As noted in the introductory editorial by Moeller and Toohey, the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) was passed by the U.S. Congress in October 2000 and became effective on 31 July 2001. The Act provides a lump-sum compensation of $150,000 to workers who contracted certain diseases due to exposures to beryllium, silica, or radiation while working for the U....

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers have investigated seat design issues for the occupants and operators of underground mine transport vehicles relative to wholebody vibration (WBV) and mechanical shock. Considering the ergonomic and engineering improvements made to underground mine shuttle car seats, this study has focused on reducing injury risk by im...

Airborne coal dust mass measurements in underground bituminous coal mines can be challenged by the presence of airborne limestone dust, which is an incombustible dust applied to prevent the propagation of dust explosions. To accurately measure the coal portion of this mixed airborne dust, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed a sampling and analysis protoco...

Introducción, la ejecución de actividades artesanales donde no se considera gestión prevención y menos ayudas ergonómicas exponen a los trabajadores condiciones severas trabajo por el levantar cargas diferentes pesos todo día puede ocasionar trastornos osteomioarticulares hasta accidentes laborales. Objetivo. Se investigó efecto una ayuda ergonómica para disminuir mitad peso las que levanta des...

Little is known about the current health status of US metal and nonmetal (MNM) miners, in part because no health surveillance systems exist for this population. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is developing a program to characterize burden of disease among MNM miners. This report discusses current knowledge and potential data sources of MNM miner health. Recent...

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests assistance in preventing organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS), an acute respiratory illness in agricultural workers who inhale contaminated organic dust. This Alert describes four case reports in which a total of 29 agricultural workers developed ODTS following inhalation of organic dusts contaminated with microorganisms. ...

This paper reviews the 100-year history of federal electrical safety research in the U.S mining industry, originally by the US Bureau of Mines, and as carried on today by NIOSH. First, there is a brief historical review of the use of electrical power in mining and an examination of the associated shock, fire, and explosion hazards. These hazards were the impetus for government intervention to i...