OSHA REVISES HAZWOPER PUBLICATION

OSHA revised its Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response booklet (OSHA Publication 3114 – Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response).  The revised document (OSHA 3114-07R - 2008) highlights the requirements for hazardous waste operations and emergency response at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and treatment, storage and disposal facilities.  It also discusses the steps an employer must take to protect the health and safety of employees in these environments.  A copy of the revised document can be downloaded at http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3114/OSHA-3114-hazwoper.pdf.

NIOSH TO HOST "NO FIT TEST" RESPIRATOR WORKSHOP

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will sponsor a “No Fit Test” Respirator Workshop on November 6, 2008 in Pittsburgh, PA. The NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory and the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, will host the workshop to focus on the nature and process of product innovation and development in negative pressure half-face piece respirators, to gauge the current “state-of-the-art,” and to stimulate new designs and approaches for improved respirator fit.  The results of the workshop will lead to a better understanding of how future NIOSH research can encourage ongoing development of better fitting respirators without compromising long-term protection. Registration is free but required. Information concerning registration can be obtained at http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/mcohs.

NIOSH PUBLISHES EMERGENCY RESPONDER PPE GUIDELINES FOR CBRN INCIDENTS

NIOSH has released a new document for emergency response personnel that provides guidelines for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents (CBRN). NIOSH Publication No. 2008-132 – Guidance on Emergency Responder Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Response to CBRN Incidents provides local, State and Federal emergency response entities with comparison information on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration/ Environmental Protection Agency (OSHA/EPA) Protection Levels A, B, and C to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) adopted Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) performance based standards for response to terrorism incidents involving CBRN hazards.  A copy of the document can be downloaded at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2008-132/.

TESTICULAR CANCER IS RECOGNIZED AS OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA FIREFIGHTERS

The British Columbia government now recognizes testicular cancer as an occupational hazard for firefighters and will also add lung cancer in non-smoking firefighters to the list. The British Columbia Labor Minister says the toxic environments firefighters face in the line of duty put them at increased risk for life-threatening cancers.  This ruling means that career, volunteer, part-time and paid on-call firefighters suffering from the diseases will qualify for worker's compensation benefits, without having to prove individually that the diseases are linked to their jobs.  Brain, bladder and kidney cancer are already recognized as occupational hazards for firefighters in British Columbia, along with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, ureter cancer, colorectal cancer and leukemia.

NFPA FIRE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PUBLISHES RESPIRATORY EXPOSURE STUDY FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONDERS

The NFPA Fire Research Foundation recently published a final report addressing respiratory protection for firefighters and other emergency response personnel, including fire investigators that respond to fire scenes to conduct investigations.  The purpose of the study was to develop best practice guidance for firefighters and other emergency responders, to determine when to use self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and other respiratory protective equipment when exposed to atmospheres that are possibly hazardous.

The report notes that firefighters and other emergency responders are routinely exposed to hazardous atmospheres that contain potentially harmful gases and particulates, and should utilize SCBA and other respiratory protective devices (such as air-purifying respirators) to protect against possible exposure.  In addition, certain personnel such as fire investigators should consider protective measures to protect against on-going respiratory hazards that may be encountered after fire suppression and overhaul operations are completed.  The report also includes model standard operating procedures and guidelines related to SCBA use and respiratory protection programs.  Copies of the report may be downloaded from the NFPA web site at http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=260&URL=Research&Reports/FireProtectionResearchFoundation/Reports&rss=research.

Copies may also be downloaded from the DOWNLOADS section of this web site.

OSHA NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING PUBLISHED FOR A NEW RESPIRATOR FIT-TESTING PROTOCOL

OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a new respirator fit-testing protocol-the Abbreviated Bitrex^® Qualitative Fit-Testing (ABQLFT) protocol. The proposed rule would add the ABQLFT protocol as an alternative to the current OSHA-approved qualitative fit-test procedures. The ABQLFT protocol for the seven exercises listed in the existing OSHA-approved Bitrex fit-test procedure in the Respiratory Protection standard would shorten the duration of each of the seven fit-test exercises from one minute to 15 seconds. The proposed rule would apply to employers in shipyard employment, and the general and construction industries. The deadline for comments is Feb. 25, 2008.

OUTBREAK OF AUSTRALIAN FIREFIGHTER CANCER CASES PROMPTS INQUIRY

An urgent investigation has been launched into a possible cancer cluster at the Atherton Fire Station in far north Queensland, Australia.  One firefighter has died and at least five of his colleagues have also been diagnosed with the disease over the last three years.  The cancer rate among firefighters is usually higher than for the general population, but the United Firefighters Union says the number of cases at the Atherton station is extreme. 

Over the past four years, there have been two cases of bowel cancer, one of testicular cancer, and two cases of inoperable brain tumors.   The Atherton Fire Station scare follows a confirmed breast cancer cluster at the ABC's former complex in Brisbane. Three or four of the staff with cancer are still working at the station. Some are receiving medical treatment and others have been assigned to other duties.  The service is also investigating reports that a retired firefighter may also have cancer.

NIOSH ISSUES DONNING PROCESS INSTRUCTIONS FOR NIOSH APPROVED DISPOSABLE PARTICULATE RESPIRATORS

The NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) has updated the list of approved disposable particulate respirators to include the donning process and user instructions. If the instructions for a model are not listed, NIOSH has not received it from the approval holder. NIOSH encourages all approval holders to submit the donning processes and user instructions for all filtering face piece respirators approved by NIOSH. The current list of approved respirators can be viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part.

OSHA PUBLISHES FINAL RULE ON PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

OSHA has announced a final rule that all PPE, with a few exceptions, will be provided by employers at no cost to their employees. OSHA anticipates that this rule will have substantial safety benefits that will result in more than 21,000 fewer occupational injuries per year. This final rule will clarify who is responsible for paying for PPE, which OSHA anticipates will lead to greater compliance and potential avoidance of thousands of workplace injuries each year.

The final rule contains a few exceptions for ordinary safety-toed footwear, ordinary prescription safety eyewear, logging boots, and ordinary clothing and weather-related gear. The final rule also clarifies OSHA's requirements regarding payment for employee-owned PPE and replacement PPE. While these clarifications have added several paragraphs to the regulatory text, the final rule provides employees no less protection than they would have received under the 1999 proposed standard.

ARIZONA FIRE DISTRICT FINED FOR WORKPLACE SAFETY

The Industrial Commission of Arizona has approved $366,000 in fines against the Avra Valley Fire District for workplace-safety violations, among the biggest fines ever levied against an Arizona employer.  The commission initially only approved $55,000 in fines, however the group later approved higher fines after determining 12 of the violations were willful. The fines stem in part from a March 2007 hazardous-materials accident on Interstate 10 that investigators said was not handled properly. The citations also include violations found during routine safety inspections of district fire stations.

The complaints, listed in public minutes for the commission's Sept. 13 meeting, cited the fire district for:

·         Not developing an emergency response plan to handle anticipated emergencies.

·         Not ensuring that appropriate personal protective equipment was brought and worn to a hazardous-materials site. That site was the March 14 collision.

·         Not establishing a written exposure-control plan for firefighters and paramedics exposed to blood-borne pathogens.

OSHA SEEKS COMMENTS ON COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE STANDARD

OSHA published a Request for Information (RFI) in the September 11, 2007 Federal Register seeking input from the public to determine what action, if any, the agency should take to further address emergency response and preparedness. Current OSHA standards do not reflect all of the major improvements in safety and health practices that have already been accepted by the emergency response community and incorporated into industry consensus standards. This RFI is intended to gather information about current thinking and practices relating to emergency responders and skilled support employees. The agency is accepting comments until Dec. 10, 2007. Additional information can be found at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=19915.

REPORT: 79 PERCENT OF 9/11 FIREFIGHTERS HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS

A new FDNY report shows that 79 percent of firefighters in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001 now have respiratory problems.  Some officials consider this the most credible proof yet of health problems, because the department has data about firefighters lungs from before 9/11.  Additional information and the report can be viewed at http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/911/Report--79-Percent-Of-911-Firefighters-Have-Health-Problems/41$56469.

OSHA CITES FIRE DEPARTMENT IN FATAL CHARLESTON BLAZE

The South Carolina Office of Occupational Safety and Health released a report citing the Charleston Fire Department in the deadly June 18 fire that claimed the lives of nine firefighters.  The fire department was cited with one willful violation for not providing efficient safety for its firefighters and three serious violations.  The serious violations included not having specialized procedures for fighting fires involving metal truss roofs, not requiring body protection and not requiring self contained breathing apparatus at all times.  The violations totaled fines of $9,325.

MAINE FIRE INVESTIGATOR INJURED IN CRASH WITH MOOSE

Caribou, Maine - Scott Richardson, an investigator with the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office was recently driving his Ford F-150 pickup truck when a moose appeared in the middle of the road.  Richardson was unable to avoid hitting the animal and escaped serious injury after the animal was struck and killed.  The vehicle sustained extensive front-end damage and was a total loss. Richardson was taken by the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department to Cary Medical Center and treated for numerous non-life-threatening injuries before being released.  State police are investigating the incident with assistance from the Caribou Police Department.  No charges have been filed since the moose was obviously at fault by attempting to make an unsafe lane change...Remember, there are always hazards out there that we must constantly be aware of even while driving to and from a fire scene!

NFPA RESEARCH FOUNDATION STUDY ON FIRE FIGHTER RESPIRATORY EXPOSURE NEEDS

The NFPA Research Foundation is currently working on a study on Fire Fighter Respiratory Exposure to address the use of respiratory protection during overhaul and similar activities. The purpose is to help clarify best field practice guidance for when to use, and remove after using, SCBA and other respiratory equipment.  The results of the study are tentatively scheduled to be released in December 2007.  Additional information can be obtained at http://www.firearson.com/documents/document.asp?did=723.

OSHA DEVELOPS DATABASE OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION

OSHA recently launched a database of information on more than 800 chemicals commonly found in the workplace. The OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database allows users to quickly and easily retrieve information on chemicals such as their physical properties and exposure limits. The database compiles information from several government agencies and organizations, including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). The on-line data base can be accessed at http://www.osha.gov/web/dep/chemicaldata/#target.

STUDY LINKS LUNG DISEASE TO WORLD TRADE CENTER OPERATIONS

A study recently published by nine doctors including the medical officer monitoring New York City firefighters found that firefighters and rescue workers contracted sarcoidosis as a result of exposure to toxic dust at ground zero in the year after Sept. 11, 2001, at a rate more than five times higher than the years before the attacks.  Sarcoidosis, which can be life-threatening, causes an inflammation in the lungs that deposits tiny cells in the organs, leaving scar tissues that damage them. Several rescue workers and others exposed to trade center dust have claimed they contracted the disease from their work at ground zero.

None of the 26 rescue workers, who are in their 30s and 40s, has died of the disease, and about 10 have improved or recovered since their diagnoses, the study found. Two of the firefighters were former smokers, the study found.  The study was published this week in the May issue of CHEST Physician, a journal published by the American College of Chest Physicians.  Additional information can be found at http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?id=54653&sectionId=46.

OSHA PROPOSED TO UPDATE PPE STANDARDS

OSHA has proposed to revise the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminals standards regarding the use of eye and face protective devices and head and foot protection.

These proposed revisions are a continuation of OSHA's effort to update references to specific consensus and industry standards located throughout the agency's standards. The proposed revisions replace the existing references to specific, out-of-date consensus standards with performance language that requires PPE to be constructed in accordance with good design standards. The proposed revisions include appendices that may be used to identify good design standards.

