October 2011 marked the 20th anniversary of the original Perfect Storm, the Halloween Nor’easter that ravaged New England in 1991.

Health experts writing on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Science Blog strengthened the case for combining both work and personal factors when designing programs to maintain a well-functioning workforce -- an approach NIOSH recommends in its total Worker Health program.

From the budget drama on Capitol Hill to the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the year 2011 did not lack for news about occupational and environmental health and safety.

Excerpted from Dr. Howard's NIOSH blog: "What factors will influence the workforce and the world of work over the next several years?" The following influences seem likely:

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP) have committed to continuing their collaborative partnership to improve workplace safety and health in the healthcare setting with the renewal of their memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Each day millions of workers in the United States use National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certified respirators to reduce exposure to harmful gases, vapors, and particulate hazards.