Dr. Steven Shea has been appointed as the Director of CROET, the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology at OHSU in Portland, Oregon.  Dr. Shea joins OHSU from Harvard Medical School, where he is Director of the Sleep Disorders Research Program and an associate professor of medicine. Dr. Shea is President of the American Sleep Medicine Foundation, on the boards of directors for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and is editor-in-chief of the journal Nature and Science of Sleep.

Dr. Shea received his Ph.D. from the University of London in 1989, joined the faculty of the Harvard University School of Public Health in Boston in 1992, and transferred to Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School) in 1996.

Shea conducts research on the effects of sleep and circadian rhythms on physiology and pathophysiology. In particular, he has pioneered investigation into the mechanisms underlying the day/night variations in the incidence of a number of episodic disorders, including the morning peaks in heart attacks and the nocturnal worsening of asthma. He also studies the adverse health effects of shift work in humans. His research has been fully supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NASA grants since 1992.

Upon accepting the position, Dr. Shea said, “I am eager to join their [CROET's] efforts. I have been at Harvard for 21 enjoyable and successful years, but I’m up for a new challenge, and this is a great opportunity at CROET and OHSU. My own research will include studies of sleep and circadian rhythms as these relate to accidents and overall health of shift workers and people suffering from sleep disorders. Beyond that, I will support CROET’s current activities whilst helping to expand the research and outreach to more fully encompass overall health and safety in the workplace, and to engage in collaborations across the whole campus and beyond in order to make this happen.”

“Under Dr. Shea’s leadership, the center will expand its impacts even further in promoting a healthy workforce and improving the safety of workers all across our state,” said Dr. Daniel Dorsa, OHSU vice president for research, who led the search.

Click here to see Dr. Shea’s faculty webpage at Harvard.

The lead story in Sunday’s (April 1, 2012) Oregonian is on PTSD rates in Oregon Corrections Workers, citing 1 in 3 corrections workers have symptoms of PTSD and that 97% have reported witnessing violence, injury or death. This is based on survey research conducted by Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, a nonprofit. To read the article, click or enter:

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/03/twin_projects_to_plug_research.html

Survey research on work conditions that may affect the health of corrections workers will be conducted in 2000 Oregon corrections workers by Drs. Leslie Hammer and Charlotte Fritz of Portland State University (PSU), beginning this Spring.

Also mentioned in the article is a new research project being conducted by Dr. Kerry Kuehl of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) designed to improve the health of Corrections Officers in Oregon. This project is part of the Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center and is also part funded by CROET at OHSU.

While many occupations have become safer in recent years, many jobs remain that may be unhealthy for workers.  The nature of some jobs, such as those that are primarily sedentary, reduce opportunities for exercise or just walking which maintains good personal health.  Improving safety, occupational health and personal wellness is the task of the Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center that is conducting randomized controlled trial (the strongest science) intervention research such as Dr. Kerry Kuehl’s project in corrections workers.

Dr. Leslie Hammer is the Associate Director of the Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center and is Director of PSU’s Occupational Health Psychology program.  The Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center website is at:

http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/research/centers-institutes/croet/oregon-healthy-workforce-center/index.cfm

OSHA's GHS Pictogram Quick Card

We’ve been anticipating adoption of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) in the U.S. for quite some time. And now, finally, OSHA’s final rule on Hazard Communication/GHS will be published on March 26, 2012 with the new regulation effective sixty days later.

What this all means is that the Hazard Communication Standard, sometimes referred to as the “Employee Right to Know Law” is now aligned with GHS. The hope has been that this change will provide a common and consistent approach to identifying and communicating hazard information in the workplace. By using internationally recognized pictograms, labels, and safety data sheets, standard supporters anticipate the ability to more effectively communicate information with workers as well as reduce trade barriers and create productivity improvements in American businesses.

There are too many details to be covered in this blog. Here’s a summary of the major changes with lots of additional resources with more details listed below:

• Hazard Classification (provides specific criteria for health and physical hazards, as well as mixtures);
• Labels (manufacturers and importers required to provide labels with signal word, pictogram and hazard and precautionary statements);
• Safety Data Sheet (requires a specified 16-section format);
• Information and training (employees must be trained on new labels and safety data sheets by December 1, 2013).

