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:

Floorlayers, bricklayers, farmers and healthcare assistants run the highest risks of developing osteoarthritis (OA), according to a new study published in the online journal, Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

If you missed OSHA's November stakeholder meeting on preventing occupational hearing loss, you can now read about it online.

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).

The Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced plans for a survey aimed at finding out why so many workplace injuries go unreported.

In the first comprehensive review of its kind since 1992, a UC Davis researcher has estimated the national annual price tag of occupational injuries and illnesses at $250 billion -- much higher than generally assumed.

Erionite is a naturally occurring mineral that belongs to a group of silicate minerals called zeolites. It is usually found in volcanic ash that has been altered by weathering and ground water.

“The purpose of this report is twofold: to revisit the robust body of evidence demonstrating positive health outcomes and economic benefits of comprehensive asthma programs, and to analyze its implications for employers.” 

Lydia Renton, CIH, ROH of WESA Inc., has been elected Chair of the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). ABIH is the certifying organization for Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH).