Posts Tagged ‘NIOSH’

Box office bonanza: Your summer guide to risk management & the movies

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

NIOSH Science Blog’s recent blog post is taking on Hollywood – specifically, the summer’s blockbuster Horrible Bosses, an irreverent and risque dark comedy in which abused and aggrieved employees decide to murder their psycho bosses. We’d make the case that real life bosses can compete with the ones that Hollywood dreams up any day.
Complaining about bosses is an age-old tradition, but few take the concept of boss bashing literally. According to NIOSH, “The situations portrayed in the movie are not typical–worker-on-worker (or boss) violence accounts for only about 8% of workplace homicides. More than half of all workplace homicides occur in retail or service settings such as conveniences stores, taxicab services, and gas stations with the majority of these homicides occurring during a robbery.” The post author uses Horrible Bosses as a springboard to introduce and discuss the very real issue of workplace violence. It includes an array of links to related posts about professions that are particularly vulnerable to violent events, such as school personnel, taxi drivers, pharmacists, nurses.
This isn’t the first time that The NIOSH Science Blog has turned to Hollywood to illustrate health and safety issues. They’ve previously featured an entertaining pair of posts: Occupational Safety & Health in the Movies and OSH at the movies: the sequel. In the latter, the post author lists the Top 11 Films Depicting Occupational Safety & Health Issues, the Top 7 Films with Occupation Safety & Health Issues During Production, and the Top 10 Films in [a risk-related] Special Category.
Other online forums have tackled the issue of risk related issues in Hollywood from various angles:

  • RiskVue features the
    Top Movies No Risk Manager/Insurance Professional Should Miss
    , saying that, “The simple fact is risk managers and insurance professionals lack solid role models in the entertainment industry. Nevertheless, plenty of films have delved deep into the principles of risk and insurance management, offering lessons, guidance and a form of entertainment that only those in the industry can truly appreciate.”
  • A blog post at Consumer Insurance Blog deals with risks, hazards and liability issues involved in filmaking and production: Risk, insurance, & the movies. The post notes some of the risk issues involved in film making, which can include such disparate hazards as wild and trained animals, technology glitches, actors who have to leave the set mid-production to go to rehab, and weather related events that may delay production schedules or pose danger to the cast, the crew and the props.
  • Risk Management Magazine featured an article On Making Movies, highlighting insurane issues involved in the filmmaking industry. “The role of entertainment insurance is to determine the relevant risks of a project and create the necessary cushions and options to deal with whatever may come. Sometimes the crisis is large, such as that faced by A Simple Plan; other times it is one that requires minor alterations. An innovative and creative energy among all interested parties, from the director to the insurer, is vital to bringing audiences the kinds of movies so perfect in design, one cannot help but believe every minute.”

Here at WCI, our focus has been on TV. We are still awaiting the debut of that wacky TV sitcom Workers’ Comp. We haven’t heard about it since the report of the April filming – presumably the show will air in the fall. We are a tad skeptical and we aren’t the only ones:

High hazard highway work zones: risky for workers and motorists alike

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Pop quiz: 1) In highway construction zones, do most fatalities occur A) to the vulnerable workers who are standing in the work zone while thousands of cars and trucks speed by, or B) to the motorists in the cars and trucks that are speeding by?
2) Are most highway construction workers killed by A) being struck by passing motorists or B) being struck by construction vehicles?
If you guessed “A” for both answers, you are correct.
Motorist safety in highway work zones
Highway construction projects pose hazards for drivers and workers alike, but about 85% of the vehicle-related fatalities that occur in work zones each year involve motorists. Lane changes,uneven surfaces, stop and go traffic, driver impatience at delays, unpredictable occurrences, and poor night visibility are all factors that make these zones hazardous. For those who need further incentive for caution than self preservation, bear in mind that 32 states and the District of Columbia double the fine for speeding (or committing other traffic violations) in a work zone. The Governors’ Highway Safety Administration offers a handy state by state chart of work zone traffic laws.
One of the best safety strategies a driver can take is avoidance: seek an alternate route. The Department of Transportation offers national traffic and road closure information to help drivers plan in advance – or drivers can check with state transportation authorities – most offer alerts about major construction projects. For those who can’t avoid a construction route, the Wisconsin DOT offers tips for safe driving in a work zone. The tip sheet notes that work zones requiring special caution encompass more than just highway construction projects. They include emergency vehicles at the side of the road, snowplows, garbage pickups, landscapers and any situation where workers are at risk.
Worker safety in highway work zones
This spring, the NIOSH Science Blog featured an excellent post by David E. Fosbroke about construction equipment visibility. In the post, Fosbroke cites a multi-year study of 844 fatalities at road construction sites. While 73% of these fatalities occurred when workers were struck by vehicles, victims were killed by construction equipment at least as often as by passing motorists. And of the incidents when workers were killed by construction equipment, at least 50% of those fatalities involved vehicles backing up.
To help prevent such fatalities, NIOSH offers downloadable blind area diagrams of of 38 pieces of construction equipment and 5 pieces of mining equipment. These diagrams map out the area around a vehicle or piece of equipment that cannot be seen from the operator’s position. The post explains this and other issues related to highway construction safety – including some good observations in the comments section.
For additional information, The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse provides comprehensive information to improve motorist, worker and pedestrian safety in roadway work zones. Resource include links to related sites and training resources.
More safety resources:
NIOSH: Highway Work Zone
OSHA: Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades

NCCI study on safe lifting programs for long-term care facilities

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

A few years ago, an important NIOSH study on nursing home lifting equipment demonstrated that the benefits outweigh the costs. In addition to recapping the equipment investment in less than three years, NIOSH found a 61% reduction in resident-handling workers’ compensation injury rates; a 66% drop in lost workday rates; and a 38% decline in restricted workdays. Plus, the rate of post-intervention assaults during resident transfers dropped by 72%. That’s pretty impressive.
Now we have further evidence based on the recently-released study by NCCI: Safe Lifting Programs at Long-Term Care Facilities and Their Impact on Workers Compensation Costs (PDF). The study was a collaborative effort with the University of Maryland School of Medicine. It was limited to facilities that have had safe lift programs in place for more than three years. Originally, researches intended to compare the experience of facilities with and without such programs, but during the course of the research, the rate of adoption of safe lifting devices was so great that close to 95% of facilities had them and about 80% of those used them regularly.
NCCI summarizes the study results:

“After controlling for ownership structure and differences in workers compensation systems across states, the statistical analysis performed as part of this study shows that an increased emphasis on safe lift programs at long-term care facilities is associated with fewer workplace injuries and lower workers compensation costs. More precisely, higher values of the safe lift index are associated with lower values for both frequency and total costs. The safe lift index captures information on the policies, training, preferences, and barriers surrounding the use of powered mechanical lifts. The institution’s commitment to effectively implementing a safe lift program appears to be the key to success.”

One of the interesting aspects of the study is the safe lift index, referenced above, which was developed by researchers to aggregate answers from the survey questions into a single number. Researchers looked at several variables pertaining to policies and procedures. These included the training of certified nursing assistants in proper use of mechanized lifts, preferences of the Director of Nursing for powered mechanical lift use, potential barriers to the use of powered mechanical lifts, and enforcement of the lift policies. The report discusses these factors in greater detail, and demonstrate that there are many variables beyond just the equipment that affect overall program efficacy.
Many states have safe patient handling laws
In recent years, a number of states have enacted legislation mandating safe patient lifting – and that no doubt has contributed to the rapid adoption rate noted by NCCI researchers. According to the American Nursing Association, a strong advocate for such legislation, 9 states have implemented safe patient handling laws. These include Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington, with a resolution from Hawaii. In addition, they are tracking states with pending legislation in 2001, currently 6 states: California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri and Vermont. You can also track this legislation via a map and you can access additional resources and information at ANA’s excellent Safe Patient Handling website.
Prior posts on safe lifting
Texas enacts safe lifting guidelines for a hazardous industry
Washington passes “Safe Patient Handling” legislation
NIOSH study on nursing home lifting equipment: benefits outweigh costs
Safe Lifting and Movement of Nursing Home Residents