OSHA is also proposing to delete paragraphs in its ventilation standard as well as its welding, cutting, and brazing standard that currently reference outdated PPE consensus standards. In proposing to delete these paragraphs, OSHA is continuing the process of consolidating all PPE requirements in Subpart I and intends for all safety equipment to comply with the performance language design provisions in revised Subpart I of the general industry standards.  OSHA is seeking public comments until July 16, 2007.

On March 7, 2007, NIOSH responded to a request from the Grant County, KY Sheriff’s Office and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force for technical assistance in evaluating suspected methamphetamine contamination in two vehicles and a home. Using an innovative NIOSH-designed field method, NIOSH scientists John Snawder and Cynthia Striley identified multiple locations where methamphetamine was present, and provided technical advice for officers’ safety on control and remediation. For more details on testing for meth contamination and remediation of such sites, contact John Snawder at JSnawder@cdc.gov or Cynthia Striley at CStriley@cdc.gov.

NIOSH PUBLISHES HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION CONCERNING CONTAMINATION AT FIRE SCENE

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently released a Health Hazard Evaluation Report (2004-0368-3030) based on a request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Austin, Texas. The HHE request was submitted because of concerns about chemical agents contaminating the clothing worn at fire scenes by investigators and possibly causing cross-contamination of personal washing machines and dryers when the garments are taken home for laundering. NIOSH investigators conducted a multi-phased field and laboratory evaluation to investigate any possible contamination of the agents’ uniforms.

The report may be downloaded from the DOWNLOADS section of this web site or from the NIOSH web site at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe.

COLORADO FIREFIGHTER CANCER BILL INTRODUCED

Although several studies have previously shown that firefighters are exposed to carcinogenic fumes during fire suppression and overhaul operations, few if any are successful arguing that their health-related problems (i.e., various cancers such as lung, brain and bladder) are job-related. With cancer rates for firefighters higher than police officers and the general population, they are urging a change in state law that would relieve them of the burden of proving specific fires caused certain cancers.

House Bill 1008, sponsored by Mike Cerbo, (D-Denver), would shift the responsibility to require employers or insurance companies to prove the disease was not work-related. One of the Denver Fire Department Battalion Chiefs that testified at a recent hearing stated that he was aware of three active or retired colleagues who died of various cancers linked to specific contaminants triggered during fires. In addition, union officials indicated that most firefighters stopped filing workers’ compensation cancer claims years ago because claims were rejected when firefighters could not pinpoint the exact fire and chemical exposure evidence. The bill has drawn opposition from the Colorado Municipal League and insurance providers, who warn that providing firefighters with a legal "presumption" that certain high-risk cancers are work-related will drive up workers comp costs for employers. The bill is currently being studied and a formal vote has not occurred.

NEW YORK SEEKS INFORMATION ON WTC RESPONDER DEATHS

In an initiative funded by NIOSH, the New York State Department of Health is collecting information on deaths among World Trade Center responders, recovery workers, and volunteers.  This data collection system will be used to identify and track all fatalities that occur among WTC responders so that science-based investigations of root causes can begin to be explored. Further information, including a mailing address, a toll-free telephone number, and an email address for contacting the program, is available at
http://www.nyhealth.gov/environmental/investigations/wtc/health_studies/fatality_investigation.htm.

STUDENTS TO ASSESS LUNG FUNCTION DECLINE AND INJURY PREVENTION AMONG TUCSON, AZ FIREFIGHTERS

Two UA Zuckerman College of Public Health graduate students working on environmental and occupational health issues were each awarded a $20,000 grant from UCLA’s Southern California NIOSH Education and Research Center to assess injury prevention and lung function in firefighters. A research specialist and PhD student in epidemiology will author a study that will assess ways to prevent injuries among City of Tucson firefighters. The pilot study will identify the work processes and job tasks that may put firefighters at higher risk for injuries. The goal of the study is to develop intervention strategies to prevent the injuries caused by these risks and make their jobs as safe as possible. To find the root causes for injury, demographic, biometric and work attributes will be compared between injured and uninjured firefighters in Tucson for the years 2000-2005. Preliminary results of the analysis are expected by late summer 2007.

LUNG FUNCTION IN RETIRED PHOENIX, AZ FIREFIGHTERS

In a related study, a senior research specialist and master of public health student in environmental and occupational health will determine if declining lung function rates and smoke exposure in current firefighters may contribute to the subsequent development of lung disease in retired firefighters. This study is based on the premise that firefighters are exposed to products of combustion that can have acute and chronic effects on pulmonary function. Although many departments monitor the respiratory health of firefighters during the course of their employment, this monitoring generally does not continue into retirement, when the effects of reduced lung function are most likely to result in adverse respiratory symptoms.

Retired firefighters from the Phoenix Fire Department will be recruited to participate. Participants will be separated into two groups, those with average annual decline FEV1 exceeding 60 ml per year (accelerated rate of decline) and those with less rapid decline. Fifty retired firefighters with an accelerated rate of decline in lung function will be compared with 50 retirees with less rapid decline. Participating firefighters will undergo a medical screening session which will consist of a questionnaire and pulmonary function testing. The study will determine estimates of occupational exposure through administrative records from the Phoenix Fire Department, including the number and types of fires fought along with percentages of time protective equipment was utilized. Preliminary results are also expected by late summer 2007.

WTC RESPONDER INJURY & ILLNESS CLAIMS

In August of 2006, New York Governor George Pataki signed legislation adopted by the New York State Legislature to eliminate a technical barrier to claims arising from illness inflicted by 9/11 toxic exposures. Under the old rule, workers lost their right to file claims two years after their exposure ended. The new rule allows workers to register until August 14, 2007. To date, two deaths have been officially attributed to toxic exposures on 9/11 and afterwards and thousands are suffering debilitating respiratory illness.

