Chair's column

Judy Cook obituary

Resolutions

OHS Section Committee Reports:

Workers’ Compensation

Scholarship committee

OH Nurses subcommittee report

AIHA seeks participants

Health Provider language in OSHA standards

Awards nominations sought

Next section newsletter publication deadlines

Section web information

NIOSH Safety & Health training conference announcement

Scholarship letter and application

Leadership roster

--------------------------------------------------

A heartfelt welcome to 1999 from the Occupational Health & Safety Section. First, I want to thank Mary Miller for her incredible energy and dedication as Chair this past year and continued hard work while we transition into the current year. Among her major accomplishments was the launching of the excellent OHS section Web page with the assistance of Morley Slutsky and Emily Allen. The Web page address is http://www.staff.washington.edu/oshalert. You can also link to it from the APHA home page at http://www.apha.org under the "Sections" location. Check it out!

We have a great leadership roster this year and the section tradition of advocacy for social change and activism continues. One thing I have been struck with as I have become increasingly familiar with the work of the section is its focus and enthusiasm which leads the influence beyond our moderate membership numbers. This is reflected in the substantial number of APHA resolutions sponsor co-sponsored by our section which have been adopted. Recent examples include the passage of a resolution on Ergonomics at the 1997 meeting and an end to the use of carcinogens as fuel additives in the 1998 meeting. Once a resolution is passed it essentially becomes part of APHA policy, the weight of the organization can be called upon when needed in support of the issue addressed by the resolution. We can use the policies in our local settings as well as on the national level to fight for better working conditions.

Our influence is felt throughout the organization and nationally. Two of our section members have moved into nationally prominent positions during this past year. David Michaels has been appointed as Assistant Secretary, for Environment, Safety and Health, U.S. Department Of Energy.. Andrea Taylor has been appointed to the newly created U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Key positions held by section members within APHA include Barry Levy, as a recent President of APHA, David Michaels as Chair of the Action Board, and Howie Frumkin as Chair of the Science Board, to name a few. We and many other active Section members, are available to promote better working conditions through efforts to change policies at the national level, as well as in our local communities. Please use us as resources and consider becoming more involved yourself. We have a number very active committees within the section with which you may wish to work. Some examples include the occupational health nursing, industrial hygiene, young workers, workers compensation, maquiladora, and the scholarship committees. See that enclosed section leadership roster for contact numbers.

An important focus for us in the coming year will be to recruit new members. It is incumbent upon all of us to find ways to tell others, especially students, about the important work we do in occupational health and safety, and why APHA is an important avenue for policy and worker advocacy to take place. We are working closely with the Public Health Student Caucus of APHA to identify and connect with new members. Many of our more 'seasoned' section members have become active in a mentoring project in which they are actively linking with students and other new members. If you would like to act as a mentor please contact Derrick Hodge, Mary Miller, or Linda Murray.

As usual, our section was highly visible at the APHA meeting held this past November in Washington, D.C.. The OHS section is sponsored or co-sponsored over 40 sessions and other events. Some highlights of the program included a memorial for Meta Snyder, a very active member of the section and occupational health nurse who died recently of AIDS contracted from a workplace needlestick injury. Our awards luncheon honored the accomplishments of four of our colleagues: - for the Alice Hamilton Award (lifetime accomplishment to promote occupational health and safety), Denny Dobbin, architect of the NIEHS Asbestos Abatement and Hazardous Waste Workers Training Programs;- for the Lorin Kerr Award (recognition of a health and safety activist), Garrett Brown, coordinator of the Maquiladora Health Project and Cal/OSHA inspector; - and for the International Award (recognition of health and safety accomplishments by an individual or group based outside the United States), Mohamed Jeebhay, South African physician and researcher long active serving the black trade union movement, and Rory O'Neill, editor of the Workers' Health International Newsletter (WHIN).

An important ongoing activity of our section, working together with the Labor Caucus, is to influence APHA to choose unionized hotels whenever possible for meetings as well as union labor for construction projects. At this past Annual Meeting, much to our disappointment, our own section was located in a non-union hotel. We are working with APHA's Executive Board to promote adoption of a policy to require negotiation of neutrality agreements between APHA and the hotel chain in the event that non union hotels must be used for meetings. These agreements require the employer to refrain from interference in its employees right to organize. I will keep you posted on progress with this. 

By Jim Cone

By Glenn Shor, Ph.D.

Workers' compensation continues to be a controversial area, and many members of the occupational health and safety section are either directly or indirectly involved in some aspect of the various state and federal systems. Members of the workers' compensation committee met twice at the Washington annual meeting. In the coming year, the committee wishes to concentrate on at least some of the following priority areas: Privacy of medical records; the process, fairness and outcomes of independent medical examinations; issues around retaliatory discharge after reporting of work injuries, and other barriers to access of workers' compensation system; evaluation of return to work programs; injury reports and surveillance systems for the identification and understanding of workplace injury trends; and issues around the use of guides for the evaluation of permanent impairment and disability. The committee plans to work with the program committee to create a series of sessions (a workers' compensation track) for next year's APHA conference in Chicago; to review prior policy resolutions of the APHA as they refer to workers' compensation, and to consider the drafting of resolutions for next year; participating in or doing some type of interstate/interprovincial comparison of jurisdictions on various aspects of workers' compensation important to section members; and organizing ourselves for action by creating or participating in e-mail lists, listservers, and web sites. The subcommittee is also interested in ways to piggyback analyses of economic and social outcomes of workplace injuries on existing studies in the occupational health and safety area.

