Weekly E-Newsbrief
April 13, 2018
The E-Newsbrief of the National Clearinghouse is a free weekly newsletter focusing on new developments in the world of worker health and safety. Each issue provides summaries of the latest worker health and safety news from newspapers, magazines, journals, government reports, and the Web, along with links to the original documents. Also featured each week are updates from government agencies that handle hazmat and worker safety issues such as DOE, EPA, OSHA and others.
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- Top Stories
- Calendar Features
- On The Web This Week
- Federal Agency Update
- Awardee Highlights/Online Learning
- Job Openings
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| Top Stories | Back to Top |
Register Now for Spring 2018 National Trainers’ Exchange and WTP Awardee Meeting
The 7th National Trainers’ Exchange is hosted by the Western Region Universities Consortium (WRUC) in conjunction with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program (WTP). The Exchange will bring together safety and health trainers and training stakeholders from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the NIEHS WTP to exchange ideas about how to make training for hazardous materials and emergency response workers more effective and empowering. The Awardee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 9, 2018; the National Trainers’ Exchange will be held on Thursday and Friday, May 10-11, 2018. The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix hotel. The hotel block closes Friday, April 20, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. MT. Registration closes Friday, April 27, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
How Texas is Building Itself ‘Back Up Better’ After Hurricane Harvey
For most Americans, the one-two punch of last autumn’s hurricanes is ancient history. But hard-hit communities in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean are still rebuilding. The default response after a major disaster is often to rebuild as quickly as possible. This typically means replicating what existed before the storm. But why not build back in a way that corrects longstanding problems? Major disasters like Hurricane Harvey often bring influxes of resources and attention to communities that are struggling with health and social challenges.
Independent [Author: Nicole Errett]
2018 Hurricane Season Will Bring Another Battery of Storms
While images of destruction caused by last year's battery of hurricanes are still fresh in the minds of many Americans, including those living in Puerto Rico. After six months, power is not fully restored and forecasters are cautioning the public to brace themselves for another busy hurricane season. Researchers at Colorado State University predict this will be a slightly above-average season, predicting 14 tropical storms in 2018.
NPR [Author: Vanessa Romo]
HAZMAT Goes Augmented
While the scale of an incident such as September 11, 2001 might be rare, workers and responders deal every day with incidents involving hazardous materials (HAZMAT) where even a small exposure can leave lasting, even deadly, effects. Seeking to help protect workers and responders, Mitchel A. Rosen, who directs the Center for Public Health Workforce Development at Rutgers School of Public Health, reached out to Cesar Bandera, who heads the entrepreneurship program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. They agreed that utilizing a combination of sensors, cloud computing and smartphones, it would be possible to create an augmented reality that simulates a wide array of HAZMAT scenarios, allowing students to feel more responsible in the moment and begin building muscle memory for longer-term information retention.
Sludge Barrel Ruptures at Idaho Nuclear Site, No Injuries
A barrel containing radioactive sludge ruptured at an eastern Idaho nuclear facility, resulting in no injuries and no risk to the public but possibly slowing progress in shipping waste out of the state. The U.S. Department of Energy said the 55-gallon barrel ruptured this week at the 890-square-mile site that includes the Idaho National Laboratory, the nation’s top federal nuclear research lab about 55 miles west of Idaho Falls.
The Spokesman-Review [Author: Keith Ridler]
| Calendar Features | Back to Top |
Webinar: Climate Adaptation Policy at the State and Local Level
Arizona State University's School of Sustainability, with the American Society of Adaptation Professionals and the University of the District of Columbia's College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, is hosting a new five-webinar series -- "Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience Leadership Series." This is the first webinar in the new series and focuses on climate policy. Panelists include Michael McCormick, California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and Guy Williams, on the Detroit Climate Action Plan. The webinar will be held on April 16, 2018, from 1:15-2:45 pm ET.
Symposium: 30th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services
The 30th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner will be held on April 18-19, 2018. Presenters will include association leaders and policy makers who are experts in such areas as first responder communications, emergency medical services, building codes, leadership, public safety education, and health and wellness. The Symposium will be held at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Washington, DC).
Webinar: Working with Communities to Strengthen the Public Health Fight for Environmental Justice
This webinar hosted by the Collaborative on the Health and the Environment (CHE) will discuss groundbreaking approaches to environmental justice that center on community knowledge and collaboration. Ana Mascareñas, MPH, assistant director for Environmental Justice at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), will discuss efforts to promote environmental justice within regulatory agencies and in collaboration with communities. Vanessa Galaviz, Ph.D, director of Community Engagement and Education at the University of Washington School of Public Health’s Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, will discuss the integration of science, public health, and environmental justice. The webinar will be held on April 24, 2018, 2:00 pm ET.