Most ominously, a study released in September 2006 by doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center reported that nearly 70 percent of roughly 10,000 recovery workers tested at the center displayed new or worsened respiratory problems since working at ground zero. The study documents that many of the problems initially reported by recovery workers have persisted and grown worse in the years since the clean-up ended. The author of the study, Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, noted that dust samples from 9/11 showed the air to be as caustic as drain cleaner, containing innumerable shards of glass and a mixture of carcinogenic substances, such as asbestos and dioxin. When these substances lodge in the lungs, they can produce cancer decades later. Approximately 40 percent of the WTC responders did not have health insurance or lost their insurance after they became too ill to work.

Anyone who worked in the WTC recovery between September 11, 2001 and September 12, 2002, is eligible for registration, even if a claim was filed and denied within the initial two-year interval. Also, if an injury claim has already been filed, it is still wise to file a separate claim for possible toxic exposure illness. Any new registration must be notarized and indicate the date and locations of work performed and the employer's name or the organization for which volunteer work was performed.

CHANGES TO NFPA STANDARD CALL FOR NIOSH CERTIFICATION

Revisions made for the 2007 edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Standard 1981 require that self-contained breathing apparatus presented for NFPA approval under the standard for use in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents must also have certification by NIOSH for such use. For more information, see the December 8, 2006, letter to all manufacturers at
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/resources/pressrel/letters/lttr-120806.html.

OSHA ISSUES FINAL RULE ON RESPIRATOR PROTECTIONS STANDARDS

OSHA published in the August 24, 2006 Federal Register revisions to its Respiratory Protection Standard. The changes incorporate new Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) into agency rules. The additional provisions, those OSHA says are necessary for a comprehensive workplace respiratory-protection program, address selection and use of respirators, training, medical evaluation, and fit testing. The rules became effective November 22, 2006.

According to OSHA, APFs are numbers that indicate the level of protection that a respirator or class of respirators is expected to provide employees when used as part of an effective program. An APF table was included in the final standard to guide employers in the selection of air-purifying, powered air-purifying, supplied-air (or airline respirator), and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) respirators.

The agency requires employers to follow the new requirement and use APFs to choose the appropriate respirator based on the exposure limit of a contaminant and the level of that contaminant in the workplace. Employers select respirators by comparing the exposure level and the maximum concentration of the contaminant in which a particular type of respirator can be used. Known as the Maximum Use Concentration or MUC, this is generally determined by multiplying the respirator's APF by the contaminant's exposure limit. If the level of contaminant is expected to exceed the MUC, the employer must choose a respirator with a higher APF. The final rule can be reviewed at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=18846.

FDA APPROVES DRUG KIT TO TREAT CYANIDE POISONING

EMD Pharmaceuticals and Dey, LP, U.S. Affiliates of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cyanokit^® (hydroxocobalamin for injection), for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning. The FDA said its approval of the drug kit improves the nation's ability to respond to emergencies, including a potential attack by terrorists. In France, the kit has been used for more than a decade, more typically to treat cyanide poisoning resulting from smoke inhalation. Cyanokit's unique mechanism of action makes possible its use in a pre-hospital or hospital setting. It is the first cyanide antidote to be approved in the United States in several decades. Additional information can be accessed at http://www.emsresponder.com/features/article.jsp?siteSection=11&id=4577.

METHAMPHETAMINE AND FIRST RESPONDERS AT ISSUE IN UTAH STUDY

The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupation and Environmental Health signed a contract with the Utah Labor Commission on Nov. 8 to begin working on finding answers for 50 Utah police officers who suffer from medical conditions believed to be related to exposure to drugs in the 1980s and 90s, specifically methamphetamines. The officers received little training on how to handle the chemicals potentially involved in raids on suspected clandestine drug laboratories. In addition, the officers were not provided personal protective clothing and equipment to adequately protect them from the numerous chemical hazards posed by these labs. Dangerous chemicals such as ammonia, ephedrine, iodine, red devil lye and embalming fluids were among some of the ingredients used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine at that time.

To provide the crucial link, which would determine that those exposed to drugs in the line of duty should receive medical compensation, a bill was passed by the Utah State Legislature. In order to determine whether those exposed to the drugs during their work were getting sick because of it, $500,000 was approved to fund the study. To receive compensation for their medical bills, these officers must prove that it was the direct exposure to these drugs from their line of work that is making them ill. Ten out of the 50 police officers have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which is rare among middle-age non-smokers. The study is due to report to the Utah legislature by October 15, 2008. It is designed to look at the incidence of cancers and illnesses in all of Utah's past firefighters and police officers that were exposed to drug-related chemicals.

CANCER RISK TWICE AS HIGH FOR FIREFIGHTERS

According to a new study of 110,000 of firefighters worldwide recently published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Cincinnati researchers concluded (after analyzing statistics on 20 different kinds of cancer) that firefighters developed 10 of those deadly diseases more frequently than any other type of worker and that they face up to twice the risk of dying from certain types of cancer. The most virulent was found to be testicular cancer, which the study found was twice as likely to affect firefighters as other workers. Firefighters also faced a 53 percent greater chance of contracting multiple myeloma, a deadly cancer that attacks bone marrow. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and prostate cancer also occurred at significantly higher rates in firefighters than in other workers. The report also notes that the protective gear commonly worn by firefighters is primarily designed to safeguard them from acute exposures, such as those encountered from heat and carbon monoxide, however it does not provide an adequate level of protection from exposure to the various chemical residues that are typically found at fire scenes that may cause cancer.

HHS ALLOCATES $75M FOR WTC MEDICAL CARE

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the completion of the allocation of $75 million in federal funds for monitoring, screening, analysis and medical treatment of emergency responders and recovery workers at the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster site. These recent awards build on more than $125 million for screening and monitoring of more than 30,000 WTC responders, recovery workers and volunteers that the Department has administered since 2002.

