Background Investigating antecedents of behaviors, such as wearing face coverings, is critical fo... more Background Investigating antecedents of behaviors, such as wearing face coverings, is critical for developing strategies to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine associations between theory-based behavioral predictors of intention to wear a face covering and actual wearing of a face covering in public. Methods Data from a cross-sectional panel survey of U.S. adults conducted in May and June 2020 (N = 1,004) were used to test a theory-based behavioral path model. We (a) examined predictors of intention to wear a face covering, (b) reported use of cloth face coverings, and (c) reported use of other face masks (e.g., a surgical mask or N95 respirator) in public. Results We found that being female, perceived importance of others wanting the respondent to wear a face covering, confidence to wear a face covering, and perceived importance of personal face covering use was positively associated with intention to wear a face covering in public. I...
Young workers (aged 15-24) suffer disproportionately from workplace injuries, with a nonfatal inj... more Young workers (aged 15-24) suffer disproportionately from workplace injuries, with a nonfatal injury rate estimated to be two times higher than among workers age 25 or over. These workers make up approximately 9% of the U.S. workforce and studies have shown that nearly 80% of high school students work at some point during high school. Although young worker injuries are a pressing public health problem, the critical knowledge and skills needed to prepare youth for safe and healthy work are missing from most frameworks used to prepare the emerging U.S. workforce. A framework of foundational workplace safety and health knowledge and skills (the NIOSH 8 Core Competencies) was developed based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). The proposed NIOSH Core Competencies utilize the HBM to provide a framework for foundational workplace safety and health knowledge and skills. An examination of how these competencies and the HBM apply to actions that workers take to protect themselves is provided. The social and physical environments that influence these actions are also discussed. The NIOSH 8 Core Competencies, grounded in one of the most widely used health behavior theories, fill a critical gap in preparing the emerging U.S. workforce to be cognizant of workplace risks. Integration of the NIOSH 8 Core Competencies into school curricula is one way to ensure that every young person has the foundational workplace safety and health knowledge and skills to participate in, and benefit from, safe and healthy work.
There has not been a systematic study of the nature and extent to which business and professional... more There has not been a systematic study of the nature and extent to which business and professional trade associations and labor organizations obtain and communicate workplace safety and health information to their members. These organizations can serve as important intermediaries and play a central role in transferring this information to their members. A sample of 2294 business and professional trade associations and labor organizations in eight industrial sectors identified by the National Occupational Research Agenda was surveyed via telephone. A small percent of these organizations (40.9% of labor organizations, 15.6% of business associations, and 9.6% of professional associations) were shown to distribute workplace safety and health information to their members. Large differences were also observed between industrial sectors with construction having the highest total percent of organizations disseminating workplace safety and health information. There appears to be significant potential to utilize trade and labor organizations as intermediaries for transferring workplace safety and health information to their members. Government agencies have a unique opportunity to partner with these organizations and to utilize their existing communication channels to address high risk workplace safety and health concerns.
An online, multiple-choice assessment was developed and validated for Youth@Work-Talking Safety, ... more An online, multiple-choice assessment was developed and validated for Youth@Work-Talking Safety, a NIOSH curriculum that equips middle and high school students with foundational workplace safety and health knowledge and skills. Classical Test Theory was used for the test development and validation; the Jaeger method was used for cut score determination. A total of 118 multiple-choice items were developed to measure the acquisition of knowledge and skills taught through the NIOSH curriculum. Pilot testing was conducted with 192 8-12th grade students and a cut score was determined. The mean score for all test-takers on the Talking Safety assessment was 80.9%; total test reliability measured using an Alpha/KR20 statistic was 0.93. A minimum passing (cut) score of 74% was established. The assessment provides an objective measure of students' acquisition of the foundational workplace safety and health competencies taught through the Talking Safety curriculum. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:969-...