We’ve been talking about this in the safety and health community for a long time. Will this make a positive difference? Let us know what you think.

Resources:
OSHA Safety & Health Topics: Hazard Communication
HCS/GHS Final Rule
Hazard Communication Standard Quick Cards
CROETweb Topic: HazCom, MSDS’s & GHS

As discussed before on this blog, young workers between the ages of 14 and 24 are hurt on the job at twice the rate as older employees. Over a 10-year period, an estimated 7.9 million young workers were treated at emergency rooms for nonfatal injuries. Why is this? Perhaps in large part because young workers have limited job experience, or because they engage in unsafe or risky behaviors more often than older workers. Many workplace accidents can be prevented with proper training; however, in a survey of young workers, 84% reported they had received little or no training related to health and safety at work.

CROET’s Oregon Healthy Workforce Center researcher, Diane Rohlman, and the Oregon Young Worker Health and Safety Coalition (O[yes]) have teamed up to engage employers in their latest healthy workforce project. Over the next several weeks, they will be gathering feedback from employers about their company’s workplace safety and health training practices. The information collected from these surveys will be used in the development of a total worker health training geared towards young workers, a project funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Employer participation in the survey will help researchers develop an inclusive training that will appropriately communicate health and safety principles to young workers in an interactive and age appropriate format.

You can help! If you work for an organization that hires young workers, we encourage you to take this brief, 12-item survey. Your input will help shape the future of our workforce. Click here to access the survey.

If you have any questions about this project, contact Diane Rohlman. To learn more about workplace safety training for youth, or the NIOSH “Talking Safety” program in Oregon contact Marcus Widenor at the University of Oregon’s Labor Education and Research Center.

Submitted by Megan Parish, CROET Research Associate.

Resources:
Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes])
CROETweb Young Workers Topic
NIOSH Young Worker Safety and Health

The Oregon Healthy Workforce Center is pleased to announce funds for one 2-year pilot project beginning July 2012. We solicit applications on research intervention projects addressing programs that improve occupational health, safety and personal wellness. Proposals may focus on one of these three areas, but the proposed intervention must address all three.

The Principal Investigator must have an appointment at an Oregon state institution (University, College or state agency) and be eligible to obtain research grants through the organization. We encourage collaboration between investigators and institutions. A maximum of $100,000 is available for the 2-year project. Applications are due June 1, 2012. Learn more about the Pilot Project Request for Proposals.

The Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center was established as a NIOSH Center of Excellence in September 2011. Questions? Contact us!

Resources:
Oregon Healthy Workforce Center
NIOSH Total Worker Health
CROETweb topic: Total Worker Health

Most safety and health professionals haven’t had the opportunity to learn much about the field of Occupational Health Psychology (OHP). Yet most of us acknowledge the impact stress and other psycho-social risk factors have on safety, health and wellness.

NIOSH provides a great source of background information on its Safety and Health Topic Page: Occupational Health Psychology. According to NIOSH,  “Occupational Health Psychology concerns the application of psychology to improving the quality of work-life, and to protecting and promoting the safety, health and well-being of workers.”

Here in Portland, and as part of the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, we are lucky to partner with the Occupational Health Psychology Program at Portland State University. As we collaborate with occupational health psychologists, we get a better understanding of job stress, work-life balance, organizational risk factors for occupational stress, injury and illness, and what organizational interventions and programs can be successful in improving health protection and health promotion in our places of work.

The Oregon Healthy Workforce Center is excited for our first annual Summer Institute in Occupational Health Psychology. A full agenda and online registration is now available on the Summer Institute webpage. Join other researchers and practitioners and register for a day or all four days to learn more about OHP.

Resources
NIOSH Safety and Health Topics: Occupational Health Psychology
CROETweb: Total Worker Health Topic

We’re always excited to hear about the innovative work being done by OHSU’s Dangerous Decibels Program. Perhaps you’ve heard about Jolene, her cookbook and siblings. Jolene is a system for measuring sound levels of personal stereo systems and her cookbook has been downloaded in 27 countries.

