Category: Technology
The Future of Wearable Technology in the Workplace
Mention of a product or service does not constitute and endorsement by NIOSH or the Department of Health and Human Services. An era of remarkable innovation is underway. We’re looking at the advent of brand-new technologies called “Wearable Computers”. Wearable computers, also known as body-borne computers or wearables, are defined as “miniature electronic devices that are worn Read More >
Posted on by 54 CommentsCan Predictive Analytics Help Reduce Workplace Risk?
“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.” — Niels Bohr Text message to chemical plant manager: Chlorine leak expected on line 2 tomorrow. Inspect and repair. High priority email and automatic call to coal mine superintendent: 83% chance of roof fall on section 4. Evacuate immediately and take corrective actions. Monthly Read More >
Posted on by 29 CommentsConnecting Occupational Public Health and Patient Care Through Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
This week is Health IT Week which recognizes efforts to improve the quality of healthcare delivery, increase patient safety, decrease medical errors, and strengthen the interaction between patients and healthcare providers via electronic health records (EHR). NIOSH is working to improve occupational safety and health through health information technology. In 2007, NIOSH undertook a seemingly straightforward Read More >
Posted on by 11 CommentsSo How Accurate Are These Smartphone Sound Measurement Apps?
NIOSH has released a free smartphone sound measurement app for iOS devices. For more info and to download the app, see the NIOSH sound level meter app page . Please share your comments on the related NIOSH science blog post. As of June 2013, 60% of all mobile subscribers use smartphones—that’s more than 140 million devices. Read More >
Posted on by 210 CommentsMaking of the New NIOSH Homepage
What you told us Did you catch the St. Patrick’s Day launch of the new, streamlined NIOSH homepage? For those expecting a routine makeover, we want to take you behind the scenes. For over four years, the NIOSH Web Team has collected information through user testing and from feedback and discussions with users. We heard Read More >
Posted on by 3 CommentsLadder Safety: There’s an App for That
NIOSH recently released its first smart phone application (app) for mobile devices. This free app is aimed at improving extension ladder safety by providing real-time safety information delivered via the latest technology. Falls are a persistent source of injury in many occupations and in home use. Falls are the number one cause of construction-worker fatalities Read More >
Posted on by 45 CommentsHelp! What do you want from a mobile Pocket Guide?
Since its first printing in 1978, the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG) continues to be the Institute’s most popular document. The NPG provides general descriptive, exposure, and protective and emergency recommendations for 677 chemicals commonly found in the work environment. Workers, employers, and occupational health professionals all use the NPG in the course Read More >
Posted on by 159 CommentsLung Cancer Screening in the Occupational Setting – An Update
Last year we posted two blogs on the use of computerized tomography (CT) scans of the chest for lung cancer screening — Helical CT Scans and Lung Cancer Screening1 and Low-dose CT Scans and Lung Cancer Screening in the Occupational Setting.2 Since the postings, various organizations have provided guidance with differing implications for early detection Read More >
Posted on by 3 CommentsLow-dose CT Scans and Lung Cancer Screening in the Occupational Setting
Lung cancer mortality is high and better survival prognosis for early stage cases makes early detection an appealing public health strategy. For years studies have been conducted to find an effective screening method; the NLST is the first randomized trial to show a significant reduction in mortality from lung cancer with low-dose CT screening. Read More >
Posted on by 11 CommentsHelical CT Scans and Lung Cancer Screening
New research has revealed that a relatively new form of screening using helical computerized tomography (CT) may result in fewer lung cancer deaths. This finding is of interest to the occupational safety and health community to potentially improve cancer screening among workers with increased risk for lung cancer because of past occupational exposures. Read More >
Posted on by 4 CommentsNIOSH and Electronic Health Records
By 2014 all healthcare providers will be using electronic health records. What are the implications and the benefits for occupational safety and health and for NIOSH? Read More >
Posted on by 13 CommentsReflections on the INTERPHONE Study of Cell Phones and Brain Cancer
Do cell phones cause brain cancer? In May 2010, an international study team published the results of a 5-year-long investigation into that very question. Read the perspective of the only American researcher involved with the INTERPHONE study on the NIOSH Science Blog. Read More >
Posted on by 35 CommentsBalancing Open Government and Privacy Protection
Transparency, participation, and collaboration form the cornerstone of an open government. Although there is a great desire for openness, there are competing demands in health and safety surveillance and research: national security, personal privacy, and confidentiality. NIOSH is interested in learning about the experiences of others who have expertise in this area or are currently dealing with similar issues of balancing openness and privacy. Read More >
Posted on by 8 CommentsSPIROLA: A Solution for More Effective Use
While mortality rates for most chronic illnesses (heart disease, malignancy, stroke) have declined in the U.S., mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased over the past 3 decades. Most cases of obstructive or restrictive respiratory diseases are preventable. Periodic spirometry can provide a valuable tool for early recognition and prevention of respiratory diseases and for maintaining workers' respiratory health and general fitness. Read More >
Posted on by 9 CommentsUsing Digital Chest Images to Monitor the Health of Coal Miners and Other Workers
Conventional screen-film chest radiographic imaging has been an indispensable tool for monitoring the lung health of miners and other dust-exposed workers. Over the next decade, conventional film-based radiography will be completely replaced by digital radiography systems in the United States and elsewhere. Read More >
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