Cavalcade of Risk, dereriorating market, breast cancer, labor unions, and more

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Cavalcade of Risk #87 is brought to you from the land down under – Andrew of Australia’s OzRisk is this week’s host – check it out!
Deterioration in Work Comp market – In his blog Comp Time, Roberto Ceniceros discusses a grim recent A.M. Best report pointing to deteriorating conditions in the workers comp industry. “According to Best’s composite, consisting of 103 insurers, net premiums written plunged 30% from a high of $20.9 billion in 2004. Insurers also experienced underwriting losses of $1.2 billion in 2007 and $1.5 billion in 2008. Best expects challenging conditions for insurers to continue well into 2010.” Ceniceros also cites other recent reports and economic indicators in his post. Related: Joe Paduda of Managed Care Matters offers his thoughts on the workers comp industry’s fading fortunes. He notes a few positives in the offing: some brokers and agents are expecting the pricing war to taper off, investment returns look to be recovering somewhat, and health reform might relieve cost-shifting.
NIOSH – HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced that John Howard, M.D. has been named new Director of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Dr. Howard served as NIOSH director from 2002 through 2008. He also served as coordinator of HHS’ World Trade Center Health Programs from 2006 to 2008. Laura Walter of EHS Today talks about the ASSE and AIHA favorable reaction to Howard’s reappointment.
Night shift work linked to breast cancer – The BBC reports that the Danish government has begun paying compensation to women who have developed breast cancer after long spells working nights. Authorities acted in response to a study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the UN’s World Health Organisation. The IARC, which studies and ranks cancer risks, ranks night shift work just below asbestos as a probable cause of cancer. This ranking was based on various studies and reports linking cancer to night shift work hours, including a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute which showed a 36% greater risk of breast cancer for women who had worked night shifts for more than 30 years, compared with women who had never worked nights.
Labor unions and the economy – In response to a recent Gallup poll on labor unions showing support at an all time low, Paul Secunda of Workplace Prog Blog and some of his readers offer thoughts on why a rise in unemployment correlates negatively with support for unions.
Health & Safety Briefs

News roundup: Cavalcade, immigrants, TRIA, NIOSH and more …

Tuesday, July 24th, 2007

Cavalcade – Catching up with news after being on vacation for a week, I find a good place to start is with last week’s Cavalcade of Risk, ably hosted by Richard Eskow of The Sentinel Effect.
Illegal immigrants and WC – Peter Rousmaniere of Working Immigrants posts about a review of workers compensation coverage of illegal workers that was compiled by the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC). He notes that, “… 6 states have statutes that expressly authorize coverage for these workers – CA, FL, NV. NY,TX and UT, while two states’ laws expressly do not – ID and WY. Twelve states have had court decisions in favor of coverage – IL, MI, MN, ND, OH, AL, AZ, CO, MT, NC, SC and VA. Two of these states – MI and VA – also have court decisions going the other way. Two other states have had court decisions which go against coverage — KS and PA.”
NIOSH research programs saved – David Michaels of The Pump Handle reports that with the defeat of The Barton Amendment, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health programs have been saved. The bill would have cut more than 20% of the NIOSH budget and would have effectively eliminated the National Occupational Research Agenda.
TRIA – Mark Hofmann of Business Insurance reports that the markup of the TRIA extension bill is expected this week. TRIA – a federal terrorism backstop due to expire Dec 31 – would extend for 10 years.
MN groups sue AIG – Roberto Ceniceros of Business Insurance reports that Minnesota workers comp groups are suing AIG seeking $100 million in damages. The Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Assn. and the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Insurers Assn. state that the $1.2 million that was earmarked for Minnesota in the settlement AIG reached with Eliot Spitzer for AIG’s alleged underreporting of premiums over 22 years is insufficient. Ceniceros notes that they are not they only entity filing suit – the National Workers Compensation Reinsurance Pool, representing about 600 insurers, also filed suit in May.
Kudos – congratulations to Michael W. Fox of Jottings By An Employer’s Lawyer for his 5-year blogiversary – that’s a lot of blogging. Michael’s blog has long been one of our favorites – drop on by and see why.
Gasoline safety – over the summer there is an increased risk of gasoline-related injuries for workers because gas-powered equipment is prevalent in outdoor work sites. OSHA offers the following safety tips:

  • Wash any skin or clothing that comes in contact with gasoline thoroughly with soap.
  • Avoid inhaling gasoline fumes by keeping all gas in approved sealable safety containers.
  • Know initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and tightness across the chest.
  • Do not use gasoline for any purpose other than fueling a motor.

OSHA’s Gasoline Safety and Health Topics outlines standards for working safely with gasoline, including healthful exposure limits for employees. Also, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, see OSHA’s Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet (PDF).

NIOSH issues alert for healthcare workers who are exposed to hazardous pharmaceuticals

Friday, June 11th, 2004

If you asked the average “man on the street” to name dangerous professions, chances are nursing and other healthcare professions wouldn’t make the list. Yet according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospitals have the second highest rate of nonfatal injury or illness cases. Many of the risks are well known: back injuries and musculo-skeletal disorders from lifting patients; exposure to blood-borne pathogens; and injuries resulting from assault by patients.

Somewhat less obvious are the risks posed by exposure to hazardous drugs. Recently, NIOSH released a lengthy alert about chemotherapeutics and other drugs. As many as 5.5 million healthcare workers — including nurses, pharmacists, physicians, and veterinarians — are exposed to antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs in the course of their work:

“Healthcare workers who prepare or administer hazardous drugs or who work in areas where these drugs are used may be exposed to these agents in air or on work surfaces, contaminated clothing, medical equipment, patient excreta, or other sources. Studies have associated workplace exposures to hazardous drugs with health effects such as skin rashes and adverse reproductive events (including infertility, spontaneous abortions or congenital malformations) and possibly leukemia and other cancers. The health risk is influenced by the extent of the exposure and the potency and toxicity of the hazardous drug. Potential health effects can be minimized through sound procedures for handling hazardous drugs, engineering controls and proper use of protective equipment to protect workers to the greatest degree possible.”

The NIOSH alert is a “prepublication” report that will undergo further editing before a final release sometime this year. The final report will present a voluntary guideline that will include information on more than 100 drugs and will offer detailed recommendations for control measures that should be taken by employers and employees to reduce risks. Many measures assumed to be adequate in the past may not be sufficient protection in response to the risk.

In an article in entitled Do more to protect health workers from chemo agents that appeared in Hospital Employee Health, Thomas Connor, PhD, a research biologist with NIOSH in Cincinnati and an author of the alert indicated that workers may not be aware of the risk:

“Exposure may occur in these situations: Drugs are reconstituted or diluted. Nurses or others expel air from syringes or give injections, and small amounts are aerosolized. Uncoated tablets are counted or dosed in a unit-dose machine. Health care workers touch contaminated surfaces, patients’ body fluids, or contaminated clothing and linens. Workers prime the IV with drug-containing solution or administer the drug with the IV.

Every step along the way, you have the potential for release and exposing the workers, says Connor. I don’t think people are aware of it. They can’t see it [because the drugs are colorless] and don’t think there can be a spill.”

Requests for printed copies when they become available can be made through the NIOSH toll-free information number, 1-800-35-NIOSH, or by contacting the NIOSH Publications Office through the NIOSH web page.

NIOSH Worker Notification Program

Wednesday, February 25th, 2004

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is a federal agency charged with conducting research to prevent illnesses and injuries in the workplace. They’ve added a worker notification program on their site that provides medical information, resources, and research for a variety of workplace exposures. For example, steelworkers can learn about exposure to acid mist; dry cleaners could learn about organic solvents; industrial sand workers about silica, and so forth. Information is searchable by industry group or by type of exposure.
Thanks to Jordan at Confined Space for the pointer to this resource, which he sees as “a fairly major step in translating valuable scientific material into a form that workers can actually use.”