Occupational Safety and Health
A patented, multi-functional guard rail system to protect workers when working at high elevations and expanded relationships with tribes and identified worker safety and health priorities within American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Abstract
Key Accomplishments 2015 ■ Designed and launched a patented, multi-functional guard rail system to protect workers when working at high elevations. This protects workers from hazardous conditions while doing residential construction and is commercially available. ■ Produced the Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit, in partnership with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to help hospitals prevent spreading aerosol-transmissable diseases to healthcare workers. ■ Established the National Center for Productive Aging and Work to address the needs of an aging workforce and identify proven actions to support workers of all ages and their employers. ■ Expanded relationships with tribes and identified worker safety and health priorities within American Indian and Alaska Native communities through a series of visits to tribal communities, meetings with stakeholders, and a capacity-building workshop. These priorities will guide the development of a research agenda for this population as part of the newly established American Indian and Alaska Native Initiative. ■ Led the national effort to support the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the Ebola response by completing initial testing on PPE ensembles used in West Africa to provide additional heat stress mitigation guidance. Communication in a Coal Mine: CDC Helps Improve Disaster Response