Washington – NIOSH recently published several “stories of impact” explaining how its research led to safety initiatives.
According to the agency, its efforts include the following:
- In the trucking industry (.pdf file), data from a four-year NIOSH project to measure the body dimensions of almost 2,000 truck drivers is being used to make truck cabs with more visibility, better-fitting safety belts and easier entry.
- In underground mines (.pdf file), an LED cap light developed by NIOSH improved floor hazard detection up to 194 percent and peripheral motion detection up to 79 percent, compared with similar products on the market.
- Research (.pdf file) on ambulance service workers and emergency medical services personnel led to new procedures for crash tests.
- Washington state intends to use NIOSH’s list of hazardous drugs (.pdf file) to develop statewide rules for handling hazardous drugs.
- An alert and survey from NIOSH following the death of a New Jersey crossing guard prompted (.pdf file) police chiefs to add or improve personal protective equipment such as safety vests and whistles for crossing guards.
