Title: Recent Conference on Protecting the Nation’s Workforce
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Section/SPIG: Occupational Health and Safety
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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and APHA recently co-sponsored the 2003 NORA Symposium, “Working Partnerships: Applying Research to Practice.” NIOSH engaged APHA and more than 500 other partner organizations and individuals in developing the National Occupational Research Agenda, or NORA, in 1996. Since then, the research agenda has stimulated and supported new collaborative research in 21 priority areas of occupational injury and illness prevention. Approximately 250 researchers and stakeholders attended this year’s symposium, and more than 100 papers were covered at 12 breakout sessions. Research findings to further occupational injury and illness prevention on such areas as allergic and irritant dermatitis, fertility and pregnancy abnormalities, indoor environment, and personal protective equipment were presented.
NIOSH Director John Howard kicked off the conference by reminding participants that NORA is a model for public health and occupational health researchers in setting priorities, fostering partnerships, leveraging funds, doing quality peer reviewed research, translating research findings into interventions and evaluating the effectiveness of all activities as outcome measures. APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin, MD, MPH, also provided introductory comments on the challenges faced by our workforce that underscore the growing importance of research in occupational health. As he stated in his remarks, “New and emerging diseases place workers at increased risk. We've seen the intentional use of biological agents to cause harm, such as the anthrax letters and new technologies that have spawned injuries such as repetitive stress disorders. The work being done and being funded by NIOSH is vital for the health and safety of our work force.”
The Symposium provided effective solutions to help prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths. The NORA Partnering Award for Worker Safety and Health recognizes organizations that have joined in research partnerships to develop new equipment, practices, products, procedures, or policies for protecting workers from job-related illness, injury, and death. At this year’s symposium, the 2003 Award was presented to the project "Evaluation of a Best Practices Back Injury Prevention Program in Nursing Homes." The winning partners included BJC Health Care, BJC Occupational Health Nurse Council, Washington University, West Virginia University, Arjo Inc., EZ Way Inc. and NIOSH.
The focus of this prevention program was to combine measures that may help reduce possible causes of injury by identifying the movements and postures that put nursing assistants at risk of back strain, stress and injury in lifting and moving residents. Mechanical lifting devices for reducing those stresses and strains were also closely evaluated. A “best practices” program was put in place based on project results and employee input. The successful project reduced the frequency of back injuries in six facilities operated by BJC Health Care by 57 percent, lowered injury rates by 58 percent, and decreased workers’ compensation expenses by 71 percent. Rates for the three years before the intervention were compared with rates for the three years after.
This project is considered an excellent example of NORA’s value in stimulating new research partnerships to address serious work-related injury and illness concerns. Howard adds, “Everyone benefits when partners work together to tackle demanding challenges in occupational safety and health.” For more information about NIOSH and NORA, call the toll-free NIOSH information number, 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674), or visit <www.cdc.gov/niosh>.