2018 National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program
Leaders from various sectors will engage in three days of free exchange of ideas and approaches to achieving environmental justice. These interactive training sessions will feature voices of experience, research, discussions, and thought-provoking dialogue. The program format will feature the needs and challenges of communities, governments, municipalities, tribes, faith-based organizations, and others with an interest in environmental justice. Program speakers will feature representatives from Federal and state agencies, local governments, tribes, community groups, business and industry, public interest groups, academia, and other entities. The Conference will be held at the Washington Marriott Metro Center in Washington, D.C. from April 25-27, 2018.
Fifth Annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
The National Safety Stand-Down was created five years ago as a combined effort by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training, and other partners. For the past four years, the Stand-Down Campaign has had an impact on fall prevention and on the awareness and education of millions of workers in construction. Now in its fifth year, every participant can build on their strengths and welcome millions more to safety on the job. The National Safety Stand-Down will be held on May 7-9, 2018.
Registration Now Open for EPA Safer Choice Partner & Stakeholder Summit
EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) is announcing its third Safer Choice Partner & Stakeholder Summit. The Summit provides an opportunity for partners, purchasers, retailers, NGOs, trade associations, chemical manufacturers, and other interested stakeholders to collaborate on exploring topical questions and developing solutions that can advance Safer Choice. This year’s discussion will focus on the value of the Safer Chemical Ingredients List as a starting point in identifying Low Priority Substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act, as well as priorities for the Safer Choice program. The Summit will be held on May 14, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Tribal Environmental Health Summit
Registration for the 3rd Tribal Environmental Health Summit is now open. The Summit is sponsored by Oregon State University College of Public Health and Human Sciences, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the Native Environmental Health Research Network. The theme for this year is “Sustaining Long-Term Partnerships and Projects with Native American Communities.” The Summit will be held on June 25-26, 2018, in Corvallis, Oregon. Abstract submissions are due May 31, 2018.
| On The Web This Week | Back to Top |
HHS Sponsors Its Largest Exercise for Moving Patients with Highly Infectious Diseases
The largest patient movement exercise in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) history began to test the nationwide ability to move patients with highly infectious diseases safely and securely to regional treatment centers. Coordinated by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), more than 50 organizations will participate, including the Department of State, Department of Transportation, the Regional Ebola Treatment Centers, local and state health and emergency management agencies, hospitals, airport authorities, and non-government organizations.
Responding to Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease Threats in 2017
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center or Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) focuses on emerging diseases and diseases spread between animals and people. Highlights from the NCEZID 2017 Accomplishments report include, tracking and preventing C. auris, combating antibiotic resistance, investigating the impacts of Zika virus, responding to new outbreaks, and more.
Public Health Matters Blog [Author: Rima F. Khabbaz]
New Respiratory Protection Fact Sheets
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) released three new fact sheets that answer some of the most frequently asked questions about respiratory protection. The fact sheets are available to download on their website and the topics include:1) Fit Testing; 2) User Seal Check; 3) Respirator Reuse and Extended Use.
Study Shows Measures Needed to Protect Workers Opening Fumigated Containers
A new study by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has reviewed the risks to workers when opening fumigated shipping containers. The report provides an overview of the current situation, including identifying gaps in preventative measures and recommending how to minimize the risks to workers' health and safety. More than 600 million freight containers are shipped worldwide each year. To prevent damaging the goods, these containers are often treated with pesticides and other agents that have known toxic or irritant properties and can have long-term effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.
| Federal Agency Update | Back to Top |
National Occupational Research Agenda for Musculoskeletal Health
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of a draft NORA Agenda entitled National Occupational Research Agenda for Musculoskeletal Health for public comment. The agenda incorporates knowledge about injuries and illnesses, the state of the science, and the likelihood that new information and approaches will make a difference in preventing musculoskeletal disorders. The deadline to submit comments is May 21, 2018.
| Awardee Highlights/Online Learning | Back to Top |
Community Health Maps Supports Citizen Scientists and Communities
Community-based organizations, environmental health groups, public health agencies, and emergency management departments are in a better position to serve their populations when they can collect and maintain their own data, rather than relying solely on national or state agencies, or on majority-institution partners to provide data to them. The National Library of Medicine Community Health Maps (CHM) offers information and guidance regarding low and no cost resources to help students, teachers, community members, and researchers. It is a mixture of mapping apps/software reviews, best practices, and the experiences of those who have successfully implemented a mapping workflow as part of their work.
| Job Openings | Back to Top |
Research Center Director and Associate/Full Professor in Environmental Health
The University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Department of Public Health seeks a successful Environmental Health researcher to serve as the director for two leading environmental health centers. The successful candidate will have strong expertise and research interests in environmental health and will be appointed at the associate or full professor level, depending upon qualifications. This faculty member will be expected to provide leadership within the department on environmental health.
Featured Safety Jobs with the American Society of Safety Engineers
Featured Safety Jobs with the American Industrial Hygiene Association
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