ERC Trainees Visit Animal Shelter to Assess Workplace Risks

Occupational Health Nursing and Occupational Health at the Human-Animal Interface (OHHA) trainees participated in the Spring ERC training field trip this year. They visited the Seattle Animal Shelter in the Interbay area to tour the facility and discuss all of the occupational health issues that can occur in this unique setting. Some of the identified occupational health and safety risks included interaction with unknown animals, structural challenges, biological materials, slippery surfaces, accoustic controls and loud barking, teeth and claws, and compassion fatigue.

ERC trainee Max shared his experience on the field trip:

"There were a lot of best practices and safety implementations at the shelter. Examples include protocol for handling aggressive animals, isolation chambers prior to introducing new animals to the ones at the shelter for disease protection, and treatment options for the animals to prevent any disease outbreaks both to the people and animals. Other safety measures included housekeeping, which was very visible. All rooms in the facility were clean and dust free, which helps prevent exposures."

Worker Memorial Day Event - April 29, 2015

OEM Grand Rounds | 10/09/10 | Dr. Gary Greenberg

"Deep, Hidden & Expert Internet Resources for Occupational Health"

Gary Greenberg, MD, MPH
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Health, Division of Public Health Leadership Program, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina

Schedule
6:00pm | Networking
6:45pm | Dinner
7:30pm | Presentation

Location
The UW Club, E Stevens Way
University of Washington Seattle Campus
Directions

Registration
$50 - Please register by the Friday before
$25 - Lecture only
Special: Bring a friend who has never been to a Grand Rounds event and you both get in for $45
Register here

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This series of evening dinner and lecture sessions focuses on issues encountered by occupational and environmental health physicians and their colleagues in local, regional, national and international settings. It provides the framework for education and networking with peers as we gather, learn, and share information on current, state-of-the art topics in the field.

Join us as we explore:

-New developments in occupational and environmental medicine practice, including application of scientific discoveries in genetics, molecular biology and epidemiology

-Best practices and means for evaluating best practices in occupational and environmental medicine

-Current trends in evolving occupational and environmental medicine practice, including personnel and training needs, and future issues that will need OEM attention

OSHA Turns 40

OSHA has had an enormous positive impact on the working community since the program began in 1971. Countless lives have been saved thanks to their efforts, but more needs be done. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels sent a letter to OSHA staff outlining strategies to protect worker health and safety in the years to come.

Michaels discusses new, as well as reinventing old, ideas to work with OSHA's limited resources. These are some of the areas the agency will focus on:

1. Stronger Enforcement: Some Employers Need Incentives to Do the Right Thing
2. Ensure Workers Have a Voice
3. Refocus and Strengthen Our Compliance Assistance Programs
4. Change Workplace Culture: Employers Must "Find and Fix" Workplace Hazards
5. Develop lnnovative Approaches to Addressing New (and Old) Hazards: Improve Intra-Agency Collaboration
6. Improve and Modernize Workplace Injury and Illness Tracking: Strengthen our Focus on Accurate Recordkeeping
7. Strengthen OSHA's Use of Science
8. Strengthen State OSHA Plans
9. Conduct Our Work with Transparency, Openness, Integrity and Humility

Read the original article at ScienceBlogs for an in depth look at OSHA's future goals.

Research Symposium on Occupational Health and Safety Research, Practice and Policy

The Dept of Labor and Industries present the SHARP 20th anniversary symposium. The research symposium on Occupational Health and Safety Research, Practice and Policy will be held July 1st, 2010 from 9am-4pm.

Keynote Speakers:

Use of Research in policy
Dr. John Howard, Director NIOSH
Dr. Joel Kaufman, University of Washington, Director,
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program

Occupational Health Surveillance
Dr. Terri Schnorr, Director, Division of Surveillance, Hazard
Evaluations and Field Studies, NIOSH

Partnerships in Research and Practice
Larry Hansen- Oak Harbor Freight Lines
Leslie Pickett- Swedish Medical Center

Policy and Research
Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health

Research Needs
Jeff Johnson- WA State Labor Council
Randy Loomans- Director of Government Affairs International
Union of Operating Engineers #302

SHARP is located at:
WA Labor & Industries Auditorium
7273 Linderson Ave. SW, Tumwater, WA 98501

Global Occupational Health and Safety - Japan

Occupational Health and Safety is just as important in other countries. This month we are showcasing Japan's efforts to keep their working environment safe.

JNIOSH is actively conducting scientific research in order to contribute to administration of the government and for workers in industry, by eliminating industrial accidents and diseases, promoting workers health, and creating a safe and comfortable working environment.

JNIOSH's main principles:

1) To conduct comprehensive and interdisciplinary research on industrial safety and health based on the long history of the NIIS and the NIIH.

2) To contribute to governmental activities in their efforts to prepare laws, regulations, technical standards, guidelines, etc., and to investigate and prevent industrial accidents.

3) To promote collaborative studies with universities and public institutions, in order to perform effective and efficient research, to maintain an advanced research and technical level, and to innovate research activities.

4) To actively collect research needs from workplaces, disseminate research findings to academic and professional societies, and provide developing countries and organizations with technical support.
(From JNIOSH)

For more info:
Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA)
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH)
Japan Advanced Information Center of Safety and Health (JAISH)
Japan Society of Occupational Health (Journal)
University of Occupational and Environmental Heath, Japan (UOEH)

Special Issue of American Journal of Industrial Medicine: Occupational Health Disparities

The February 2010 issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine features a special subject matter: occupational health disparities. Several UW- and ERC- associated authors are contributors to the issue including: Saman Arbabi, Hillary Blecker, David Bonauto, Janice Camp, Butch de Castro, Steven Hecker, Sarah Lowry, Tessa Rue, Noah Seixas, David Takeuchi, Neal Traven, Jenny Hsin-Chun Tsai.

Women in OSH history: Alice Hamilton

NWCOHS is pleased to celebrate Women's History Month by highlighting important women in the history of occupational and environmental health and safety.

Alice Hamilton (1869 – 1970) is considered to be the founder of occupational medicine and a leader in the field of toxicology. She was the first woman appointed to the faculty of Harvard University and the recipient of many awards and honors.

Read more:

Wikipedia

Distinguished Women Biography