[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 232 (Monday, December 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62095-62097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29529]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH);
Meeting
Name: Setting a National Occupational Research Agenda:
Researchers Working Group Meeting.
Time and Date: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., December 12, 1995.
Place: The Latham Hotel, Presidential Ballroom, 3000 M Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20007.
Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available.
The room accommodates approximately 80 people. Public comments will
be taken at the end of the meeting.
Purpose: NIOSH will sponsor three meetings of groups with
different expertise to assist in the development of a national
agenda for occupational safety and health research for the next
decade. At each meeting, invited participants will discuss and
contribute their perspectives in work sessions open to the public.
Three work groups comprising researchers, health professionals, and
others in the occupational health and safety community, will meet in
public sessions to discuss research needs and provide
recommendations from individual members of the work groups. A
limited amount of time will be reserved to provide members of the
public attending these work group meetings the opportunity to
comment.
The tentative agenda of the meetings will include: Discussion and
enumeration of items for potential inclusion into the national research
agenda. Research priorities for consideration include health effects,
hazardous exposures, work environments, industries, occupations, and
populations associated with significant occupational disease, injury,
disability, fatalities, or topics of growing importance in the future.
[[Page 62096]]
Matters To Be Discussed
As the lead federal health agency for research into the causes and
prevention of work injuries and diseases, NIOSH has a responsibility to
continually assess the state of existing knowledge and define future
research needs and priorities. The development of a national research
agenda will assist NIOSH and the occupational safety and health
research community in establishing priorities and targeting some of the
scientific needs of the next decade that offer the greatest potential
for advancing the safety and health of workers. Establishing these
priorities is especially important in light of increasing fiscal
constraints on occupational safety and health research in both the
public and private sectors. The agenda is intended to serve decision-
makers and scientists working throughout the field, employed in
government, corporate, labor, university, and private research
programs.
NIOSH has developed a discussion list of possible items for the
national research agenda. A small group of scientists reviewed a wide
array of information ranging from the scope of occupational safety and
health problems to future employment projections. Other scientific
agenda-setting processes were also considered. In addition, the group
agreed on the scope of agenda items it would propose. For example, it
decided that a category such as ``occupational lung diseases'' would be
too inclusive to serve as a research priority, that items of this
breadth would encompass the field rather than provide decision-makers
and scientists with focussed direction to meet some of the greatest
needs and opportunities for prevention. The group ultimately listed
approximately 50 items:
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Health response Exposure
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Traumatic Injury:
--Eye Injury Chemical Mixtures (Including Hazardous Waste).
--Electrocutions Pesticides.
--Falls Solvents.
Neck, Shoulder & Other Upper Oils and related derivatives.
Extremity Disorders (e.g., Cutting Fluids, Diesel).
Low Back Disorders Indoor Environment.
Fertility and Pregnancy Outcomes Thermal stresses.
Occupational Asthma Mineral and Synthetic Fibers.
Pneumoconioses Metals and Related Compounds.
Inhalation Injury Hormonally Active Substances.
Hypersensitivity Lung Disease Violence/Assaults.
Occupational Chronic Diseases (Selected): Motor Vehicles.
--Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Heavy Machinery.
--Chronic Renal Disease Hand Tools.
--Ischemic Heart Disease Mechanical Stressors
--Neurodegenerative Disease Noise.
(Cognitive & Movement Disorders) Electric and Magnetic Fields.
Occupational Infectious Diseases Behavioral Risk Factors.
Depression and Anxiety
Immune Dysfunction
Neuroimmune Function
Hearing Loss
Contact Dermatitis
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Sector--work environment--workforce Research process
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Construction Intervention and Prevention
Agriculture Effectiveness Research
Small Businesses Engineering and Technologic Solutions
Work Organization (Changing Exposure Assessment Methods
Economy and Workforce) Development
Emerging Technologies Hazard Surveillance
Vulnerable Populations Disease Surveillance
Service Workers Injury Surveillance
Risk Assessment Methodology
Identification of Molecular
Correlates of Cancer and other Chronic Diseases
Occupational Health Services
Research (e.g., Manpower Needs; Clinical
Outcomes Research)
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From this list and additional items that are recommended, NIOSH
anticipates producing a final agenda of 15-25 of the highest scientific
priorities for advancing safety and health. The following criteria were
used in developing this initial discussion list and are proposed for
the development of the research agenda: (1) The seriousness of the
hazard in terms of death, injury, disease, disability, and economic
impact; (2) the number of workers exposed or the magnitude of the risk;
(3) the potential for risk reduction; (4) the expected trend in the
importance of the subject; and, (5) the likelihood that the results of
targeted research over the next decade will improve disease and injury
prevention to protect worker health.
NIOSH is seeking input over the next five months to assure that the
final agenda includes input from the broadest base of occupational
safety and health expertise. In addition to the three meetings
described in this announcement, the process for public
[[Page 62097]]
input includes the following elements: (1) Corporate and worker liaison
committees and a broader-based stakeholders outreach committee will
assist NIOSH in obtaining involvement and input from employers,
employees, health officials, health professionals, scientists, and
public health, advocacy, scientific, industry and labor organizations;
(2) A public meeting was held on November 30, 1995, to obtain early
input on the research priorities, criteria for selection of priorities,
and the process for developing the agenda; (3) Regional public meetings
will be held in increase the opportunities for input from employers,
employees, scientists, and other public stakeholders across the United
States; (4) A final public meeting will be held in March 1996 to
present a preliminary research agenda and provide the opportunity for
public review and comment; and, (5) Public input throughout the
process; the public is encouraged to provide oral comments at the
public meetings and written comments through March 6, 1996.
The final agenda will be presented at a scientific symposium
commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act on April 29, 1996.
NIOSH encourages the public to provide recommendations on research
priorities, criteria for determining priorities, and the process of
developing the research agenda throughout the process. To attend, any
or all of these three meetings, or to receive additional information,
please contact Mr. Chris Olenec as indicated below. On-site
registration will be available; however, to assist in planning for the
meeting, advance registration is requested.
ADDRESSES: Written public comments on the National Occupational
Research Agenda should be mailed to Ms. Diane Manning, NIOSH, CDC,
Robert A. Taft Laboratories, M/S C34, 4676 Columbia Parkway,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
CONTACT PERSON FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Mr. Chris Olenec, NIOSH,
CDC, 200 Independence Avenue, Room 317B, Washington, DC 20201,
telephone 202/205-2640 or by FAX (202) 260-1898.
Dated: November 28, 1995.
Nancy C. Hirsch,
Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-29529 Filed 12-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-M