ABSTRACT Many national and international initiatives focus on preparing the future workforce, but... more ABSTRACT Many national and international initiatives focus on preparing the future workforce, but most lack a focus on occupational safety and health (OSH). Given that most workers enter the labor force during their adolescent years and are at an increased risk for suffering job-related injuries and illnesses, occupational safety and health prevention efforts should target this population. Educators agree that young people should learn about workplace safety, including rights and responsibilities, but are often overwhelmed with competing demands. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has funded three states (CA, OR, NY) to explore how a curriculum (Youth @ Work—Talking Safety) that teaches foundational skills in workplace safety and health can be disseminated and institutionalized so that all students, ideally, receive OSH education by the time they finish high school. The state partners are exploring and assessing mechanisms and partnerships that can aid in institutionalizing education on these critical life skills. This presentation will discuss the strategies used and challenges faced in working with a variety of programs. Key findings include: 1) Identifying relevant educational standards is critical (i.e. Common Core, 21st Century Skills, Health Education, Career Technical Education; 2) OSH skills must be promoted as critical thinking, problem-solving skills; 3) High school programs geared toward the workplace (career technical, “linked learning”, partnership academies, cooperative education) are the most receptive to integrating OSH training; 4) A multi-level intervention (including policy-level strategies, teacher training, and on-going outreach) is most likely to be effective.
International journal of occupational and environmental health
In a voluntary national effort, U.S. industry, education, labor, and government have initiated th... more In a voluntary national effort, U.S. industry, education, labor, and government have initiated the development of standards for job skills and competencies in jobs in 15 economic sectors. The aim of the skill standards is to maintain a globally competitive workforce. Efforts to include occupational safety and health knowledge and skills as core elements in these standards are described. The first skill standards to include occupational safety and health competencies were developed for the manufacturing sector, evaluated by 3,800 workers in 700 companies, and published. National skill standards can stimulate extensive training in occupational safety and health, with resultant application to a larger percentage of workers than ever before.
Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association, 1991
Three principles can improve epidemiologic studies (1) Conduct open scientific review of research... more Three principles can improve epidemiologic studies (1) Conduct open scientific review of research protocols and final reports, (2) Disseminate study results to all appropriate parties, and (3) Incorporate new scientific methods into the research and utilize expertise from other disciplines. The procedures we describe are used within the Industrywide Studies Branch of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to implement these principles.
With increasing numbers and quantities of chemicals in commerce and use, scientific attention con... more With increasing numbers and quantities of chemicals in commerce and use, scientific attention continues to focus on the environmental and public health consequences of chemical production processes and exposures. Concerns about environmental stewardship have been gaining broader traction through emphases on sustainability and "green chemistry" principles. Occupational safety and health has not been fully promoted as a component of environmental sustainability. However, there is a natural convergence of green chemistry/sustainability and occupational safety and health efforts. Addressing both together can have a synergistic effect. Failure to promote this convergence could lead to increasing worker hazards and lack of support for sustainability efforts. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has made a concerted effort involving multiple stakeholders to anticipate and identify potential hazards associated with sustainable practices and green jobs for workers. Examples of potential hazards are presented in case studies with suggested solutions such as implementing the hierarchy of controls and prevention through design principles in green chemistry and green building practices. Practical considerations and strategies for green chemistry, and environmental stewardship could benefit from the incorporation of occupational safety and health concepts which in turn protect affected workers.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 1993
A retrospective cohort mortality study was conducted among 7814 white shoe manufacturing workers ... more A retrospective cohort mortality study was conducted among 7814 white shoe manufacturing workers followed from 1940 through 1982. The workers were potentially exposed to solvents (including toluene) and solvent-based adhesives. Benzene may have been present as an impurity of toluene. Mortality due to leukemia and aleukemia was not statistically significantly elevated. Statistically significant excess mortality due to cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung was observed in the total cohort [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 147, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 120-1 80J and showed a statistically significant trend in standardized relative risk with increasing potential latency, but not with increasing duration of employment. Chronic nonmalignant respiratory disease was significantly elevated among the men (SMR 158,95% CI 114-217) but was less than expected among the women (SMR 79), a finding suggesting a possible contribution of smoking to the mortality from respiratory cancer. However, adjustment for the potential effects of smoking did not completely eliminate the increased risk for lung cancer.
