayed because an exposed individual claims to have become accustomed to the noise. In reality, that person may have already suffered irreversible hearing loss.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted the first comprehensive survey of the U.S. mining population in more than 20 years. The National Survey of the Mining Population captured the current profile of the U.S. mining workforce. Data collection began in March 2008 and continued through August 2008. Randomly selected mining operations in all of the major mining sectors (i.e., coal, metal, nonmetal, stone, and sand and gravel) received the survey and had the option of completing a paper or web-based questionnaire. A total of 737 mining operations returned completed questionnaires and reported data for 9,008 employees. Two sets of data were collected in this national survey. There were questions about the mining operation, including employee training, work schedules, the use of independent contractor employees, and mine communication and safety systems. The employee questions included demographic and occupational questions about individual employees. The survey sample data were weighted in order to provide national estimates of mine and employee characteristics. This Information Circular (IC) is published in two parts-"Part I: Employees" presents the employee-level data and "Part II: Mines" presents the mine-level data. Both parts of this IC include an overview of the survey background, development of the survey materials, sample design and sample selection, data collection and processing, statistical weighting, and lessons learned. The survey data are summarized for the overall U.S. mining industry and the five major mining sectors. The information gathered from the survey respondents is being published only as summarized data so that no single mining operation or employee can be identified.

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.

Chemical exposure in the workplace is a significant problem in the United States. More than 13 million workers in the United States are potentially exposed to chemicals via the skin. Skin disorders are among the most frequently reported occupational illnesses, resulting in an estimated annual cost in the United States of over $1 billion. While the rates of most other occupational diseases are decreasing, skin disease rates are actually increasing. Efforts to reduce or prevent skin problems in many work settings are lacking as too frequently workers, employers, and even occupational health professionals accept skin problems as part of the job. The tolerance of occupational skin problems must be lowered and the methods for assessing and reducing chemical exposures must be improved. As occupational health professionals or employers, it is important that you know how to identify and manage the risk of chemical exposures to the skin and prevent injury and illness associated with dermal exposure risks. This publication will provide workers with: knowledge of the major adverse health effects resulting from chemical exposures to the skin, information on recognizing chemical hazards, knowledge of intervention/prevention strategies, and sources of information related to skin disorders and prevention.