Those interested in contributing to any of these projects, or wants to get on the committee e-mailing list should contact Glenn Shor gshor@hq.dir.ca.gov.

By Janie Gordon, ScM.

The Section's new Scholarship Committee met at the Annual Meeting in D.C. and announces the availability of scholarships for the 1999 Annual Meeting. The pilot plan is to offer two $300.00 scholarships; one to a student and one to a union representative. The scholarship applications are included this newsletter. Applications are due May 1st.

We will also spearhead a campaign for Section members who have their APHA expenses covered by work to donate $10.00 to the scholarship fund when they register next year! More details to follow...

If you'd like to participate on the committee please email Janie Gordon jgordon@umppa1.ab.umd.edu or telephone 410-706-7464

By Kate McPhaul, RN, MPH

The committee met 11/16/98 and agreed work to connect with nurses in the Public Health Nursing and Environment sections as well as liaison with the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics, OSHA, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses and the American Nurses Association.

Issues of interest to the committee members include hearing about and working toward implementation of the Institute of Medicine recommendations for integrating

occupational/environmental content into nursing practice, education and research. Jane Lipscomb and Barbara Sattler reported on their efforts at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. They will soon have a webpage for resources for educators.

The committee also agreed to study and discuss the issues of confidentiality of medical records at the workplace and be active on needlestick prevention activities. The committee is also considering naming itself after Meta Snyder a former chairperson of this committee and active occupational health nurse who recently died of AIDS.

The members expressed interest in a listserve forum for communicating with each other; while this option is being investigated please contact Kate McPhaul at (410) 706-1837 or email kmcphaul@umppa1.ab.umd.edu if you would like to be on the mailing list.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association holds the Secretariat for the Accredited Standards Committee Z9, Safety Standards for Exhaust Systems. OHS Section member Howard Ayer, APHA's representative to the Z9 committee since 1980, has recently retired from the committee. Howard has done a great job over the years and we are hoping that someone from the OHS Section will be interested in following in his footsteps. Representatives from other labor organizations or individual members are also welcome.

The committee is charged with developing and maintaining standards for the design, operation and maintenance of equipment to provide a safe atmosphere in industrial, manufacturing or construction operations by removing harmful substances by either local exhaust or general ventilation and safely disposing of such substances, and such supplementary standards on personal protection as may be necessary to prescribe methods for the protection of workers. Suggestions for new standards under this scope are also welcome.

By Katherine Kirkland, Mary Miller, Drew Brodkin, and Anita Schill

Due to the overwhelming number of activities at APHA there isn't time to attend every session. The panel "Issues in Occupational Health Care" encompassed a number of

clinical issues, such as industrial hygienists in clinics, quality assurance in occupational medicine, medical record confidentiality and is a productive forum for dialogue on issues which affect occupational health professionals and, ultimately, workers themselves. There was also a very timely discussion of interest to clinicians providing medical and health surveillance services to workers. Mary Miller, responding to concerns raised at APHA in 1997 brought together a multidisciplinary panel to discuss the controversial issue of appropriate providers of medical surveillance for occupational health surveillance.

OSHA, represented by Adam Finkel, Director of Health Standards, believes that the use of broad-based health care professional language in its medical surveillance provisions will provide workers with the maximum possible access to professionals with advanced education and training in understanding, and distinguishing between organic and exposure-related adverse health conditions. OSHA has used the term "physician or other licensed health care professional (LHCP)" in its most recent health standards, which is defined as "an individual whose legally permitted scope of practice...allows him or her to independently provide or be delegated the responsibility to provide some or all of the health care services required...." Additionally, OSHA believes the authority to determine the scope of practice for health care professionals belongs to the States. This language represents a performance-oriented, cost-effective approach that recognized the needs of workers, employers and health care professionals.

Mary Miller, in support of the broad-based language, advanced the notion that, depending on the State, nurse practitioners have independent authority to diagnose and prescribe medications and therefore are sufficiently qualified to supervise occupational health surveillance programs without physician oversight. She feels strongly that those who manage occupational health surveillance programs have the requisite occupational health knowledge and experience.

Drew Brodkin, spoke as both an occupational physician and as a representative of the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC). He too felt that competence and experience of the occupational provider is an essential component. However, he would like language recommending or requiring that an occupational physician be available for consultation in the case of abnormal findings requiring follow-up and for establishing the surveillance protocols. He cited the Methylene Chloride standard as a standard with sufficient complexity to warrant this provision. He reiterated the AOEC position that all health care providers involved in the implementation of any OSHA standard, including licensed physicians, have an ethical responsibility to ensure that they are both prepared and qualified to discharge their responsibilities in occupational health in a professional and knowledgeable manner prior to assuming that responsibility.