The allocation includes the granting of $40 million to the Fire Department of New York, Long Island Occupational and Environmental Health Center, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York's Queens College, Bellevue Hospital/New York University School of Medicine and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. To date, some 30,000 responders have been screened under the WTC Medical Monitoring Program. The program is open to responders in the New York area and across the country who served at Ground Zero. Eligible responders who have not yet been screened are urged to enroll in the program. The funds also support two data coordination centers at the New York City Fire Department and the WTC clinical consortium that provide a data base for scientific reporting on the incidence of responder health conditions and trends in those conditions over time.

NIOSH ANNOUNCES PROPOSED STUDY ON REUSABILITY OF FILTERING FACE-PIECE RESPIRATORS

NIOSH is seeking products or prototypes that disinfect or sterilize infectious aerosols, such as viruses, for a new study on the reusability of filtering face-piece respirators (FFR). Researchers at the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory propose to study the effects of decontaminating a diverse array of FFR including NIOSH-certified N95, P100, and N95 filtering face-piece respirator/surgical mask. This project will also study the survivability of a simulant influenza virus on FFR. Details on the proposed study are available in the September 26, 2006 Federal Register Notice at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-15706.htm

NIOSH EXPANDS WTC TOPIC PAGE

NIOSH has expanded its Web topic page on information related to the NIOSH response to the World Trade Center terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. The topic page includes a link to a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Web site for information about HHS World Trade Center Health Resources. This site serves as a central resource for responders, volunteers, their families, health care professionals, and others seeking information about health effects resulting from the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. The site includes information and addresses for medical monitoring and treatment programs for responders, resources for health professionals who serve the exposed populations, and links to published scientific reports about health effects associated with the WTC exposures. The NIOSH page also includes a draft technical document for standardizing postmortem examinations of individuals dying after environmental exposures at the World Trade Center. The draft document is currently undergoing scientific review and is a work in progress. The NIOSH topic page can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/wtc.

TWO REVISED STANDARDS RELEASED BY NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released two revised personal protective equipment (PPE) certification standards. As part of a Memorandum of Understanding between NIOSH and NFPA, personnel from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory serve as members of the NFPA committees revising the standards and contributed scientific, technical and user information that was critical to the revision process. NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents sets minimum levels of protection for emergency first responders to incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) particulate terrorism agents. The revised standard sets ensemble protective performance of hazard environments requiring the use of respiratory protective devices approved to NIOSH CBRN respirator standards. NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting now includes an optional protection category for CBRN hazards. More information on the revised standards can be found on the NFPA Web site, http://www.nfpa.org.

NEW YOUR CITY OFFICIALS ISSUE WTC MEDICAL GUIDELINES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

New York City health officials recently issued long-awaited guidelines to help doctors detect and treat 9/11-related illnesses. Since the 2001 terror attacks, thousands of firefighters, police officers, construction workers and volunteers who worked at ground zero have been screened for a host of medical ailments, including severe lung disease and gastrointestinal problems. The guidelines an important document to help doctors better recognize and treat these illnesses and could be vital in getting proper treatment for ground zero workers who have either relocated, or who came from elsewhere and must rely on doctors in other states who are unfamiliar with ground zero symptoms and the most effective treatments. Additional information can be obtained at http://www.emsresponder.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=4005.

RESPIRATORY DISORDERS PLAGUE FIRST RESPONDERS

An analysis of New York City firefighters and other responders exposed to World Trade Center dust found that rescuers experienced a decrease in lung function equivalent to more than a decade of age-related decline in the first year following the 9/11 attacks.  According to lung specialists at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, the research indicates that for those hardest hit, breathing disorders remain chronic and may progress to the type of damage seen in people sickened by decades of smoking. Doctors analyzed lung function test results of 12,079 New York Fire Department members and other rescue workers, most of who were at Ground Zero during or immediately after the World Trade Center collapse. While some first responders have regained near-normal lung capacity, others have been forced into retirement because of persistent pulmonary disorders typified by asthma-like symptoms and a characteristic “World Trade Center cough.” The complete article can be viewed at http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/printer.jsp?id=50486.

NIOSH TO STUDY FIREFIGHTER HYDROGEN CYANIDE POISONING CASE

A team from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is studying cyanide exposures suffered by several Providence, Rhode Island Local 799 fire fighters. In March 2006, three seemingly ordinary fires sent nearly two dozen Providence firefighters to the hospital for cyanide exposure. Three firefighters -- including one who suffered cardiac arrest -- had levels of cyanide in their blood that were high enough to require an antidote. NIOSH staff met with fire chiefs and union leaders to discuss the investigation, and conducted interviews and retrieved records and evidence from the Fire Department and Rhode Island Hospital. A report is expected to be released within the next three to six months. The Providence Fire Department formed its own task force to investigate the incidents. A copy of their report can be viewed at http://www.firehouse.com/interactive/calendar/featured/PFDCyanideReport.pdf

COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE FIRST RESPONDER TEST KITS FOR DETECTING METHAMPHETAMINE

NIOSH scientists recently partnered with SKC Inc., a prominent manufacturer of sampling technologies, to commercialize two low-cost, NIOSH-designed field methods to help first responders, public health officials, and remediation workers quickly detect the presence of methamphetamine on various environmental surfaces. Now, a single sampling technique can be used to detect trace levels of the illicit drug on surfaces, or used to evaluate decontamination efforts or clearance. The kits are available from SKC Inc. at http://www.meth-wipe.com.