Background Investigating antecedents of behaviors, such as wearing face coverings, is critical fo... more Background Investigating antecedents of behaviors, such as wearing face coverings, is critical for developing strategies to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine associations between theory-based behavioral predictors of intention to wear a face covering and actual wearing of a face covering in public. Methods Data from a cross-sectional panel survey of U.S. adults conducted in May and June 2020 (N = 1,004) were used to test a theory-based behavioral path model. We (a) examined predictors of intention to wear a face covering, (b) reported use of cloth face coverings, and (c) reported use of other face masks (e.g., a surgical mask or N95 respirator) in public. Results We found that being female, perceived importance of others wanting the respondent to wear a face covering, confidence to wear a face covering, and perceived importance of personal face covering use was positively associated with intention to wear a face covering in public. I...
Young workers (aged 15-24) suffer disproportionately from workplace injuries, with a nonfatal inj... more Young workers (aged 15-24) suffer disproportionately from workplace injuries, with a nonfatal injury rate estimated to be two times higher than among workers age 25 or over. These workers make up approximately 9% of the U.S. workforce and studies have shown that nearly 80% of high school students work at some point during high school. Although young worker injuries are a pressing public health problem, the critical knowledge and skills needed to prepare youth for safe and healthy work are missing from most frameworks used to prepare the emerging U.S. workforce. A framework of foundational workplace safety and health knowledge and skills (the NIOSH 8 Core Competencies) was developed based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). The proposed NIOSH Core Competencies utilize the HBM to provide a framework for foundational workplace safety and health knowledge and skills. An examination of how these competencies and the HBM apply to actions that workers take to protect themselves is provided. The social and physical environments that influence these actions are also discussed. The NIOSH 8 Core Competencies, grounded in one of the most widely used health behavior theories, fill a critical gap in preparing the emerging U.S. workforce to be cognizant of workplace risks. Integration of the NIOSH 8 Core Competencies into school curricula is one way to ensure that every young person has the foundational workplace safety and health knowledge and skills to participate in, and benefit from, safe and healthy work.
There has not been a systematic study of the nature and extent to which business and professional... more There has not been a systematic study of the nature and extent to which business and professional trade associations and labor organizations obtain and communicate workplace safety and health information to their members. These organizations can serve as important intermediaries and play a central role in transferring this information to their members. A sample of 2294 business and professional trade associations and labor organizations in eight industrial sectors identified by the National Occupational Research Agenda was surveyed via telephone. A small percent of these organizations (40.9% of labor organizations, 15.6% of business associations, and 9.6% of professional associations) were shown to distribute workplace safety and health information to their members. Large differences were also observed between industrial sectors with construction having the highest total percent of organizations disseminating workplace safety and health information. There appears to be significant potential to utilize trade and labor organizations as intermediaries for transferring workplace safety and health information to their members. Government agencies have a unique opportunity to partner with these organizations and to utilize their existing communication channels to address high risk workplace safety and health concerns.
An online, multiple-choice assessment was developed and validated for Youth@Work-Talking Safety, ... more An online, multiple-choice assessment was developed and validated for Youth@Work-Talking Safety, a NIOSH curriculum that equips middle and high school students with foundational workplace safety and health knowledge and skills. Classical Test Theory was used for the test development and validation; the Jaeger method was used for cut score determination. A total of 118 multiple-choice items were developed to measure the acquisition of knowledge and skills taught through the NIOSH curriculum. Pilot testing was conducted with 192 8-12th grade students and a cut score was determined. The mean score for all test-takers on the Talking Safety assessment was 80.9%; total test reliability measured using an Alpha/KR20 statistic was 0.93. A minimum passing (cut) score of 74% was established. The assessment provides an objective measure of students' acquisition of the foundational workplace safety and health competencies taught through the Talking Safety curriculum. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:969-...