Adam Finkel reported that the American College of Occupational and Environmental

Physician's (ACOEM) has sued OSHA to change the broad-based language as it exists in the revised Respiratory Protection standard and delete the clause "other licensed health care professional". The American Medical Association joined as a party to the suit supporting ACOEM's position. The Association of Occupational Health Nurses and the American Nurses Association have countersued to retain the proposed language which includes LHCP.

Anita Schill, also of OSHA's Health Standards, extended an open invitation to the audience for suggestions on how to improve the present broad-based language for health care professional and which criteria, if any, should be used to assess proficiency to provide the required medical surveillance components. Suggestions may be sent to either Anita or Adam (200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-3718, Washington, D.C. 20210).

Time restrictions forced an early end to the discussion, however, the presentations provided a much needed factual basis for a timely professional discussion in spite of on-going disagreements about the current language.

By Darius D. Sivin, MES

Nominations for awards to be presented at the 1999 APHA annual meeting are now open. As always, there are three categories:

• The Alice Hamilton Award for a lifetime of service in Occupational Health

• The Lorin Kerr award for activism

• The international award

By Deborah Weinstock

Save these dates October 24-26, 1999 for the National Conference on Workplace Safety and Health Training Henry VIII Hotel and Conference Center, St. Louis, Missouri.

Sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Co-sponsored by Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Assisted by the Society for Public Health Education

This participatory conference will bring together cross-sector interests to improve the safety and health of workers, and shape the training and education programs of the 21st century.

 The Occupational Health and Safety Section will be awarding two scholarships which include registration for the 1999 APHA Annual Meeting (November 7 - 11, 1999, Chicago, Illinois), a one year membership in APHA and $200.00 for conference expenses. The purpose of the fund is to strengthen the participation of students and union representatives in APHA. We recognize that we need the involvement of workers and new health & safety professionals to make our workplaces & communities healthy and safe.

AWARD:

The value of each award is over $300.00. The Section will directly pay the annual meeting fee & one year membership to APHA with primary membership in the Occupational Health & Safety Section. Each awardee will then receive $200.00 which can be used to cover transportation, lodging, and meals. Awardees will be responsible for providing the remainder of funds necessary to cover these expenses. At the Annual Meeting we will pair each awardee with a section member with similar interests.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Student applicants should be enrolled in a graduate-level program which can lead to work in the occupational health & safety field. (Examples include medicine, nursing, public health, toxicology, law, industrial hygiene, safety, ergonomics)

Union representatives should have some health & safety responsibilities.

(Examples include local union officers, health & safety committee members, shop stewards, & district-level officers and representatives). These awards are NOT intended for international union health & safety staff.

Janie Gordon, ScM.
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Occupational Health Project
405 W. Redwood, 2nd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201

Direct questions to Janie Gordon:
Telephone: 410-706-7464
Email: jgordon@umppa1.ab.umd.edu

Please print or type:

Name: _________________________________________________________________

Street Address:___________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip __________________________________________________________

Telephone: Day (____)____________________________________________________

Evening (____)____________________________________________________

Fax (____)____________________________________________________

Email __________________________________________________________

************************************************************************

Name of University_______________________________________________________

University City, State, Zip __________________________________________________

Degree Program: _________________________________________________________

Field of Interest _________________________________________________________

Please complete the following information for a faculty member we can contact as a reference:

Name ____________________________________________________________

Telephone (____)___________________________________________________

Email __________________________________________________________

Optional :

Sex: _______________

Ethnic Background: _________________________

Please answer the following questions. (You can add additional pages if you need to, but a concise response is welcomed.)

1. Please briefly explain your current studies in occupational health & safety. Note any topics or projects which you have found particularly exciting.
2. How do you think your discipline can improve health & safety conditions for workers?
3. Please describe what your ideal job would be after graduation.

Janie Gordon, ScM. Telephone: 410-706-7464
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Occupational Health Project
405 W. Redwood, 2nd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Email: jgordon@umppa1.ab.umd.edu

Please print or type:

Name: _________________________________________________________________

Street Address:___________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip __________________________________________________________

Telephone: Day (____)____________________________________________________

Evening (____)____________________________________________________

Fax (____)____________________________________________________

Email __________________________________________________________

************************************************************************

Union Name (with local,district#) __________________________________________

Union Street Address _________________________________________________

Union City, State, Zip __________________________________________________

Your Position within Union (member, steward, officer, health & safety committee member): _________________________________________________________

Optional :

Sex: _______________

Ethnic Background: _________________________

Please answer the following questions. (You can add additional pages if you need to, but a concise response is welcomed.)

1. Please briefly explain your current involvement in occupational health & safety activities.
2. What tools or strategies have helped you the most in your health & safety work?
3. What can health & safety professionals and government agencies do to do a better job of helping workers on the shop floor?

Submit applications by May 1, 1999 to: Direct questions to:

Janie Gordon, ScM. Telephone: 410-706-7464
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Occupational Health Project
405 W. Redwood, 2nd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Email: jgordon@umppa1.ab.umd.edu