Occupational Illnesses

Washington – Spurred by post-9/11 illnesses suffered by first responders, the Environmental Protection Agency will examine its corrosive dust standard to determine whether it provides adequate protection for workers and the public.

Washington – The risk of work-induced hearing loss http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ohl/ may be declining, but efforts are still needed in industries such as mining, construction and health care, according to a new NIOSH study.

Washington – Firefighting exposures “modestly” increase the risk of death from cancer, according to a NIOSH study.

Washington – Employees who work with stone countertops are at risk of crystalline silica exposure, and employers should take steps to protect them, OSHA and NIOSH stated Feb. 18 in a joint hazard alert.

Research has linked shift work to various health issues. Scientists have been exploring the dietary intake of these workers to find out why shift work is harmful.

Disease management programs can help lower employer costs and reduce hospital stays for workers who have certain health conditions, including asthma, musculoskeletal disorders and congestive heart failure, a recent study from the University of Minnesota indicates.

Greater emphasis is needed on reducing cancer-causing conditions in the workplace, and information on occupational carcinogens in Europe is “outdated and incomplete,” according to a new report from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, also known as EU-OSHA.

Few workers who have asthma talk with their doctor about how their job may affect the condition, a recent NIOSH study suggests.

Health care workers now have access to more complete information on disinfectants approved for use against the Ebola virus, according to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General.

An effort to help protect coal miners from a group of diseases collectively known as “black lung disease” has made progress, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has announced.