NIST OFFERS FREE FIREFIGHTER TURNOUT GEAR SOFTWARE

The National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory has developed software to assist first responders with the selection of protective clothing. NIST’s Turnout Gear Selector (ToGS) software allows users to specify the relative importance of each of many performance attributes, including thermal protective performance; system weight; thickness; stiffness; breathability; and resistance the outer shell to abrasion, tearing and charring; or to use default values established at a 2005 NIST-hosted meeting. All turnout gear systems included in the analysis then are ranked in a bar chart based on how well they score. When the user changes the importance of an attribute, the ranking of turnout gear systems updates. ToGS helps the manufacturers, purchasers and users of fire turnout gear evaluate and select the turnout coat and pants ensemble that best meets their needs. The software helps users understand tradeoffs among performance attributes when making decisions. Users also can access the software’s underlying performance data for 41 turnout coat systems, which include nine different outer shells, five moisture barriers, eight thermal liners and seven face cloth materials. The software can be downloaded for free at http://www2.bfrl.nist.gov/software/togs/.

283 9/11 RESCUERS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCERS

Since 9/11, 283 World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers have been diagnosed with cancer, and 33 of them have died of cancer, says a lawyer for the ailing responders. A lawyer for 8,000 World Trade Center responders, including police officers, firefighters and construction workers, said the majority of cases include blood-cell cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's and myeloma. Others suffer tumors of the tongue, throat, testicles, breast, bladder, kidney, colon, intestines, and lung. Doctors say the cancers can strike three to five years after exposure to toxins such as benzene cancer-causing chemical that permeated the WTC site from burning jet fuel. A definitive link has not been established however some of the cases are unusual and are considered to be “red flags." Additional information can be obtained at http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=49750.

FEDERAL AGENCY TO STUDY CANCER RISK AMONG FIREFIGHTERS

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently announced that it would fund a training program to analyze the cancer risk to firefighters exposed to toxins, an issue highlighted by a cluster of illnesses among Anne Arundel County, Maryland firefighters who trained at an academy in Millersville, Maryland in the 1970s. County officials said the effort by NIOSH falls short of a request by U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski for a full-blown study. However, they hope NIOSH's decision to launch a national Hazardous Substance Training Program - which will determine whether firefighters' exposure to toxins raises their long-term risk for some cancers, including brain cancer, and heart disease - in conjunction with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) will build momentum toward a cancer study that would include the Anne Arundel County fire service. Additional information can be reviewed at http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?id=49394&sectionId=46

WASHINGTON, D.C. FIREFIGHTERS TREATED FOR EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS

Several Washington D.C. firefighters were recently treated for possible asbestos exposure after they were called to the scene of a fire at a building under construction. The fire started at an old government building in the southwest section of the city. Firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke conditions inside the six-floor building. Hazardous-material crews responded to the scene and set-up a decontamination area to evaluate each person and help them wash off any potential contaminants. It should be noted that not all of the firefighters present on the scene were wearing their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to prevent potential exposure.

MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER-EINSTEIN COLLEGE FDNY HEALTH STUDY

FDNY rescuers who sucked in toxic air while working at Ground Zero lost the equivalent of 12 years of lung function after the World Trade Center attacks, according to a health study completed by Montefiore Medical Center-Einstein College and the FDNY. According to the report, World Trade Center exposure produced a substantial reduction in pulmonary function in New York City Fire Department rescue workers during the first year following 9/11/01 according to the analysis of 12,079 fire and EMT workers. The report goes on to conclude that the respiratory loss was equivalent to 12 years of aging-related decline. The study compared the health conditions of the FDNY responders who worked on rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero with their medical test results from the previous five years.  Additional information on the study can be obtained at http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=49283.

OSHA UPGRADES E-HASP SOFTWARE

OSHA recently updated the computer software for generating a site-specific health and safety plan (HASP) for hazardous waste sites required under the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard (29 CFR 1910.120). The e-HASP2 program is more practical and user friendly to health and safety professionals for providing "model" language acceptable to OSHA in preparing a site's HASP. It also features an updated chemical database and embedded decision logic to assist in identifying hazards associated with site-specific contaminants and choosing effective site controls for worker protection. Copies of the software and user’s manual can be downloaded at http://www.osha.gov/dep/etools/ehasp/index.html

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY RELEASES ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT CANCER STUDY

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health completed a 10-month investigation in mid 2005 to determine if cancers diagnosed among a group of Anne Arundel County, Md., firefighters could have been caused by smoke inhaled during training. The investigation, conducted at the request of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, concluded that firefighters generally are at a somewhat greater risk for developing cancer compared to the general public, but that the diagnosed cancers in those using the Anne Arundel County facility could not be directly linked to the training methods with the evidence available.

From 1971 to 1979, the Anne Arundel County, Maryland Fire Department burned waste oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during its training exercises. The burning of the waste oil exposed the fire fighters to PCBs and other potentially carcinogenic compounds created by their combustion, such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. The investigation was based on interviews with firefighters and an extensive review of published research on cancer occurrence among fire fighters. Seventeen Anne Arundel County firefighters told investigators they had been diagnosed with at least one cancer, nearly half of them with skin cancer. Two firefighters were diagnosed with brain cancer and three with leukemia or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Other cancers found were of the bladder, colon, lung and prostate.

The available research data indicated that, compared to the general public, firefighters were at a slightly greater risk for all cancers, and those specifically of the bladder, brain, colon, lymphatic system, kidney, pancreas, prostate, skin, rectum and testicles. Firefighters with greater exposure to fires during their careers appeared to be at a higher risk for cancers. However, the Hopkins researchers said it was not possible to recreate the doses of PCBs and byproducts received by the firefighters who trained at the Academy in the 1970s and therefore difficult to estimate the specific risk to this group.

PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING AND EXPANSION OF THE NFPA PROJECT ON FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has received a proposal to restructure and expand the project on Fire and Emergency Services Protective Clothing and Equipment into a new Technical Correlating Committee and several Technical Committees. The restructuring is pro­posed to broaden and include certain interests within the emer­gency services communities to meet standard development needs related to protective clothing and equipment (PPE), and would require new or additional TC representation for law enforcement, emergency medical services, and certain skilled trade groups. The proposed restructuring further proposes to undertake standards development for all first emergency responders related to all aspects of personal protective tech­nologies including PPE selection, care, maintenance, training and use.