ABSTRACT Many national and international initiatives focus on preparing the future workforce, but... more ABSTRACT Many national and international initiatives focus on preparing the future workforce, but most lack a focus on occupational safety and health (OSH). Given that most workers enter the labor force during their adolescent years and are at an increased risk for suffering job-related injuries and illnesses, occupational safety and health prevention efforts should target this population. Educators agree that young people should learn about workplace safety, including rights and responsibilities, but are often overwhelmed with competing demands. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has funded three states (CA, OR, NY) to explore how a curriculum (Youth @ Work—Talking Safety) that teaches foundational skills in workplace safety and health can be disseminated and institutionalized so that all students, ideally, receive OSH education by the time they finish high school. The state partners are exploring and assessing mechanisms and partnerships that can aid in institutionalizing education on these critical life skills. This presentation will discuss the strategies used and challenges faced in working with a variety of programs. Key findings include: 1) Identifying relevant educational standards is critical (i.e. Common Core, 21st Century Skills, Health Education, Career Technical Education; 2) OSH skills must be promoted as critical thinking, problem-solving skills; 3) High school programs geared toward the workplace (career technical, “linked learning”, partnership academies, cooperative education) are the most receptive to integrating OSH training; 4) A multi-level intervention (including policy-level strategies, teacher training, and on-going outreach) is most likely to be effective.
International journal of occupational and environmental health
In a voluntary national effort, U.S. industry, education, labor, and government have initiated th... more In a voluntary national effort, U.S. industry, education, labor, and government have initiated the development of standards for job skills and competencies in jobs in 15 economic sectors. The aim of the skill standards is to maintain a globally competitive workforce. Efforts to include occupational safety and health knowledge and skills as core elements in these standards are described. The first skill standards to include occupational safety and health competencies were developed for the manufacturing sector, evaluated by 3,800 workers in 700 companies, and published. National skill standards can stimulate extensive training in occupational safety and health, with resultant application to a larger percentage of workers than ever before.
Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association, 1991
Three principles can improve epidemiologic studies (1) Conduct open scientific review of research... more Three principles can improve epidemiologic studies (1) Conduct open scientific review of research protocols and final reports, (2) Disseminate study results to all appropriate parties, and (3) Incorporate new scientific methods into the research and utilize expertise from other disciplines. The procedures we describe are used within the Industrywide Studies Branch of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to implement these principles.
With increasing numbers and quantities of chemicals in commerce and use, scientific attention con... more With increasing numbers and quantities of chemicals in commerce and use, scientific attention continues to focus on the environmental and public health consequences of chemical production processes and exposures. Concerns about environmental stewardship have been gaining broader traction through emphases on sustainability and "green chemistry" principles. Occupational safety and health has not been fully promoted as a component of environmental sustainability. However, there is a natural convergence of green chemistry/sustainability and occupational safety and health efforts. Addressing both together can have a synergistic effect. Failure to promote this convergence could lead to increasing worker hazards and lack of support for sustainability efforts. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has made a concerted effort involving multiple stakeholders to anticipate and identify potential hazards associated with sustainable practices and green jobs for workers. Examples of potential hazards are presented in case studies with suggested solutions such as implementing the hierarchy of controls and prevention through design principles in green chemistry and green building practices. Practical considerations and strategies for green chemistry, and environmental stewardship could benefit from the incorporation of occupational safety and health concepts which in turn protect affected workers.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 1993
A retrospective cohort mortality study was conducted among 7814 white shoe manufacturing workers ... more A retrospective cohort mortality study was conducted among 7814 white shoe manufacturing workers followed from 1940 through 1982. The workers were potentially exposed to solvents (including toluene) and solvent-based adhesives. Benzene may have been present as an impurity of toluene. Mortality due to leukemia and aleukemia was not statistically significantly elevated. Statistically significant excess mortality due to cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung was observed in the total cohort [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 147, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 120-1 80J and showed a statistically significant trend in standardized relative risk with increasing potential latency, but not with increasing duration of employment. Chronic nonmalignant respiratory disease was significantly elevated among the men (SMR 158,95% CI 114-217) but was less than expected among the women (SMR 79), a finding suggesting a possible contribution of smoking to the mortality from respiratory cancer. However, adjustment for the potential effects of smoking did not completely eliminate the increased risk for lung cancer.
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