Chair's Message
Thanks to all of our Section members who have worked this past year to expand our efforts to improve occupational health through projects with APHA. Especially, I wish to thank our committee chairs who have planned this year's program so well.
The next year will be an important one for our field. There will be new opportunities politically with the presidential election season to raise issues that have been buried over the past eight years. A volunteer is needed to carry on the efforts so ably lead by Joel Shufro (jshufro@nycosh.org) to create a political action committee around occupational health and safety.
Consumer safety is emerging as a key issue. We once again have seen the connection between the health of workers and the health of the public illustrated by diacetyl popcorn flavoring, with at least one case of lung disease in a consumer associated with frequent popcorn consumption. Our resolution proposed this year on chemical safety will be important to promote to address these issues in a more comprehensive way.
I look forward to seeing you in Washington, D.C., in November.
Jim Cone, MD, MPH
(212) 442-2402
jcone@health.nyc.gov
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APHA 2007: OHS Session Highlights
Kate McPhaul, mcphaul@son.umaryland.edu
The 2007 Annual Meeting will be held in Washington, D.C., from Nov. 4-8 with the theme "Politics, Policy and Public Health." One idea born during last year's meeting has involved taking a larger leadership role within APHA on immigrant workers' health and safety. Launching this idea is an "institute" embedded within the OHS program. Coordinated by Kerry Souza, Jim Cone, Kate McPhaul and Sherry Barron, this series of scientific sessions and a poster session focuses exclusively on occupational health and safety disparities, including sessions devoted to innovative research methods for immigrant workers, OHS for agricultural workers, Hispanic workers issues, and more. The sessions begin on Monday, Nov. 5 at 8:30 a.m. with a session entitled "Environmental Justice for Immigrant Workers" (Session 3447.0) and continue through Tuesday's Poster Session devoted to occupational health disparities among vulnerable workers (Session 4188.0).
Another exciting session entitled "Paradigm Shift or Struggle: Integrating Health Promotion and Health Protection" (Session 4247.0) is coordinated by Cassandra Okechukwu, a student member and Dr. Greg Wagner, a senior scientist and longtime OHS Section member. This session is designed to involve our section in understanding and informing methods to integrate health promotion and health protection in the workplace. This Tuesday afternoon panel includes NIOSH grantees, employer and labor perspectives.
Another panel entitled ""Mental Health and Occupational Health: Improved Consumer, Community and Staff Safety" (Session 5130.0, 11/7/07, 12:30pm) is co-sponsored by the OHS Section, but is actually part of the Mental Health Section program. Workplace violence advocates from within our section (Kate McPhaul, Jonathan Rosen, Matt London, Jane Lipscomb) will discuss a case study of a mental health field worker murdered by a client while on the job, and the panel will explore how mental health and occupational health advocates can work together to improve staff safety while preserving client rights and access to care.
We have a substantial representation from students, OHIP interns, rank and file workers, new investigators, and international investigators, all of whom are potentially active OHS Section members. Please make an effort to get these sessions and all the business meetings and social functions that are part of the 2007 OHS Program. For a complete listing of OHS-related activities and sessions at the APHA Annual Meeting, visit the OHS Section Web site at http://depts.washington.edu/oshalert/2007OHS_Program_Aug%2023.pdf.
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APHA 2007: OHS Awards Luncheon
The following individuals have been selected for the 2007 OHS Awards - 150 OHS members participated in the selection process. Thanks to all who participated.
»Alice Hamilton Award
Rosemary Sokas, MD, MOH (University of Illinois)
»Lorrin Kerr Award
Celeste Monforton, MPH (George Washington University)
»Tony Mazzocchi Award
Jonathan Rosen, MS (New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)) and Tammy Miser (United Support & Memorial For Workplace Fatalities)
»International Health & Safety Award
Jagdish Patel (Peoples Training and Research Centre (PTRC), India)
Congratulations to the awardees and all those nominated. Our movement has so many dedicated and talented professionals and activists. Thanks to everyone for the work you do to fight for worker health and safety rights!
Please join us in recognizing this year's award recipients at the 2007 Awards Luncheon. The annual event will be at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center, Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and
must be purchased before 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. You may purchase your Awards Luncheon ticket when you register, or you may amend your registration to add a luncheon ticket. If you have questions about purchasing a lunch ticket separate from the registration process, or have other ticket questions, contact Celeste Monforton at eohcnm@gwumc.edu or (202) 994-0774.
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