The benefits of the proposed restructuring are intended to include broader participation by the emergency services, the opportunity to develop additional new standards, and broader application of the NFPA codes and standards development process. It is expected that if the new committee structure is implemented, these benefits will extend to a wider range of emergency responders than currently covered and provide a more consistent and higher level of safety for prevention fatalities and injuries to emergency service responders. The new structure will better emulate the intended hierarchy for a Technical Correlating Committee with respective Technical Committees.

NIOSH Firefighter and Police Officer Morbidity and Mortality Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently released its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) in conjunction with Workers Memorial Day that included reports from NIOSH with findings and recommendations on injuries and health symptoms from New Orleans police officers and firefighters associated with response during Hurricane Katrina, on prevention of line-of-duty fatalities among firefighters, and on occupational injuries treated in emergency rooms.  Also included is a NIOSH notice on the observance of Workers Memorial Day, April 28, which was established to remember those workers who died or were injured on the job.  The MMWR can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5516.pdf.

A Toxic New Wrinkle in the Post 9/11 WTC Disaster

Sky-high toxic levels of potentially deadly asbestos still cling to the fibers of an ordinary white dress shirt  worn by a 9/11 volunteer for two days at Ground Zero. The volunteer kept his contaminated shirt packed in a sealed plastic bag until last week, when the garment was sent to RJ Lee Group laboratories for testing.

Analyzed portions of the shirt collar revealed a chilling concentration of chrysotile asbestos - 93,000 times higher than the average typically found in the environment in U.S. cities. That appears to be even higher than what the EPA said was found in the most contaminated, blown-out building after 9/11. Testing also revealed the shirt was contaminated with zinc, mercury, antimony, barium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead and molybdenum. Tons of the heavy metals were pulverized and burned in the debris in fires that raged for four months.

The test results are especially frightening in light of last week's report by the Centers for Disease Control that 62 percent of those caught in the massive dust cloud suffered respiratory problems. Also, 46 percent of civilians living or working in the immediate area but not caught in the cloud still experienced respiratory problems - and 57 percent reported new and worsening respiratory symptoms. The most common types of diseases caused by asbestos exposure, according to the center, are mesothelioma, either benign or malignant, cancer and asbestosis.

Making matters worse, Dr. Mark Rosen, chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital, said that because it can take decades for asbestos cancers to develop, "We just won't know the effect [of Ground Zero exposure] for years."

About 400,000 tons of asbestos were released in the World Trade Center collapse.

According to the Mesothelioma Resource Center asbestos becomes dangerous when it breaks into pieces small enough to enter deep into the lungs. The longer period of time that a person is exposed to asbestos fibers, the higher the risk of developing lung disease later in life."

Six 9/11 Police Officers Have Brain Cancer

An alarming number of 9/11 responders have been stricken with brain cancer - including six NYPD police officers. At least 11 of the Ground Zero rescue and recovery workers and their families claim in a class-action lawsuit - which includes dozens of other cancer victims - that toxic air and dust caused or triggered the rare, often fatal, brain illness. The six NYPD cops with brain cancer range in age from 33 to 49. A 40-year-old cop died in June 2004, after going blind and suffering sinus cancer that spread to his brain. Other brain-cancer victims include an FDNY fireman, 55, a female Red Cross social worker, 58, a male Tischman construction worker, 40, a male city transportation worker, 48, and a male city environmental protection worker, 49.

13^th International Respiratory Protection of Healthcare Workers and Emergency Responders Conference

The 13^th International Respiratory Protection of Healthcare Workers and Emergency Responders Conference will be held August 27-September 1, 2006, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Topics for papers include respiratory protection for healthcare workers, emergency responders, and those in developing countries, updates on standards and regulations, emerging hazards and technologies, and fundamentals of respiratory protection. More information on the Call for Abstracts is available at http://www.isrp.com.au/isrpcom/callforpapers_toronto.htm or by contacting Ziqing Zhuang at ZZhuang1@cdc.gov. Additional information on the conference can be found at http://www.isrp.com/au.

FDNY EMS Paramedic Succumbs to Post 9/11 Cancer

A 41-year old FDNY EMS paramedic that spent several months at the morgue established at the site of the World Trade Center sorting debris and body parts died recently. The medic became ill in late 2003, suffering breathing problems and chest pain. She was subsequently diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. She is the third FDNY EMS member to die as a result of illnesses linked to working at Ground Zero. The complete article can be viewed at http://www.emsresponder.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=3105.

Australian Rescuers Notified of Possible Asbestos Exposure

At least 250 of the state's emergency services personnel have been told they could die from exposure to lethal levels of asbestos incurred during anti-terrorist training drills. The personnel at risk include members of the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit, who were told last week that they may have contracted life-threatening illnesses after training on a demolition site.

The site was set up to simulate rescues in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster and has been regularly used by fire brigade, ambulance, police and army personnel since 2004. Asbestos has been found in huge piles of rubble which were used to resemble collapsed city buildings. Emergency workers who spent up to three weeks at a time crawling through the rubble were contacted by their department chiefs last week and told the exposure could kill them. The complete article can be viewed at http://www.emsresponder.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=3040.

NIOSH Evaluating and Seeking Stakeholder Input on the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program  

NIOSH is undertaking efforts to seek data and input to guide future directions of the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. NIOSH is seeking input from fire chiefs and frontline fire fighters to see how and where NIOSH reports are being used and to identify ways to increase the usefulness and impact of the fire fighter program in reducing fire fighter fatalities. A March 22nd public meeting in Washington, D.C., will address the broad array of stakeholder needs and ideas. More information on the program, survey, and meeting can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire.