Dangerous Decibels has another innovative project, Listen for Life.  This project is a Tribal Community-based Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus and is in partnership with OHSU Department of Public Health, Center for Healthy Communities and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.

The goal of this project is to reduce the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus in northwest tribal communities by creating a sustainable hearing health program that is within the social, cultural and practical requirements of this community. Meeting with tribal advisors, the Dangerous Decibels classroom program was reviewed and revised to make it more culturally relevant. What’s particularly innovative about this project is using students’ help to tell their families what they have learned, boosted by a media campaign. The evaluation, with baseline, post-intervention and follow-up surveys will assess changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to hearing health. Sustainability will be enhanced by tribal members participation in the educator training workshops. We look forward to learning more about the success of Listen for Life.

Other Resources:
Dangerous Decibels Virtual Exhibit
Meet Jolene and the Family
Noise and Hearing Protection on CROETweb

Last night, the Greater Portland Construction Partnership (GPCP) sponsored a thought-provoking dialogue at their quarterly meeting. A lot of folks outside the world of construction may not recognize the age gap present in this workforce, with many over 50 and fewer new entries in their twenties. We appreciate the good work of GPCP, always the proactive safety advocate,  to bring together so many important partners and leaders to address critical industry topics.

Sitting on the panel, which was nicely facilitated by Skanska’s Mel Jones, included Connie Ashbrook, Executive Director of Oregon Tradeswomen (OTI). CROET best knows OTI as the sponsor of the highly successful Women in Trades Career Fair, but we are well aware of their fine work promoting women into the trades through their pre-apprenticeship and Building Girls programs, and other leadership activities.

Pat Daniels represented Constructing Hope as an enthusiastic and knowledgeable advocate for this newer apprenticeship program, recognized as a “last chance” program for both those previously incarcerated along with others who may feel they have no career pathway.

Dennis Boyd, Executive Director of the Sheet Metal Institute shared his support for pre-apprenticeship programs, the importance of diversity in the workforce and the critical need to get young people introduced to trades at an earlier age.

Finally, Drew Park of Columbia Wire & Iron Works and representing the Portland Workforce Alliance rounded out the evening with continued conversation about improving and supporting work to better introduce younger people into construction and the trades, including an invitation to participate in the widely attended Northwest Youth Career Expo.

Thanks again to GPCP, and its supporters, for another informative evening. Make sure and visit the GPCP website for more information about this and other programs. And continue to create and support efforts to encourage young people to stay plugged in and introduced to pathways for all work, including the trades and construction.

Other Resources:
CROETweb Construction Industry Topics

One of the promises of the Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center is to use several of the same measures in all projects as we apply our interventions to change the workplace – in home care, construction, corrections, parks and recreation.

The interventions are aimed at increasing safety and health and improving personal wellness in these workplaces around Oregon. Examples of measures that can be used in all interventions are injury reports, workplace stress, and nutrition and diet.

Pictured are the Oregon Center PIs and staff selecting the measures to be used. Dr. Diane Rohlman (center) is coordinating the selection process and the individual PIs recommend the best measures based on their experience and the research literature.

These common measures are being placed in a data repository which we can use to compare the effectiveness of similar types of interventions across different industry sectors, thus multiplying the benefits of the research.

OR Healthy WorkForce Center common measures meeting

Dr. Dan Dan Dorsa with CROET's Dr. Kent Anger and Janice Stewart

Congratulations to CROET employees recognized by OHSU at a Research Employee Appreciation Event.

Dr. Dan Dorsa, Vice President of Research, presented a special award to Janice Stewart, Kent Anger and Stephen Lloyd. This threesome were recognized for their outstanding lead of CROET during the Center’s search for a new Director.

CROET researcher, Harini Sampath, was the first winner of the outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow award – for a post doc trainee or post doc researcher in the Research Mission that demonstrated outstanding performance, achievement or initiative.

CROET's Kent Anger and Harini Sampath

Harini is a third year postdoc fellow in the Lloyd & McCullough lab. During the last year, Harini has been awarded 2 grants, the first from the American Heart Association, and an OCTRI pilot project related to her investigations in the fundamental mechanisms underlying metabolic syndrome. She has also recently authored a paper and was first author on three review articles. Congratulations to Dr. Sampath!