Published Findings Reveal Increase Risk for Brain Cancer Death Following PCB Exposure

 NIOSH scientists published their latest findings from research to help resolve the question of whether Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) pose an occupational risk for cancer. Despite the production of PCBs having been banned almost 30 years ago, employees who repair, maintain, dispose of equipment or otherwise work in environments containing PCBs may still be exposed occupationally. Studies to date have not resolved the question as to whether PCBs can cause job-related cancer. Following up on a 1992 study with new data, the new report confirmed earlier findings of higher-than-expected mortality from brain cancer and melanoma among workers at an Indiana capacitor manufacturing plant. The report notes limitations of the study, including lack of information about non-occupational risk factors, lifestyle choices and previous or subsequent employment. The NIOSH scientists are pursuing further research that “may provide some additional insight,” according to their report. A copy of the report, published in the January 2006 issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is available at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/8253/8253.html.

Decontaminating chemical protective clothing and equipment subject of new document from AIHA

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) in conjunction with the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory recently published Guidelines for the Decontamination of Chemical Protective Clothing and Equipment. The guidelines offer methodologies for decontaminating chemical protective clothing (CPC) and equipment, including the most current practices for regulatory compliance, decontamination work plans, waste management, hazard and risk assessments, CPC reuse, quality assurance, and training. Ordering information can be found on the AIHA Web site at http://www.aiha.org/webapps/commerce/home.aspx.

Retired New York City Police Department Detective Dies of Respiratory Disease

The president of the NYPD Detectives’ Endowment Association reported that a retired, 34-year-old New York City police detective who spent hundreds of hours searching for Sept. 11 victims at ground zero died of a respiratory disease related to the cleanup. James Zadroga is believed to be the first emergency responder to die as a result of exposure to World Trade Center dust and debris. Further details can be viewed at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10755163/.

Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) Device Investigation

NIOSH is conducting a technical investigation to understand the reasons for reported problems with Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) used by fire and emergency services. PASS systems sound a loud audio alarm if the wearer becomes immobilized for 25 seconds. The audio alarm assists rescue crews in locating the downed firefighter. The performance of PASS systems is covered in a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard. An April 2005 letter from the NIOSH Division of Safety Research to NFPA raised the possible limitations in PASS performance in high temperatures encountered when fighting fires. The possibility of reduced PASS audio alarm in high temperature environments was identified during line of duty death investigations by the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program Team (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html). NIOSH presented the findings of the Team to the NFPA Technical Correlating Committee for Fire and Emergency Services Protective Clothing and Equipment on which it has membership. NFPA posted a PASS alarm warning notice on the NFPA web site while the investigation is on-going (http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=136&itemID=26606&URL=Codes%20and%20Standards/NFPA%20News). NIOSH is asking users to notify it of any additional instances of in-service PASS performance limitations by emailing NPPTL_PASS@CDC.GOV. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/default.html#pass.

NIOSH Convenes Meeting on PAPR and SCBA Use in CBRN Environments

On December 13, 2005, NIOSH convened a public meeting with respirator manufacturers and other stakeholders to continue discussions on concepts for standards for testing and certifying powered, air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) and closed-circuit, self-contained, breathing apparatus (SCBA) that would be used for respiratory protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents. In the public meeting, NIOSH noted that it proposes, as a first step, to establish criteria administratively for testing PAPRs for CBRN exposures, so that testing of such devices can begin in a timely way, and then to develop formal standards under a notice-and-comment process. If devices are certified after testing under the administratively established criteria, manufacturers would not be required to re-submit them for testing under the formally established criteria. Additional details are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/

OSHA Offers New HAZWOPER Guidance Document

OSHA has launched a new Web-based safety and health guidance document that will assist workers and employers in determining whether an activity is, or would be considered, an "emergency response" activity under OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard. The guide provides an overview of the conditions in which a response or cleanup activity may fall under the requirements of HAZWOPER, and is divided into two sections: The Application of HAZWOPER to Worksite Response and Cleanup Activities and Employee Training for Worksite Response and Cleanup Activities. Each section links to useful information and practical guidance to help with the appropriate response. Flowcharts are included in the document for easy reference and to help outline what compliance pathway workers should follow depending on the nature of the worksite situation.

NIOSH Division of Safety Research to Evaluate Fire fighter Fatality Investigation Program

The Office of Management and Budget recently granted the Division of Safety Research (DSR) to proceed with an evaluation of the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. The evaluation includes a nationwide survey of fire departments and a number of focus groups consisting of front-line fire fighters. The study will examine career and volunteer, large and small size, and urban and rural fire departments to determine the extent to which the program’s reports, recommendations, and other products are being utilized by the fire service for training, policies, practices, and other prevention efforts. The evaluation will provide insight into the impact of the NIOSH program, which began in fiscal year 1998, and help to identify any enhancements that might further the program’s impact. Data collection is scheduled to begin in early 2006. NIOSH is conducting the study in conjunction with RTI International.

NIOSH Signs MOU with Fire Administration

NIOSH and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) signed a memorandum of understanding on November 21, 2005 to identify collaborative efforts the two agencies can undertake with the goal of improving safety and health conditions for fire fighters throughout the United States. The primary focus of the agreement involves fostering the use of findings and recommendations from the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program in USFA fire fighter training materials and programs. More information about the NIOSH program can be found at: www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html and more information about USFA training and education can be found at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/. NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., and U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison signed the agreement.

Silver Edition of NIOSH Pocket Guide Available

NIOSH has released a new edition of the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. The new edition is available as a printed book (DHHS NIOSH Publication No. 2005-149), and as a CD-ROM (DHHS NIOSH Publication No. 2005-151) and online at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/. One of the main changes for this new edition of the Pocket Guide, which has a silver cover, is that particulate respirator recommendations have been updated.  Also, the layout of the paper version has been changed substantially to make the book easier to read and use. In addition, the web version is now searchable.  The Pocket Guide contains important